Greek Tarama Dip Recipes

GREEK TARAMA DIP (TARAMOSALATA)

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut them into quarters. Add them to a cooking pot and cover them with water. Season with a bit of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer the potatoes until completely soft and tender.
• Using a slotted spoon transfer the potatoes to your electric mixer's bowl. With the whisk attachment on, mash the potatoes, adding some of the water they've boiled in. Once you have really light and very soft mashed potatoes turn your mixer off and let the potatoes cool down to room temperature. NOTE: The mashed potatoes need to be really soft and moist, not dense. Because the dip is going to get refrigerated, therefore the potatoes will thicken even more when cooled.
• Then add the pink Tarama into a blender or food processor along with the lemon juice, and the red onion peeled and cut into smaller pieces. Blend until smooth paste forms.
• Add this paste to the mashed potatoes. And using your electric mixer with the whisk on start mixing over medium speed, to incorporate the blended Tarama paste. (you may do this in a food processor if you own a large one that can fit the mashed potatoes) Then slowly pour in the olive oil while beating, until you have incorporated it all into the dip. Place the Tarama Dip in a food container or bowl and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.
• NOTE: You can make this dip using a potato masher instead of the electric mixer. But the dip won't be as smooth and creamy.
• Place the stale bread in a bowl and pour enough water to cover the bread. Let the bread soak for about 1 hour. Then remove the bread from the bowl and squeeze it really well with your hands to remove all the water. Place it in a bowl and set it aside.
• Peel the onion and cut it into smaller pieces. Place inside a blender or food processor along with the lemon juice and white Tarama. Blend until smooth paste forms. Then incorporate the bread in bits at a time and keep blending until nice and smooth.
• Add the olive oil in slowly, while keep blending until it all gets incorporated into the dip. Then place the Tarama Dip in a bowl or food container and refrigerate for about 2 hours before serving.

TARAMA CROQUETTES

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Return to saucepan; mash.
• Combine bread cubes, green onions, 1/2 cup milk, and tarama in processor. Process until smooth paste forms. Transfer mixture to bowl. Add 1 whole egg and 1 cup mashed potatoes (reserve any remaining potato for another use); stir to blend well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• Lightly beat egg whites and remaining 2 tablespoons milk in medium bowl to blend. Place breadcrumbs on plate. Form 2 tablespoons tarama mixture into ball; press to flatten slightly. Dip into egg-white mixture, then coat on both sides with breadcrumbs. Repeat with remaining tarama mixture.
• Pour equal amounts olive oil and safflower oil into heavy large saucepan to reach depth of 1 inch. Attach deep-fry thermometer to side of saucepan and heat oil over medium-high heat to 350°F. Working in batches, add tarama croquettes to skillet and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Transfer croquettes to platter. Serve hot, passing lemon wedges separately.
• Available at Greek markets, specialty foods stores, and some supermarkets.

TARAMOSALATA

Steps:

• Place bread in a bowl, cover with water and let sit until the bread is well soaked, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain water from the bowl and squeeze all of the excess water from the bread.
• Combine bread, olive oil, onion, and lemon juice in a food processor; process until smooth and homogeneous. Add tarama and process until well combined.

GREEK TARAMA DIP

Steps:

• Remove crust from white bread and put it in a sieve. Soak it with water and let sit. Press out the water leaving fully soaked bread mush. Using a large mortar and pestle or food processor, mix together the Tarama and onion until well combined. Add the bread and mix together. Do not over mix. Add the juice of fresh lemon and combine. Slowly incorporate the olive oil, again, just mixing until combined. Serve with fresh slices of bread.

TARAMASALATA

Steps:

• Place potato in saucepan and cover with water.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until cooked through.
• Drain and set aside to cool a bit.
• Process potato, roe, onion and lemon juice thoroughly.
• The more roe that is mashed, the better the dip will taste.
• Gradually add in the oil until thoroughly combined.
• Transfer to a serving bowl.
• Can garnish with kalamata olives if desired.
• Serve with bread.

SMOKED SALMON TARAMA WITH PITA CHIPS

Steps:

• Combine bread and milk in medium bowl. Let soak 5 minutes, tossing to moisten. Squeeze bread to release milk; reserve milk. Place bread in processor. Add next 4 ingredients; blend until smooth. With machine running, gradually add 5 tablespoons olive oil; transfer to medium bowl. Stir in tarama, 2 tablespoons dill, and enough reserved milk by tablespoonfuls to reach spreadable consistency. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Pour enough olive oil into large skillet to cover bottom. Heat oil over medium high heat. Add pita triangles and cook until light brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels and drain.
• Place bowl of salmon tarama in center of platter. Garnish with salmon caviar and dill. Surround with pita chips and serve. more info Tarama is sold at many supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Greek markets.