Greek Garlic Sauce Skorthalia Food

TRADITIONAL GREEK SKORDALIA (GARLIC AND POTATO DIP)

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes cut in cubes and boil in water until soft, about 15 -20 minutes
• Once boiled, strain and mix with a hand mixer or potato masher until somewhat smooth.
• In a food processor process the garlic cloves with a bit of salt, and a few drops of olive oil until it is a paste.
• Add ½ of the olive oil in the food processor and continue mixing.
• Add the garlic paste to the potato and mix with a wooden spoon.
• Add the rest of the olive oil gradually, in a steady stream mixing until oil is absorbed.
• Add a bit of red wine vinegar for taste, mix well.

SKORTHALIA (SKORDALIA): GREEK GARLIC DIP AND SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the salt to a large pot of water. Peel the potatoes and boil in the salted water until well done and are easily pierced with a fork. Place in a colander to drain.
• Return the potatoes to the pot and sprinkle with pepper and mash to combine.
• In the blender bowl of a food processor (or with a hand mixer ), puree the potatoes and garlic until well mixed, about 30 to 45 seconds. Still pureeing, slowly add the olive oil and vinegar, alternating between them, tasting as you go, until the mixture is smooth. Skorthalia should be creamy and thick. If it gets too thick, add a little cold water (but not more than 1/4 cup).
• Skordalia is a matter of taste, some prefer a mild garlic taste, while others prefer a strong garlic taste. If the taste is too strong, increase the number of potatoes a bit. If the taste is not strong enough, increase the garlic.

GREEK GARLIC SAUCE (SKORTHALIA)

Steps:

• Pound garlic with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a mortar until smooth.
• Add mashed potatoes and continue to pound and stir with pestle.
• Soak bread (crusts removed)in cold water and squeeze dry.
• Add to potatoes and garlic, pounding and stirring until smooth.
• Gradually add olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar, stirring vigorously.
• When smooth and light, add salt and pepper to taste.
• Chill in a covered bowl before using.
• Variation: Replace bread with 1/2 cup ground almonds or walnuts, or use 1 1/2 cups of ground almonds or walnuts instead of the potatoes and bread.
• Blender method: Put all ingredients in a blender and blend at moderate speed until ingredients are pulverised. Sure beats all that pounding!
• Increase speed for a few seconds until light and smooth. Do not blend for too long for the mixture heats and the oil separates.

SKORDALIA (GREEK POTATO AND GARLIC DIP)

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water by 2 inches and season generously with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until very tender, about 30 minutes. Drain the potatoes and let cool slightly.
• Rub the skins off the potatoes and discard them. Coarsely chop the potatoes and puree them through a food mill or ricer into a medium bowl.
• Meanwhile, on a cutting board, lightly sprinkle the garlic with a generous pinch of the salt and smash it into a fine paste with the side of a cook's knife.
• In a food processor, combine the garlic, almonds, and oil and puree into a paste. Mix the oil mixture into the potatoes until incorporated; then mix in the 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon salt, water, lemon juice, and vinegar and season with pepper, to taste. Serve.

SKORTHALIA (GREEK GARLIC SAUCE)

Steps:

• Peel and crush garlic.
• Place bread in a mixing bowl with garlic, oil, and vinegar.
• Let soften for one hour.
• Place mixture in a food processor and pulse til smooth.
• Add lemon juice and slowly add the water while the processor is running, so that you have a thick and fluffy sauce.
• Serve immediately.

SKORDALIA (GARLIC-WALNUT SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a small bowl, soak the bread in 1/2 cup water for 2 minutes. Remove excess water from the bread so that it is wet, but not dripping. Place bread and walnuts in the bowl of a blender or food processor and pulse until a paste forms. Add the garlic, olive oil and salt and process until well blended, scraping down the sides as necessary. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the lemon juice and vinegar. Adjust salt to taste. Serve with bacalao fritters (see recipe).

SKORDALIA (GREEK GARLIC POTATO DIP)

Steps:

• Peel and quarter the potatoes and add to a saucepan with enough cold salted water to cover by 1 inch. Place over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and continue to simmer until potatoes are tender, but not falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While potatoes are cooking, add garlic and 1 teaspoon kosher salt to a mortar and pestle. Crush into a fine paste and reserve.
• Drain potatoes, reserving some of the cooking water to thin the dip out with later if desired. Let sit for 5 minutes.
• Transfer the potatoes to a mixing bowl. Mash with a potato masher or potato ricer until smooth and lump free. Stir in garlic paste. Add lemon juice and vinegar and stir in with the masher.
• Whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil in 3 or 4 additions. Add cayenne and more salt if needed. Pass dip through a mesh strainer into a bowl. Serve at room temperature, garnished with olive oil and oregano.

SKORDALIA (A GARLIC SAUCE/CONDIMENT)

Steps:

• Soak bread in water.
• Squeeze dry between hands.
• Put in food processor along with garlic, pine nuts or walnuts.
• Process for 20 seconds.
• Slowly drop in olive oil and vinegar, alternately, until mixture binds into a thick mayonnaise-like sauce.
• (you may need slightly more oil and/or vinegar, depending on personal taste).

SKORDALIA (GARLIC SAUCE)

Steps:

• Peel potato and boil until tender. Put through a ricer or sieve. Measure 1/2 cup of potato & put in a bowl; mix in garlic and salt. Gradually add olive oil and vinegar alternately while beating with a spoon. Chill. Serve with meat or fish.