Skordalia

http://artofglutenfreebaking.com

Special Equipment Needed

-a food processor is nice to mix the ingredients, but a potato masher would be fine

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds of waxy potatoes (I like Yukon Gold the best)

1 carrot

1 stalk celery

1 small onion

1 TBL peppercorns

salt for boiling potatoes

parsley for boiling potatoes

1/2 C good olive oil

juice from one lemon

2 garlic cloves, chopped fine

1 tsp salt

Wash potatoes

-peel potatoes and cut them into quarters

-wash, cut and quarter the carrot, celery stalk, and onion

-add all to a large stock pot, fill with water to cover

-add peppercorns and parsley to water, then salt water well

-bring to a boil and boil until potatoes are done, about 15 minutes

-mix garlic with salt in a small bowl

-add a TBL of the olive oil to this mixture

-when potatoes are done, turn off heat

-using a slotted spoon, take potatoes out of the stock and put in a separate bowl (don't worry if you snag some of the peppercorns, they will be fine in the dip)

Note: If you are using a food processor for the next part, it is important to follow the directions--if you don't, you run the risk of turning your potatoes into a gummy blob. They will taste fine, but the texture of the skordalia will be wrong.

-put 1/3 of the potatoes into the bowl of the food processor. Pulse briefly a couple of times (to just barely start the mashing process). If using the potato masher, follow these directions by mashing instead of pulsing

-add the garlic mixture and pulse briefly another couple of times

-add another 1/3 of the mixture with 1/2 of the olive oil and lemon juice--pulse briefly another couple of times

-add final 1/3 of potatoes plus the remainder of the olive oil and lemon juice

-pulse a few more times, briefly each time, to combine all into a smooth mixture

-it's very important not to pulse too many times or for too long--the potatoes will quickly become gummy.

Put skordalia in a serving dish with a spoon. Serve at room temperature with some freshly baked French bread. You can also serve it as a flavorful side dish.

Enjoy!