SHRIMP AND PINEAPPLE SKEWERS, GARNISHED WITH SCALLIONS
SOY SAUCE AND THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET It might seem incongruous to include soy sauce in recipes that embrace the plant-based traditions of Ikaria and the wider Mediterranean. But the truth is there’s also a large “Mediterrasian” trend afoot and chefs, at least in Greece, have been incorporating this ancient condiment into recipes for years now. […]
PARSNIPS ROASTED WITH EVOO AND HERBS
ROASTING PARSNIPS AND SOME NUTRITION! You can cut the roasting time in half by parboiling the parsnips for about 7 minutes before putting them in the oven. Parsnips definitely aren’t at the top of the winter root vegetable list for most Greek cooks. That place would be taken by the likes of beetroot, celery root […]
Ikaria-Inspired Mushroom and Chickpea Stew
I marry a little Indian flavor with this Greek Mushroom Chickpea Stew. Garam Masala is a warm and earthy spice mix originating from Northern India. There are many recipes for this spice mix but most of them consist of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns, cumin, nutmeg. You can make this spice mix at home starting […]
ALMOND CRUSTED HAKE OVER ALMOND RISOTTO
CARNAROLI 101 Carnaroli is considered the best rice option for a risotto, as it has a larger grain and holds its shape better than Arborio. It’s considered the “king” or risotto rice and it’s Northern Italians’ favorite type of rice. It grows in Novara and Vercelli in Northern Italy, a region where some of the […]
Greek Salad Lamb Burgers
Burgers are called “biftekia” in the Greek diet and they make for a great treat, especially if you’re looking for something different for any weekend cookout or grill fest! The Mediterranean diet ingredients that are in this Greek recipe run the gamut of everything from great extra virgin Greek olive oil to dried Greek oregano, […]
Chickpea Curry With Mushrooms and Spinach
ABOUT CHICKPEAS AND SPINACH: The combination of chickpeas and spinach makes for a nutritionally complete vegetarian or vegan meal and it is a combination that appears in many traditional cuisines throughout the world. There are spinach-chickpea combos with regional variations in parts of the Peloponnese and northern Greece, especially the northwestern part of the country, […]
PEACH ICED TEA WITH MINT
Broad Bean Salad with Dill and Olive Oil
HOW TO PREP FRESH BROAD BEANS: The first step is opening the pods and taking out the beans. Then you need to remove the bean skins -as they tend to be tough. Since peeling them out can be challenging, blanching them first makes it much more manageable. You just need to blanch them for 3 […]
MUSSELS COOKED IN TOMATO SAUCE
TIPS FOR PERFECT MUSSELS, FRESH VS FROZEN: Always buy your mussels fresh; frozen mussels have a mealy texture. Make sure the mussel shells are firmly closed. If they are open a little, give them a firm tap against the side of the sink or the counter. If they close, you can eat them. If not, […]
RED & WHITE QUINOA BOWL WITH PEAS, CARROTS AND PEPPERS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF QUINOA: There are many different types of quinoa grown in the Andes, where this ancient grain originates. We find some of them in western supermarkets as well. Here’s a quick guide: Quinoa or White Quinoa- is the most common kind of quinoa available in stores, so you’ll often see it just called […]
BROCCOLI CRUST PIZZA WITH MUSHROOMS, AVOCADO AND CREAMY LIGHT CHEESE SAUCE
BROCCOLI PIZZA CRUST – A FEW TIPS! This ersatz but delicious pizza definitely tastes best the day it is made. But if you’re a pizza lover like I am, you also know the guilty pleasures of enjoying a leftover slice the next day. You can reheat this in a hot oven at about 400 degrees […]
The Simplest Spicy Shrimp
SERVING TIP: You can serve these shrimp as is, or over brown rice or quinoa.