Creamy Orzo Casserole With Vegetables
FUN FACT: Onions are a really important ingredient in the Greek-Mediterranean diet and in the longevity foods of Ikarians and other denizens of the Blue Zones. They’re rich in plant compounds and antioxidants, and they make everything taste better, too! There are a few differences in taste and nutritional components among onions. Colorful varieties, such […]
Spicy Mushrooms With Chili Peppers and Garlic
USEFUL TIP: The best way to protect your unpacked, loose mushrooms from fridge humidity is inside a paper bag or wrapped with newspapers.
Portsi
I don’t think I can say this enough: The Greek-Mediterranean diet is packed with excellent, hearty, main course vegetable fare prepared in every way, shape and form. Soup, of course, is one way we eat vegetables, and in winter that’s often part of a weekly Mediterranean meal plan! It’s also a great way to prepare […]
Low-Carb Sheet-Pan Chicken Drumsticks Roasted with Oranges, Onions and Rosemary
Here’s a wonderful Mediterranean meal and great Mediterranean diet recipe for sheet pan chicken that’s easy and tasty. Chicken is a go-to Mediterranean diet food protein because it’s so convenient and there are, truth be told, so many great chicken recipes across the region, it’s hard to choose. The deliciously pungent Greek garlic, Greek olive […]
Spicy Steamed Mussels Filled With Nuts, Onions And Herbs
HELPFUL TIP: To remove the beard from the mussels, grab it with your thumb and forefinger and tug it toward the hinge of the mussel shell. You can also use a knife to gently scrape away the beard.Ideally, you want to prepare and cook the mussels as soon after buying as possible, but as long […]
Spiced Raw Carrot Salad
FUN FACT: Carrots are about 10 percent carbs, consisting of starch, fiber, and simple sugars. They are extremely low in fat and protein. Also, the beta carotene in carrots is a skin-friendly nutrient that gets converted to vitamin A inside the body, and we need vitamin A to strengthen our immune systems, for eye health […]
Mushroom Souvlaki with Pistachio Pesto
You can use any nut you like, or even seeds, such as roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, for the pesto. But if you do use pistachios, I highly recommend the amazing Aegina pistachios from my online shop. A word about mushrooms and eating for longevity: Mushrooms have always been a part of the longevity diet […]
Spinach Tagliatelle with Creamy Walnut Sauce
The concept of using ground nuts, especially walnuts, to help thicken a sauce is rooted in some of the regional Lenten traditions of Greece. It was a brilliant way for cooks to mimic the texture of, say, ground meat, during periods of fasting, and to provide important nutrition. (read more on Notes below)
Dry-roasted Cauliflower with Cayenne and Lemon
CAULIFLOWER & LONGEVITY: It is usually the colorful veggies that get all the attention for being the brightest stars in the healthy diet universe. But cauliflower, which has grown in popularity, is an exception. All the cruciferous vegetables play an important role in eating for health and longevity. In Ikaria, people grow all manner of […]
Spicy Spanakopita Shakshuka
HELPFUL TIP: The reason I suggest breaking the eggs one at a time into a cup first is so that you have better control of the yolk. The dish looks so much better if the yolk is unbroken!
Modern Greek Christmas Chestnut Soup
Chestnut trees grow all over Greece, especially in the mountains, which account for 80% of the Greek landscape. They are one of the traditional ingredients in the rice stuffing for the Christmas or New Year’s turkey. They often stud wine-braised pork dishes, also served on the holidays. Chestnut spoon sweets, chestnut puree and chestnut flour […]
Waldorf Salad with a Greek Figs
One doesn’t usually think of anything Greek when it comes to a Waldorf salad, named for the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. It was first created there, by Oscar Tschirky, maître d’hotel, to be served at a charity ball in honor of St. mary’s Childrens’ Hospital in March of 1896. It has become a […]