Skordalia
This old-fashioned, tangy dip, known as skordalia, is definitely for garlic lovers. The combination of the almonds and the milk-soaked bread makes for a great texture. I also like the brightness of lemon here, rather than the more typical vinegar. I prefer to pound this by hand in a large mortar fitted with a heavy pestle, but most kitchens don’t have them big enough for this amount of food. If you have one, use it!
Greek Potato Dip
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- Salt
- 1/4 pound day-old rustic bread, crusts removed and bread cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup capers, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 small garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup blanched almonds, soaked in water overnight and drained
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- White pepper
- Toasted baguette slices, for serving
Instructions
In a medium saucepan, cover the potatoes with water and bring to a boil. Add a generous pinch of salt and simmer over moderate heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and pass the potatoes through a ricer into a large bowl; let cool completely.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°. Spread the bread on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 12 minutes, until lightly browned; let cool completely.
In a medium bowl, soak the toasted bread in the milk until softened, about 10 minutes. Squeeze out the excess milk and transfer the bread to a food processor; discard the milk. Add the capers, lemon juice and garlic to the food processor and puree until a paste forms. With the machine on, gradually add the olive oil until incorporated. Add the almonds and pulse until coarsely ground. Add the mixture to the potatoes along with the parsley and mix well. Season the dip with salt and white pepper. Cover the skordalia and refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving with toasted baguette slices.
Originally published in Andrew Zimmern’s Kitchen Adventures on foodandwine.com.
Photograph by Madeleine Hill.
