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 […]
HELPFUL TIP: Tea, especially herbal tea, is one of the seminal ingredients in the Ikarian longevity diet. Many herbal teas contain specific therapeutic benefits and are diuretic, which means they help combat hypertension. But black tea such as Earl Grey also has its benefits. Black tea can aid heart health and diabetes and is high […]
FUN NUTRITIONAL FACTS: You could call this pizza for health! Who doesn’t love a quick savory pie or pizza? You can experiment with different flatbreads and flatbreads made with different grains. The toppings are what give this pizza its…pizzazz! Artichokes, chickpeas and arugula combine to make this a nutritional powerhouse. Chickpeas provide earthy satisfaction and […]
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 […]
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)
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 […]
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!
FACTS & TIPS: Why Hazelnuts? I had originally created this recipe with bits of cured pork in mind, using a very small amount of meat the way my ancestors would have a few generations ago. But then I wanted to challenge myself and make the recipe totally vegan. Nuts do the trick, and hazelnuts are […]
In the vast majority of recipes in this ongoing collection, I’ve steered clear of refined sugar as an ingredient. But the truth is that some of the most traditional preparations on Ikaria and elsewhere in Greece are the fruits, nuts, and young vegetables preserved in sugar syrup called glyka tou koutaliou. or spoon sweets. Vyssino, […]
FUN TIP: Creamy texture doesn’t have to be achieved with, well, cream! In this recipe, I call for an age-old Greek tradition for using nuts as a thickener. Cashews, while not native to Greece, are a much-loved nut. They are super rich in iron and copper, which impacts our metabolism in a positive way. Cashews […]