1 - 4 of 4 Posts

cubrinj

Active member
I love making skordalia, but I always struggle to get that ultra-creamy, smooth texture like the ones I’ve had at authentic Greek tavernas. Mine tends to turn out either too thick or a bit grainy.

I usually make it with potatoes, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar, but I’ve heard some people use bread instead of potatoes. Does that make a difference in texture? Also, is there a trick to emulsifying the olive oil properly? I worry that I might be adding it too quickly or at the wrong time.

Would love to hear your best tips and techniques for achieving that silky, luscious consistency. Do you have any family secrets or traditional methods that make a difference?
 
Well...my Church family says I make the best. I like Yukon Gold potatoes ( because of their color and creaminess ) , white vinegar , my best olive oil ( for it's taste and color ) , sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ( some use white pepper but I don't like the smell of white pepper ) . Don't over cook your potatoes , just fork tender ! I use my food processor and place all ingredients except for the white vinegar ; I just add little by little until I get that tang. Maybe cutback on the amount of potato. I make up a few jars and place in the fridge and bring out as I need it and serve at room temp.
 
  • Love
Reactions: k_tsoukalas
You can also make skordalia with walnuts and bread which is what my grandmother used to do instead of potatoes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: k_tsoukalas
Well...my Church family says I make the best. I like Yukon Gold potatoes ( because of their color and creaminess ) , white vinegar , my best olive oil ( for it's taste and color ) , sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ( some use white pepper but I don't like the smell of white pepper ) . Don't over cook your potatoes , just fork tender ! I use my food processor and place all ingredients except for the white vinegar ; I just add little by little until I get that tang. Maybe cutback on the amount of potato. I make up a few jars and place in the fridge and bring out as I need it and serve at room temp.
This sounds fantastic - the church family knows a good thing when they see it! Your recipe looks fantastic.

Some tips:

Getting that ultra-creamy skordalia is all about technique! If you're using potatoes, make sure they’re fully cooked and mashed while warm to avoid a grainy texture. A ricer or sieve helps achieve smoothness. The bread version (soaked and squeezed dry) creates a lighter, silkier consistency—definitely worth trying!

For emulsification, slowly drizzle in the olive oil while continuously mixing (a food processor or mortar and pestle works best). If added too fast, it can separate. Also, use cold water or a splash of ice-cold vinegar to help loosen and smooth it out.
 

Greek cooking without a recipe?

I've been thinking about how much traditional Greek cooking relies on instinct rather than following exact recipes. Some of the Greek dishes I learned to make were taught to me by feel, with someone showing me what to do rather than measuring everything out.

I actually enjoy cooking this way, but I've noticed that it can make certain dishes difficult to recreate consistently! Sometimes everything comes together perfectly, and other times I wonder what I did differently.

I'm curious how others approach this. Did you learn Greek cooking by watching your yiayia, mother, or other relatives? Do you measure ingredients, or do you just know when something looks, smells, or tastes right?

Is lamb or beef more traditional for giouvetsi?

I've been looking into traditional Greek giouvetsi recipes lately, and I'm curious about which meat is considered the most traditional. I've seen recipes that use lamb, others that call for beef, and even some that use chicken.

I love the idea of slowly cooking the meat in a rich tomato sauce with orzo until everything becomes tender and flavorful. However, I'm wondering whether lamb or beef would be the more authentic choice.

Is one traditionally preferred in certain regions of Greece? I've read that lamb is often associated with older Greek recipes, but beef seems to be very common in modern versions of giouvetsi.

I'm also curious whether the choice of meat changes the way the dish is prepared. Does lamb require different seasonings or cooking times than beef?

For those familiar with traditional Greek cooking, which version do you prefer, and which would you recommend trying first?

What is the secret to making really good Greek lemon potatoes?

I've been making Greek lemon potatoes for years, and it's one of those dishes I make completely by feel. I don't measure anything, and I never really thought about how I make them because it's all second nature to me.

Recently, I tried teaching someone how to make them. Everything seemed straightforward while we were cooking together, but when they went home and tried making them on their own, all kinds of things went wrong! The potatoes weren't cooking evenly, the texture wasn't quite right, and the lemon flavor didn't come through the way it should.

It made me realize how much I rely on instinct when cooking traditional Greek food. I rarely write down recipes, so explaining every little detail is harder than I expected!

For those who make Greek lemon potatoes regularly, what tips would you give someone who's just learning?

Do You Make Avgolemono Thick or Brothy?

I usually prefer avgolemono somewhere in the middle. I don’t like it so thick that it feels almost like a cream soup, but I also don’t want it completely thin and brothy. For me, the best version has enough egg and lemon to give the broth some body while still keeping it light.

A lot probably depends on what kind of avgolemono you’re making, too. In chicken soup, I like it a little more brothy because I want the rice or orzo and chicken to still stand out. With something like lahanodolmades, I don’t mind the avgolemono sauce being thicker because it is coating the food rather than serving as the soup itself.

The lemon level matters just as much as the thickness. I like enough lemon to make it bright and noticeable, but not so much that it overwhelms everything else. I think balance is really the key.

Do you make Greek lentil soup with vinegar

I’ve always made fakes with a splash of vinegar, either stirred into the pot near the end or added individually at the table. To me, that little bit of acidity is part of what makes the soup taste right, especially with the earthy lentils, olive oil, onion, garlic, and bay leaf.

But I have a Greek friend who makes hers very differently. She doesn’t use vinegar at all and instead adds quite a lot of tomato product, so her version is much redder and more tomato-forward than mine.

Now I’m curious about what is considered more traditional in Greek cooking. Is vinegar usually a standard part of fakes, or is it more of a regional or family preference? Are tomato-heavy versions just as traditional?

How do you make yours, and what did your family serve growing up?
Sign up for a free account and share your thoughts, photos, questions about Greek food, travel and culture!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top