Cardoons skordalia (in garlic batter)

Xωστές με σκόρδο.<br/> Πηγή: Xufanc, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cardoon-navarrese15.JPG.

Xωστές με σκόρδο. Πηγή: Xufanc, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cardoon-navarrese15.JPG.

Xωστές με σκόρδο.<br/> Πηγή: Xufanc, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cardoon-navarrese15.JPG.

Cardoon, a wild green (Cynara cardunculus), cooked in garlic batter.

Name - Recipe
Cypriot name of dish
Χωστές σκορδαλιά. Hostés skordaliá.
Greek name - description

Χωστές - είδος αυτοφυούς χόρτου (Cynara cardunculus) - ψημένες σε χυλό με σκόρδο.. Cardoon, a wild green (Cynara cardunculus), cooked in garlic batter.

Ingredients

2 kg of cardoons
4-5 garlic cloves
water (fill 1/2 of the pot)
4 tbsp flour
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt

Method

Fill half of a pot with water and bring to a boil, then add the cardoons. Once they are cooked, remove them from the pot and drain them. Pour the water away, keeping only a cup of water for later use. In the same pot, which is now empty, add the olive oil and add the garlic. Once the garlic is golden brown, add the cardoons and some salt and continue cooking. In a container, add the flour and dissolve it with a bit of the water that you kept aside after boiling the cardoons. Add the batter to the pot and continue cooking for another 10 minutes. (Andreas Hadjilambi, 66 years old from Komi Kepir Kyrenia)

Cooking method

Boiling.
Sautéing.
Cooking in a pot.

Nutritional Value and Importance in the Diet of Cypriots

"In the past, we used to make this recipe once every fortnight or so, in the winter." (Andreas Hadjilambi, 66 years old from Komi Kepir Kyrenia)

Time period
19th - 21st c.
Supplementary information

Extract from an interview with Mr Andreas Hadjilambi:

"We didn't have the chance to make this recipe all year round, since the cardoons grow at a certain time of the year, in winter.

Question: Where did you learn it from? Answer: From my mother, Andriana Hajilambi.

Question: Is it a local recipe? Where do they make it? Answer: No, it is not a local recipe.

Question: How often do you make it now? Answer: Twice a year, specifically during the winter when cardoons are available in the market.

Question: How often did you make it previously? Answer: When I was young, when we lived in Komi Kepir, we used to make it twice a month in the winter because there was more availability."

(Andreas Hadjilambi, 66 years old from Komi Kepir Kyrenia).

Βibliography

Oral testimony: Andreas Hadjilambi, 66 years old from Komi Kepir Kyrenia. Recording: Christiana Christofi, October 2010. Edited by Stalo Lazarou.

Researcher / Recorder

Christiana Christofi/Stalo Lazarou