These cute little Japanese-style octopus cheesedogs, made with CDO Idol Cheesedogs, will brighten anyone’s day.
As seen in anime and elaborate Japanese bentos, octopus hotdogs make joyful toppers over rice or noodles. They’re also a fun way to enjoy CDO Idol Cheesedogs, which spark extra joy with their cheese-studded interior. Each bite will make you feel like a kid again.
We like to pan-fry the cheesedog “tentacles” until they form a lightly crisp crust with a bit of caramelized cheese. These octopi will look cute over fried rice or a sea of cheesy noodles.
Cut cheesedogs in half: Working one piece at a time, slice CDO Idol Cheesedog in half. Each half makes one cheesedog octopus.
Slice: With a sharp knife in one hand and the other securing the cheesedog on the cutting board, carefully make a horizontal slice into the cheesedog. Make sure not to cut all the way through, leaving about an inch at the end.
Turn the cheesedog 90 degrees; the horizontal slice you just made should now be vertical. Make another horizontal cut, forming a cross-shaped cut, dividing the bottom of the cheesedog into 4 segments or tentacles.
Slice again: Turn the sliced cheesedog by 45 degrees; the cross-shaped cuts should now look like an X. Same as before, make a deep horizontal slice into the cheesedog, turn 90 degrees, and slice again. Your cheesedog should now have 8 eight segments (eight tentacles!). Repeat with remaining cheesedog halves.
Cook: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Push each cheesedog octopus down onto the pan, tentacle side down, slowly twirling the cheesedog so the tentacles flare out. Pan-fry to secure the tentacles in place, until crispy edges start to form. Repeat with remaining cheesedogs. Serve.
Add eyes (optional): To add eyes to each octopus, use a toothpick to poke two shallow holes into the cheesedog. Fill each hole with a black sesame seed.