Vegetarian Recipes
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 […]
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 […]
In the Mediterranean diet, salad is an important part of almost every meal and important in its own right since so many Mediterranean recipes for salad can stand on their own as a main course. This Greek salad is a perfect paradigm for the variety and intensity of flavor in of classic Mediterranean ingredients […]
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.
Variation: Place all the dressing ingredients in the bowl of a small food processor or blender. Add the feta cheese and pine nuts and pulse to get a smooth pesto-like paste. Toss this into the zucchini and tomato mixture and serve.
FUN TIP: You may already know that avocados can be cultivated in tropical climates. But did you know that they’re also cultivated in Mediterranean climates? There are excellent avocados from Chania, Crete, in food markets in Greece. The largest avocado producer in the world is Mexico, and other significant producers are Peru, Indonesia, Chile, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
WHAT IS MASTIHA AND HOW DO YOU GRIND IT:Greeks consider Mastiha their #1 superfood, a panacea that’s good for everything from gut health to gum health! But it’s also an incredibly versatile spice, pairing beautifully and adding an exotic mysterious undertone to everything from citrusy dishes to tomato-based dishes to savory and sweet white […]