Jjukkumi Gui Ssäm

• 2 pounds baby octopus, cleaned
• 4 tablespoons gochujang (red pepper paste)
• 4 gochugaru (red pepper powder)
• 2 tablespoons Korean soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons mirin (Japanese rice wine)
• 4 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated or minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
• 2 small seedless cucumbers, sliced thinly
• 1 bunch scallions, topped and tailed, sliced thinly
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• Ssamjang, for serving
• 2 to 3 large heads butter or red leaf lettuce, leaves separated, chilled
• Steamed rice, for serving
• Kimchi (optional)

1. Rinse the octopus under cool running water and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. Combine the gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil in a small cup and pour over the octopus. Toss the octopus well with your hands. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinate for 2 to 3 hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
3. Combine the cucumbers, scallions, salt, and granulated sugar in a small bowl and allow to chill for at least 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
4. Preheat the grill to medium heat and wipe the grates well with vegetable oil. Sear the octopus for 3 to 4 minutes, turning often. Do not overcook. Overcooked octopus is rubbery and tough. Remove octopus to a platter and garnish with the toasted sesame seeds.
5. Serve immediately with the cucumber-scallion slaw, ssamjang, lettuce, rice, and kimchi. There is no "right" way to eat a ssam, but I like to smear a dab of ssamjang on a lettuce leaf, pile on the octopus, some rice, and the slaw. Roll it up like a little package and eat in one huge bite. Kimchi is a lovely "intermezzo," if you will, and essential to every Korean meal.

baby octopus, gochujang, gochugaru, soy sauce, light brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, sesame seeds, cucumbers, scallions, salt, sugar, butter, rice

Taken from food52.com/recipes/36567-jjukkumi-gui-ssam (may not work)