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TARAMASALATA - A GREEK, TURKISH OR ARMENIAN DIP OR MEZE

This dip or appetizer is made from the roe of Carp or Cod fish and is mixed to a paste with wet bread or mashed potatoes, milk, olive oil, lemon juice and onion.



"Tarama", meaning the roe or caviar of the Carp or Cod fish, and "Salata", meaning salad, pretty well describes this appetizer dish. As a child growing up in an immigrant Armenian family, I always wondered why the word "Tarama" was used in the name for this dish. As I grew older, it occurred to me that the word "taram" in the Armenian language means money, the same word used to describe fish roe or "caviar". Now that being said, this appetizer tastes like a million bucks!


RECIPE PRINTED FROM: THEGUTSYGOURMET.NET©

INGREDIENTS:  Serves 6 

•   ½ of (8 oz.) jar tarama*
•   1 onion, finely grated
•   1 or 2 c. olive oil
•   4 or 5 slices white bread,
•   trimmed
•   2 or 3 lemons (juice of)
•   1 cup milk** Instead of water to soak white bread

*Tarama can be bought at Greek delicatessens.

DIRECTIONS:

1.   Mash tarama and add grated onion. 

2.   Add a little of the olive oil and beat or put in blender, to form a smooth paste.

3.   Moisten bread and squeeze out excess water**.  I like to use milk to soak the bread

4.   Continue beating tarama mixture,  adding alternately small bits of moistened bread, olive oil, and
      lemon juice. 

5.   The Taramasalata should be beaten until cream colored**See COOK'S NOTE

6.   Serve with pita crisps,  or thin slices of grilled crusty bread

RECIPE WITH POTATOES INSTEAD OF BREAD 
INGREDIENTS:  Serves 6 

•   4 oz tarama
•   ⅓ lb. boiled potatoes
•   ¼ cup grated red onion
•   1 ½ cups extra virgin olive oil
•   ½ cup feta cheese (crumbled)
•   2-3 tablespoons lemon juice
•   1 tablespoon white vinegar
•   chopped parsley to garnish

DIRECTIONS::

1.   Peel the potatoes, boil them and then mash them.

2.   Treat the fish roe as above if they have skin, otherwise place in a food processor.

3.   Add to the processor the potatoes, and feta.

4.   Turn on the blender and while running on a low speed, slowly pour in the oil, lemon juice and
      vinegar.  Adjust to taste.  Keep refrigerated.

5.   
Serve garnished with parsley.

COOKS NOTE* 
The taramasalata my remain a pink color no matter how long you beat it.  Many processors of the fish roe
will add food coloring to the roe,  and all the beating in the world is not going to get rid of it.  Don't worry,  it will taste just fine.


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