Scordolea (Dried Fish with Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

Scordolea (Dried Fish with Garlic Mashed Potatoes)

Scordolea is a traditional dish from the Danube Delta and Dobrogea, cooked by fishermen for centuries. It is made from boiled dried fish — typically carp or pike — layered between two generous portions of yellow potato mash prepared with fish broth and raw garlic sauce. The result resembles a moussaka, but without meat or oven — rustic, humble, and intensely flavored, faithfully reflecting the fishing cuisine of the Delta.

🍽️

Servings

4

⏱️

Prep

20 min (plus 8–12 ore desărare)

🔥

Cook

50 min

⏰

Total

1 h 10 min (excluding desalting)

🥘Ingredients

4

servings

Main ingredients

Optional aromatics

For serving

✅Dietary Compatibility

🐟Pescatarian🥛Dairy-free💪High-protein🥦Clean eating🫒Mediterranean
🍽️

Yield

approx. 4 servings

📦Storage

❄️

Refrigerator

Up to 2 days in a sealed container; reheat over steam or with a little fish broth to restore creaminess

🧊

Freezer

Not recommended — mashed potatoes and boiled fish change texture when frozen

🥗Nutrition Facts

Values per serving (approx. 350g)

🔥

Calories

240 kcal

🥩

Protein

18 g

🧈

Fat

11 g

🍞

Carbohydrates

18 g

🌾

Fiber

2 g

🍷Pairs Well With

🥂Thick homemade bread
🥂Fresh or pickled hot peppers
🥂Dry Dobrogea white wine
🥂Fish broth (as soup, first course)
🥂Tomato and spring onion salad

💡Variations

1

Add a few tablespoons of grated horseradish to the mash for a spicy note typical of Dobrogea.

2

Use smoked dried fish for a layer with a more complex and deeper flavor.

3

If dried fish is unavailable, salt fresh fish with coarse salt 24 hours ahead — the result will be milder but structurally similar.

Scordolea (Dried Fish with Garlic Mashed Potatoes) | Traditional Recipes