Beet Salad With Skordalia Dressing Garlic Potato Puree Recipes

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with water. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring slowly to a boil over medium heat. Cover partially, reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender all the way through when pierced with a skewer. Drain, return the potatoes to the pot, and cover tightly. Set aside for 5 minutes. Mash the potatoes through a potato ricer, a food mill, or in a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Do not use a food processor.
• Place the garlic in a mortar and pestle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and mash to a paste. Add the nuts and pound together (you can also do this in a food processor, but do not add the potatoes to the food processor). Stir the ground nuts and garlic into the potatoes. Gradually add the olive oil, stirring all the while with a fork or a pestle. Add the lemon juice or vinegar, and salt to taste. The mixture should be like loose mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust lemon juice, vinegar, and salt. Transfer to a bowl and chill until ready to serve. If the mixture stiffens up, thin out with a little olive oil or water.

Steps:

• Select fresh tender beets and cut off the tops and roots. Wash the beets, without removing the skins, and boil in a large pot with ample water.
• Meanwhile, clean the beet greens with the stems; add to the pot after the beets have cooked 30 minutes. When beets are tender, remove and strain off the liquid.
• Peel the beets and cut them into round slices; chop up the greens. Mound greens in center of a platter and surround them with the beet slices.
• Dress with olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the skordalia (the skordalia is served as a 'meze' - in it's own bowl, and dibs and dabs of the skordalia are enjoyed with forkfuls of the beet slices and/or greens). Make sure you have a good quality, artisanal loaf of bread to enjoy with this.
• To make Skordalia: Clean garlic and mash it completely (you may use food processor or blender). Mash in potatoes, one by one, until you have a thick puree. Alternately, add the oil and vinegar, beating constantly getting rid of all lumps (you want it very smooth). Many people like to add almonds or walnuts to skordalia, but this is optional.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a pan then add the onion and garlic and cook for 6-8 mins until golden.
• Lower the heat and stir in the beets, vinegar and tomato paste.
• Cook gently for 15-20 mins until everything is sticky and caramelized. This can now be served as it is if you like.
• Pour in the broth and the cream and stir together. Tip into a food processor and blitz until smooth.
• Serve straight away or reheat before serving.

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into halves or quarters and steam over 1 inch of boiling water until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat. When they are cool enough to handle, cut in small dice.
• Peel the beets and cut in small dice. In a large bowl, combine with the potatoes, celery, onion, hard-boiled eggs and chives.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the vinegar, mustard and salt. Whisk in the olive oil and the yogurt. Toss with the vegetables. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Serve right away or refrigerate.