WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE 

Taramasalata is a popular Greek dip made year-round but is more commonly enjoyed on Clean Monday, which is the first day of Lent when people start fasting for Easter.  Taramasalata is a creamy whipped dip that is salty, slightly tangy from the lemon juice, and creamy from the olive oil.  This delicious dip is made from fish roe, potatoes, olive oil, and lemon juice, all mixed together for a velvety smooth dip! 

 

This recipe is made with carp caviar and potatoes instead of white fish roe and bread. 

 

The colour of your homemade taramasalata can be light beige to pale pink, depending on the type of fish roe used. For this recipe, I use carp roe caviar, so the colour is a beautiful pale pink. 

 

 

RECIPE TIPS 

• Blend the tarama on its own for 10 minutes on its own so that it becomes light, fluffy, and lighter in colour.
   
• Allow the potatoes to cool before grating them so that they’re easier to handle.  Use a box grater to grate the potatoes before adding them to the food processor.  Add 1/3 of the grated potatoes to the tarama, mix them together, and then repeat this process until all of the grated potatoes are added.  You may need to turn off the processor and scrape down the sides a few times while making the taramasalata.

 

• Tarama is salty, so there’s no need to add any more salt to this recipe. If you find it too salty, you can add more olive oil and lemon juice. 

 

• The potatoes will need to be peeled and then boiled until soft.  Approximately 20-25 minutes. 

 

• Chill the taramasalata dip in the fridge for at least an hour before serving so the flavours can come together. 

 

 

INGREDIENTS NOTES 

Tarama: You can usually find tarama at Greek or Mediterranean specialty stores. I use the Krinos Tarama carp caviar, which is a delicate carp roe that is naturally cured and aged and comes in a 250 grams jar.  I found the best results using carp roe caviar instead of lumpfish caviar.

 

Potatoes: Yellow potatoes or Yukon gold work well for this recipe.  I haven’t tried this recipe with Russet potatoes.  This recipe uses about 1.25 pounds (567 grams) of potatoes.

 

Oil: I use olive oil for this recipe because it adds an earthy flavour to the dip.  I find that this dip still tastes great after it’s been in the fridge.  Olive oil solidifies in the fridge and at cooler temperatures, but I haven’t found olive oil to alter the texture of this dip too much.  If you’d like, you can substitute canola oil, avocado oil or another light-flavoured vegetable oil instead of olive oil.

 

Lemon: Fresh lemon juice will brighten up this dip and balance out the flavours of the fish roe. 

 

 

KITCHEN TOOLS RECOMMENDED 

• Food processor (at least 3.5 cup size or larger)
• Box grater 
• Vegetable peeler

 

 

HOW TO MAKE TARAMASALATA: STEP BY STEP 

STEP 1: Boil the potatoes.  In a large pot, boil enough water so that the potatoes are submerged. Once the water begins to boil, place the potatoes in the pot. Cover with a lid and boil the potatoes for about 25 minutes.  

 

STEP 2: Purée the tarama. While the potatoes are boiling, place 5 tablespoons of tarama into the bowl of a food processor. Puré for 10 minutes until the tarama becomes light, fluffy, and lighter in colour.

 

STEP 3: Combine ingredients together. Once the potatoes are soft, drain them in a mesh strainer or colander. Allow the potatoes to cool so that they’re easy to work with. Grate the potatoes on the cheese grater side of a box grater. Place 1/3 of the grated potatoes in the food processor with the tarama, mix them together, and then repeat this process until all of the potatoes are added to the food processor. 

 

If you have a larger food processor, then you can add all of the potatoes in at the same time. Then, slowly alternate between adding in the oil and lemon juice and blending until the dip is creamy and smooth.  Chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. 

 

 

STORING & SERVING

Typically enjoyed with fresh crusty bread or pita bread. Top the tarama dip with fresh parsley, Kalamata olives and oil. Commonly served as part of a mezze platter with other Greek dips like tzatziki and tirokafteri. 

 

You can store any leftover taramasalata in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. The flavours of the dip will become more pronounced the longer it sits in the fridge.

 

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Creamy Whipped Taramasalata Recipe (Greek Fish Roe Dip)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Taramasalata is a classic Greek dip made with fish roe, potatoes, olive oil, and lemon juice. This dip is super simple to make, and everything comes together in a food processor. Drizzle this beautiful and tasty pale pink dip with olive oil, kalamata olives, and fresh parsley.

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Ingredients

• 4 small-medium sized peeled potatoes (approximately 1.25 pounds)
• 5 tablespoons tarama
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• Fresh Italian parsley (optional garnish)
• Kalamata olives (optional garnish)

Instructions

1. Boil the potatoes. In a large pot, boil enough water to submerge the potatoes. Once the water begins to boil, place the peeled potatoes in the pot. Cover with a lid and boil the peeled potatoes for about 25 minutes.
2. Purée the tarama. While the potatoes are boiling, place 5 tablespoons of tarama into the bowl of a food processor. Purée the tarama on its own for 10 minutes until the tarama becomes light, fluffy, and lighter in colour.
3. Combine the ingredients together. Once the potatoes are soft, drain them using a mesh strainer or colander. Allow the potatoes to cool so that they're easier to handle. Grate the potatoes on the cheese grater side of a box grater. Place the grated potatoes (1/3 amount at a time) in the food processor with the tarama. Mix together, and then add in more grated potatoes. Repeat this process until all the potatoes are mixed in. If you have a larger food processor, then you can add in all of the grated potatoes at once. Then, slowly alternate between adding in the oil and lemon juice and blending until the dip is creamy and smooth.

Notes

• Tarama is salty, so there's no need to add any more salt to this recipe. If you find it's too salty, you can add more olive oil and lemon juice.
• The potatoes will need to be really soft. Allow them to boil for at least 25 minutes.
• Allow the grated potatoes to cool before adding them to the blended tarama.
• Chill the taramasalata dip in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 20mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 2g

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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