HELPFUL TIP: How to make couscous fluffyYou can toss the uncooked couscous in a drizzle of olive oil before adding the liquid, which coats each grain in oil and helps them stay separate. Alternatively, add a drizzle of oil as you fluff up the grains. Use a fork to fluff the couscous—stirring it with a […]
FUN FACT: The Mediterranean diet is many things, but more than anything it’s a road map for how not to waste food! Turning stale, leftover bread into delicious recipes is an age-old tradition that spans the region’s many different cuisines. Crostini, bruschetta, Greek bread-based dips like skordalia and more are all ways in which poor […]
HELPFUL TIP: You’ve probably guessed after reading this recipe that tofu is hardly a traditional ingredient in the Blue-Zone longevity diet of Ikaria. But it is elsewhere and it is available and widely embraced among plant-loving, health-conscious Greeks! So, I’ve embraced it, too, and have discovered that its versatility and mild flavor make adapting it […]
USEFUL TIP: The best way to protect your unpacked, loose mushrooms from fridge humidity is inside a paper bag or wrapped with newspapers.
HELPFUL TIP: To remove the beard from the mussels, grab it with your thumb and forefinger and tug it toward the hinge of the mussel shell. You can also use a knife to gently scrape away the beard.Ideally, you want to prepare and cook the mussels as soon after buying as possible, but as long […]
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 […]
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 […]