Vegetables recipes for The Ikaria Diet Recipe Club
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)
THE IMPORTANCE OF HERBS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET: Herbs are widely used in the Mediterranean Diet. They are used not only as flavor enhancers but also because of their medicinal properties. The contribution of the traditional herbs of the region to good health is indeed incredible. Herbs such as parsley, oregano, rosemary and, thyme, […]
KIWI NUTRITION FACTS: Kiwis are a great source of vitamin C, an effective antioxidant in the body, protecting cells against oxidative destruction. It’s also involved in immune function. Kiwis also contain a host of other nutrients and vitamins, including potassium, copper, vitamin K, folate, and vitamin E. Kiwis are low in calories, protein, and […]
BULGUR 101: A lot of people confuse bulgur with cracked wheat. It is cracked wheat, usually Durum, but with a difference. Bulgur is parboiled. That makes it so easy to use; it needs much less cooking time. In fact, it doesn’t have to be cooked; you can just soak it in water or broth […]
WAYS TO USE THESE CARAMELISED ONIONS I love to enjoy these as a side dish with most dishes -especially when I’m having a bean or a vegetable stew. Next time you have giant beans in tomato sauce or any Greek ladero, these onions are a wonderful pair.
HOW TO STEAM & ROAST BUTTERNUT SQUASH Steam: Bring 1 inch of water to boil in a large pan fitted with a steamer basket. Add squash. Cover and steam until soft, about 15 minutes. Roast: Cut the butternut squash in half lengthwise and place flesh side down on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake […]
TIPS GRILLING EGGPLANT SLICES One of the best varieties for recipes like the above is globe/ American eggplant although you can find that it works in all varieties of eggplants available. Choose small or medium eggplants as the larger ones tend to contain more seeds. Brushing each slice generously with extra virgin olive oil […]
TIPS FOR PERFECT CABBAGE STEAKS Choose a fresh, firm and crisp cabbage. Remove the outer leaves from the cabbage. Rinse the cabbage and pat dry. Cut off the bottom of the stem and use a sharp knife to cut the cabbage into 1-inch thick pieces. Season both sides of the cabbage steak. Make sure […]
A HEALTHY RECIPE FOR CRISPY ONIONS Ingredients ½ pound onions, peeled 2 Tbsp extra virgin Greek olive oil Sea salt and black pepper Instructions Preheat the oven to 400 F. Slice the onions into 1/4 inch and add them into a bowl. Coat them with olive oil and season them with sea salt and […]
A LITTLE CARDAMOM LORE Cardamom, native to India, was known to the ancient Greeks and used in making perfume, so highly esteemed was its aroma. That very same aroma informs so much cooking all over the world today – cardamom truly is one of the greatest spices on earth. In many parts of the […]