Slow-poached octopus chopped into bite-sized chunks, dressed with red onion, capers, olives, olive oil and red wine vinegar, served chilled with potato. The summer cold meze of every Dalmatian harbourfront table.

Octopus salad has been a Dalmatian summer fixture since the working fishing boats turned octopus catches into long-keeping starters. The slow simmer (40 to 60 minutes for tenderness, with a wine cork in the pot per folk wisdom) is the technique that distinguishes it from rubbery versions. Konoba Matejuska on the working harbour serves the canonical version with potato; Bokeria Kitchen runs a contemporary version with capers and Vis olives, and Konoba Fetivi keeps the marinated-overnight tradition through summer.

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