Skorthalia (Skordalia): Greek Garlic Dip and Sauce

By
Nancy Gaifyllia
Nancy Gaifyllia
A resident of Greece, Nancy Gaifyllia is a cook who writes about the country's regional specialties.
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Updated on 04/18/22
Garlic mashed potato dip

Krug Studios/Getty Images

Prep: 30 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Yield: 2 to 3 cups
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
327 Calories
27g Fat
20g Carbs
2g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 327
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 804mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 10mg 48%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 479mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Older generations of Greek cooks would fix this recipe using a mortar and pestle to first make a paste with the garlic and salt, and then add the other ingredients to create the purée texture desired. Today, most cooks often use a food processor or hand mixer, which makes things a lot easier and takes a lot less time! Skordalia (also spelled skorthalia; in Greek: σκορδαλιά pronounced skor-thal-YAH) can also be made with bread, but the potato version is more versatile since it can double as garlic mashed potatoes.

Serve this sauce with a wide variety of foods, such as fried cod, hamburgers, green vegetables, and beets. You can also enjoy it simply as a dip with bread.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon salt

  • 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, for boiling

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 6 to 12 cloves garlic, minced or grated, to taste

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar, good quality

Steps to Make It

  1. 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.

  2. Return the potatoes to the pot and sprinkle with pepper and mash to combine.

  3. 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).

  4. 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.

    Use Caution When Blending Hot Ingredients

    Steam expands quickly in a blender, and can cause ingredients to splatter everywhere or cause burns. To prevent this, fill the blender only one-third of the way up, vent the top, and cover with a folded kitchen towel while blending.

To Prepare by Hand

Mash potatoes with garlic using a potato masher. Drizzle in the olive oil and vinegar slowly, alternating between them, mashing well. Add pepper. This version may be grainier, but the taste is wonderful.

Additions

In various regions of Greece, walnuts or almonds are added. If you like, add a cup of finely chopped walnuts or almonds to the food processor at the beginning with the potatoes, and add the juice of a lemon to the liquids. The consistency will still be similar to thick ketchup but granular due to the nuts.