MUSHROOMS VS MEAT: Mushrooms have “umami,” which is sometimes called the fifth taste (along with sweet, salt, sour and bitter). We have specific receptors for this taste, which is why mushrooms are such a great meat-replacement. But beyond that, mushrooms are better for us than meat in so many ways. They are packed full of […]
Sexy greens is not an oxymoron! In the Mediterranean diet, greens are a basic ingredient. Their sheer variety offers countless solutions to everything from soup and salad to main courses and they’re packed with nutrients.
Here is a Mediterranean diet dessert recipe made for Love and Valentine’s Day! I know, I know, Greek feta is not something one usually thinks of in combination with chocolate, but the match is a beguiling one, especially as the tang of the cheese is mellowed with the addition of extra virgin Greek olive oil […]
The best Mediterranean diet recipes are the oldest, most traditional and easiest ones, and this Greek recipe for trahana is a perfect example. What is trahana, for those of you who may not be familiar with the world’s oldest slow fast food? It’s a fermented grain product made by cooking wheat or flour with milk, […]
In the Mediterranean diet and Greek kitchen, chocolate finds its way into delicious desserts with olive oil, superfood Mastiha, Greek wines, tahini, nuts and more. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here are five ways to use chocolate in traditional and modern Greek baking…all in the spirit of the healthy Mediterranean diet!
This delicious Greek chickpea recipe with spinach epitomizes the simple way that healthy, plant-based Mediterranean ingredients come together in the Greek and Mediterranean diet. Chickpeas are one of the oldest cultivated legumes in the Eastern Mediterranean and Greeks have been enjoying them for eons. You can easily swap out the spinach for something more exotic, […]
Greek honey is one of the most therapeutic and delicious foods on earth, and a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet! On Ikaria, local honey, always raw and pure, is one of the secrets to longevity! Here are five tips for how to use it and enjoy it in savory and sweet dishes alike.
YOGURT KNOW-HOW: Warm and cold yogurt soups abound all over the Eastern Mediterranean. From the Syrian lamb-yogurt soup called shakrya to Turkish yogurt soups, the variety is impressive and spiciness is almost always part of the flavor palette, counterbalancing the cool, refreshing qualities of really good yogurt. Yogurt and Yogurt Substitutes: If you’re using real […]
HELPFUL TIP:Roast raw pine nuts on a tray in a 350℉ (180℃) oven for about 10 minutes, shaking halfway through. They can also be toasted on top of the stove in a heavy skillet, stirring often until they turn golden. Keep a close eye on the pine nuts as they can very quickly move from […]
RELAX WITH WINE:Wine is the de facto way people on Ikaria relax, always drinking in moderation and in the company of friends, but also, often, watering down their wine lest it adversely goes to their heads! Taking a cue from this ancient habit, this wine cocktail is also a mixture of, well, wine and water. […]