Best Skordalia Recipe
Skordalia is a traditional Greek garlic and potato dip with a creamy, thick texture and a bright, tangy flavor from lemon juice and vinegar. This recipe blends tender boiled potatoes with ground walnuts, garlic, and olive oil, resulting in a delicious spread perfect as an appetizer or accompaniment to grilled meats and vegetables.
- Author: Elias
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Boiling and Blending
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Vegetarian
Potatoes
- 1/2 lb. russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
- Kosher salt, to taste
Walnut Garlic Mixture
- 1/2 cup walnuts, plus more chopped for serving
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
Finishing
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
- Boil the potatoes: In a large pot, cover the peeled and cut potatoes with water and generously season with kosher salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are very soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly.
- Prepare the walnut garlic base: While the potatoes cook, place walnuts into a food processor. Grate the garlic directly over the walnuts. With the processor running, slowly drizzle in the fresh lemon juice and white wine vinegar, processing until the walnuts are finely ground and the mixture is homogenous.
- Combine potatoes and mixture: Add the cooked potatoes and the olive oil to the food processor. Pulse several times, adding a few splashes of water if the mixture is too thick, until a thick but creamy spread develops. Season with salt to taste.
- Serve Skordalia: Transfer the skordalia to a serving bowl. Garnish by sprinkling chopped fresh parsley and additional chopped walnuts on top. Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil over everything for a glossy finish before serving.
Notes
- For a smoother texture, use a potato masher before pulsing in the food processor to break down the potatoes further.
- Adjust the amount of garlic based on your preference for a milder or stronger garlic flavor.
- Skordalia pairs excellently with grilled fish, roasted vegetables, or as a dip with crusty bread.
- The addition of walnuts can be substituted with almonds or bread soaked in vinegar for traditional variations.
- Use fresh lemon juice rather than bottled for the best flavor impact.
Keywords: Skordalia, Greek dip, garlic dip, potato dip, walnut spread, appetizer, Mediterranean