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OUR MARITIME FAMILY Greek
Tarama Dip
(Taramosalata)
Food Culture:
Famous recipes from
different cultures
What is Tarama? Lent, which begins forty days before Pas-
cha (Easter). People who observe Lent do
Tarama is the cured eggs of carp fish, grey not consume meat, dairy, and fish. How-
mullet, or cod. In Greece, we have two types ever, seafood like mussels, octopus, and
of tarama. The one is called white tarama, squid are allowed as they do not contain
although actually a yellowish color, while blood in their bodies.
the other is called pink tarama, which is In older times, when people were a lot
white tarama with pink color added to it to more religious, the Greek Lent fast lasted
give it a more attractive color. The flavor of for forty days. Today, most people fast
both types is almost the same, the white only on Clean Monday and during the
variety being a touch stronger. week before Easter Sunday, which is what
we call the Holy Week, as it is the week
The Greek tarama dip, or taramosalata, is in which the suffering and death of Christ
made using potatoes or bread as a base. took place. But enough with the religious
Lemon juice, olive oil, and onion are add- stuff! It is time to move to another tradi-
ed, and sometimes fine walnut or almond tional Greek dish, the meze!
crumbs. It is a favorite Greek meze that
goes perfectly with ouzo. Meze is the Greek name for the different
small dishes served along with alcohol
(traditionally ouzo or raki but sometimes
Greek Traditions even wine) before the main meal, in most
cases, lunch. Meze dishes are usually
This dip is one of the traditional dishes dips, spreads, marinated fish, seafood, or
by Fotini Gazi enjoyed during Greek Lent and Clean cheese. A meze dish usually contains vin-
egar, garlic, or lemon in order to increase
Monday.
Real Greek Recipes your appetite and make you really hungry
realgreekrecipes.com Clean Monday is the first day of the Greek for the main meal.
46 MINERVA IN FOCUS – ISSUE 19 / Q1 2022
