Portobello “Pizza” Marguerita
HELPFUL HINT: All mushrooms are versatile ingredients but portobello mushrooms are an excellent choice for all those wanting to reduce meat and animal protein from their diets. By adding portobellos to your diet, you help increase your fiber intake and lower your risk for heart disease, high cholesterol and digestive conditions. You can eat them […]
Watermelon Smoothie
HEALTHY TIPS: Are you a smoothie fan? Smoothies can be an excellent way to eat a balanced meal on the go or when there’s time pressure. Some of the healthiest ingredients to add in a smoothie are fruit, veggies, protein, liquids, spices/ extracts and spirulina. I enjoy adding plain Greek yogurt in my smoothies, as […]
Mediterranean Warm Grilled Vegetable Salad
VEGGIES EVERY WHICH WAY: This selection of vegetables is like a poster child for Mediterranean cooking. Tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and eggplant combine in countless ways, from dishes like French Ratatouille to Greek Briam to more complex layered recipes that include cheese or are seasoned with local flavor palettes. But they also make for a great […]
Balsamic-glazed Pork Chops
A LITTLE CARNIVOROUS INDULGENCE: It might seem odd to include an occasional meat dish, and for pork, nonetheless, in a recipe club aimed at sharing and teaching the benefits of a mostly plant-based diet. In the Mediterranean, though, meat consumption is not anathema; it’s just not a daily or, dare I say, even weekly indulgence, […]
Spring Greek Salad Wrap
Greek salad is a legendary part of the Greek-Mediterranean diet, and there are many Greek salads to speak of, each enjoyed in its season with whatever is fresh. This Greek salad is typically savored in spring, when tender lettuce is at its peak. It’s usually served shredded and dressed with a simple olive oil-lemon vinaigrette. […]
Tahini-Honey Toast
A healthy breakfast is an important part of the Mediterranean diet. One of the most important, nutritious and traditional Mediterranean diet ingredients for breakfast is tahini, or sesame paste. It is chick full of vitamins and minerals and a great source of easy-to-digest calcium. This breakfast is a superfood bonanza and it will keep you […]
Lagana (Flat, Wide Lenten Bread)
Lagana is a special Greek bread, flat and wide and eaten but one day a year, on Clean Monday at the start of Lent. Traditionally, lagana was unleavened, but now commercial bakers use yeast in its preparation. I learned to make this from a local baker in my neighborhood in Athens. Lagana claims another tradition […]
Spanish-style Baked Omelet With Chorizo and Vegetables
CHORIZO 101: Chorizo is a name given to a variety of sausages, both fresh and cured originating in the Iberian peninsula. It is made with chopped pork meat and pork fat, seasoned with paprika and garlic, all stuffed into a natural gut. Although there are many regional varieties, most chorizo can usually be placed into […]
Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed With Briam
PRAISE FOR THE PORTOBELLO Because they’re so substantial, fleshy and succulent, portobello mushrooms easily satisfy even the most tempting cravings for red meat. They’re nothing more than the mature form of button and cremini mushrooms. All of these mushrooms are, in fact the same species at different stages of maturity. Portobellos are rich in flavor, […]
Orecchiete With Mastiha or Tomato Sauce
HELPFUL TIP: Orecchiette means little ears in Italia, for the shape of these small thumb-size discs with an indentation makes them perfect for “clinging” to the sauce. The shape is a traditional one from Puglia in the Italian boot, and there it’s usually served with a simple chunky tomato sauce. You can substitute Orecchiette with […]
Caponata on Toast
A LITTLE HISTORY: There are 37 official versions of Caponata, which is essentially a sweet and sour ratatouille and a specialty of Sicily. Sicilian Caponata mirrors all the flavors of all the conquerors who have ever stepped foot on the island. This version, not among the 37 official ones, calls for Greek olives as a […]
Kayianas – Slow-cooked Omelet With Mushrooms
HELPFUL INFO: Mushrooms are a low-carb, low-fat ingredient packed with about 15 vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, zinc and potassium. Mushrooms are also rich in antioxidants and they’re one of the few foods that contain vitamin D, which is essential for building strong bones, reducing inflammation and improving immune function.