Croquettes: A Surprising Dish

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Mediterranean cuisine is a set of culinary traditions that developed in the Mediterranean Basin and are distinguished by their various recipes and ingredients. The nations around the Mediterranean Sea are credited with some of history's most significant breakthroughs, including those in architecture, mathematics, philosophy, and religion. Borek is a Turkish pastry filled with cheese or minced meat. Borek comes from the Turkish term börek, which meaning "folded." In Turkey, the most frequent kind of borek is külbura (cheese borek), which is produced by wrapping a triangular piece of dough around soft white cheese and frying it in hot oil. Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty prepared with ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both. It's commonly served with veggies, pickles, and tahini sauce in a pita sandwich. It's also typically served as part of mezze, a Middle Eastern snack platter. It is both vegetarian and vegan. Falafel is one of those dishes that can be traced back centuries in many civilizations across the Mediterranean area; it seems to have originated anytime between Egypt and Greece around the 18th century BCE (Before Common Era). Most people are unaware that falafel has been around for a long time since it was popularised after World War II by Jewish immigrants from Arab countries who took their culinary traditions with them to Israel. In Egypt and the Middle East, ful medames is a popular meal. It's created with mashed cooked fava beans that have been seasoned to taste. It's also Egypt's national dish! Ful medames is often served during breakfast or brunch, although it may be eaten at any time of day. Some people like ful with pita bread, while others prefer it alone or with other meals such as hummus or falafel. Ful medames may be found in numerous Egyptian eateries across the globe, including New York City! Moussaka is a typical Greek meal that consists of layers of thinly sliced eggplant and tomato cooked with a béchamel sauce on top. Moussaka is often served as an appetiser as part of a meze (appetiser platter) or as an entrée with salad or roasted potatoes. Bouillabaisse is a classic fish stew from the southern French region of Provence. It's cooked with a variety of seafood—usually red rascasse (lionfish), John Dory, sea bass, monkfish, and mussels—and topped with rouille (a garlic-spiced mayonnaise-based sauce).

Dried Fruit: The Snack Snob's Best Friend —


Originally, it was created by fisherman who caught everything they could find and cooked it to feed their families. Despite the fact that bouillabaisse can now be found in restaurants all over the globe, its major components are still governed by tradition: tomatoes cannot be used since tomatoes were not brought to Provence until until the 17th century, when Spain conquered France! Hummus is a popular dip or spread prepared with cooked, mashed chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, garlic, and sometimes additional ingredients. It is popular across the Middle East and originates in the Eastern Mediterranean area. Salads and flatbreads like falafel are popular in Egyptian cuisine. Another famous Egyptian cuisine is ful medames, a fava bean dish similar to hummus. Moussaka is a Greek meal that originated in Egypt and was subsequently introduced to Greece by the Ottomans; it is made with eggplant, minced beef or lamb, and béchamel sauce. Bouillabaisse is a French dish that originated in Marseille, which was previously part of the Ottoman Empire; it is prepared with fish stock that has been seasoned with saffron and is served over rice or couscous. Chorizo is a sort of pig sausage that originated in Spain. It may be eaten fresh or cured and smoked, and it is often used in Mediterranean dishes like as paella and Spanish tortilla. Chorizo is derived from the Spanish verb choricear, which means "to cut up finely" or "to chop into little cubes" (Choricero was also the name given to butchers who worked with pig meat). Chorizo is often mistaken with salami since both are cured meats used in Mediterranean cuisine. Salami, on the other hand, has a smoother texture than raw chorizo; nevertheless, since it is produced with ground beef rather than pig, it has more fat and salt than its country cousin. Tahini is a sesame seed paste that is ground. It's a mainstay of Middle Eastern cuisine, and it's utilised in a variety of Mediterranean cuisines. Tahini is often used in hummus, but it may also be eaten on its own as part of a meze (a collection of small dishes). Falafel sandwiches, for example, often comprise deep-fried falafel balls paired with tahini sauce. The Ottoman Empire was the most powerful empire of its time, controlling a substantial chunk of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa at its height. As a cosmopolitan empire, it had diverse cuisines moving across its territory that were inspired by the many civilizations that joined together to make it. Ottoman cuisine is divided into numerous groups, including Balkan (eastern Mediterranean), Anatolian (western Mediterranean), Arab-influenced, Persian-influenced, Greek-influenced, and Armenian-influenced foods.

Tasting Paprika From Around The World


"Olives are the fruits of the olive tree (Olea europaea), a classic Mediterranean tree crop. The plant family is named for the tree and its fruit, which also contains species such as lilacs, jasmine, and Forsythia. It is one of the earliest cultivated trees, having originated in Asia Minor and spread throughout much of Europe by the time of the Romans." The olives are harvested from trees that grow across the Mediterranean region, thus various places yield different types with distinct flavours. People are increasingly purchasing pre-bottled oil rather than manufacturing their own at home or pressing it themselves at a local mill (which is still very popular). If you have your own olive grove, you may manufacture your own oil using an ancient press or simply by pressing the olives between two huge stones! Some claim that this results in a better-tasting product... Couscous is a Mediterranean classic, but it's also popular in North Africa and the Middle East. Couscous, which originated in Morocco, is prepared from semolina flour (a kind of grain) that has been wet with boiling water and let to cool before being boiled over stew or vegetables. Couscous may be eaten alone or with pork, fish, chicken, or lamb—or all four! If you've ever eaten Moroccan cuisine, you've most likely had saffron-spiced couscous on your plate. This dish gets its golden colour and unique taste from saffron; when combined with lemon juice or olive oil and scallions (also known as green onions), it becomes even more fragrant.

Tasting Paprika From Around The World
Ten Food Finds in Provence, France

Ten Food Finds in Provence, France


Spanish cuisine is a fusion of indigenous and foreign influences. Because of its vicinity to the Mediterranean Sea, the nation boasts a plethora of seafood dishes, and its proximity to France and Portugal has impacted its usage of red wine and garlic. Mediterranean, Arabic, and North African cuisines have all had an impact on Spanish food. Spain was also formerly under Muslim dominion, which provided more gastronomic influence from the Middle East. Fresh ingredients are often used in Spanish cookery, which is commonly cooked in olive oil rather than butter or lard (although this varies by region). Popular dishes include seafood paella (rice with saffron and other spices), gazpacho soup, tapas (small portions of food served as appetisers at bars or restaurants), tortilla espanola (a potato omelette), jamon serrano (dry-cured ham), pan con tomate (bread rubbed with tomato), churros (fried dough sticks) dunked in hot chocolate for breakfast on weekends—and much more!

Fried Chicken and Paprika Gravy Rotisserie


Tabbouleh is a Levantine salad that consists of finely diced tomatoes, cucumber, mint, parsley, onion, and olive oil. It is often served with lemon juice on top for extra taste. The green herb parsley is endemic to the Mediterranean area. It is a member of the carrot family, thus its leaves are smaller and more delicate than those of most other herbs. Parsley has numerous nutritional benefits, including the following: it is high in vitamins A and C; it contains iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium; it improves digestion due to its high fibre content; it helps lower blood pressure; it cleanses the kidneys by removing toxins from them; and it stimulates bile secretion, which aids in the prevention of gallstone formation. Parsley may be eaten fresh or cooked, however the stems must be removed before cooking (they are not edible). Parsley may be used in salads, on top of soups (like our Greek Soup recipe), and in other recipes like stews where its freshness compliments other ingredients like tomatoes or lemon juice! Faba beans, often known as wide beans, are a kind of legume that is popular in Mediterranean cooking. They have been a staple dish for ages and may be found in many Mediterranean nations. They are not only healthful, but also inexpensive and simple to cultivate. Faba beans are abundant in protein, fibre, and B vitamins such as riboflavin (vitamin B2) and folate (vitamin B9). They may be used in soups or salads, and when fried into falafel, they provide a wonderful source of vegetarian protein! Harissa is a fiery red chilli paste prepared with garlic and other spices. It originated in Tunisia and is often served as a condiment with Mediterranean cuisine such as couscous, grilled meats, and seafood. Harissa may also be found in couscous, yoghurt, and sauces, as well as in barbecue sauces and meat glazes. Harissa may be made at home by roasting dried chilies and then grinding them with garlic and other spices including cumin, coriander seed, caraway, and olive oil; however, this approach may yield in varied product quality owing to variations in heat transmission during component roasting.

Fried Chicken and Paprika Gravy Rotisserie
6 Fantastic Mediterranean Dessert Recipes

6 Fantastic Mediterranean Dessert Recipes


Bulgur is a form of parboiled, dried, and crushed wheat. Bulgur is often used in salads, pilafs, and soups, as well as as a side dish. Bulgur is said to have originated in the Mediterranean area, although it has since expanded worldwide. It's also popular in Middle Eastern cooking; bulgur is used in tabbouleh salad and kibbeh nayyeh soup (made with lamb). The food of Naples, Italy, is known as Neapolitan cuisine. It has been around for about 2,000 years. The customs and ingredients provided by the Greeks and Romans during their conquest of southern Italy are the foundation of Neapolitan cuisine. As a result, it influenced many other Mediterranean cuisines. Today, Neapolitan cuisine is one of the most popular kinds of Italian cuisine in the world. Pizza, spaghetti, fish and seafood dishes such as swordfish and calamari are just a few examples of Neapolitan cuisine (squid). Baba ghanoush is a traditional Middle Eastern meal comprised of eggplant, garlic, and tahini. It's usually served as an appetiser or side dish with pita bread or pita chips, but it also works well as a main meal. Unlike hummus, baba ghanoush is creamy and smooth (another popular dip). For a variety of flavours, serve it warm or cold! Paella is a rice dish from Spain that is often cooked with fish, chicken, or rabbit. It's often served in a big pan on special occasions. The term "paella" is derived from the Latin word for pan (patella). Koshary, also known as kushari, is a rice, macaroni, lentil, and fried onion dish. It is considered a national dish of Egypt, where it originated. Koshary is generally topped with tomato sauce.

Lentils and the Beautiful Foods They Produce


This Egyptian culinary item has been around since the nineteenth century, and it was first mentioned in an Egyptian newspaper named Al-Ahram. The dish was developed by street sellers who required inexpensive meals to sell to working-class folks on their way to work or school every day. Koshary became so famous because it enabled people to enjoy this comfort cuisine without breaking the bank! Italian cuisine is popular all around the globe. Pizza, spaghetti, risotto, lasagna, and bread are all examples of Italian cuisine, as are custard desserts and lentil soup. Italian cuisine is mostly composed of meats such as chicken or beef, as well as vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. Italy is also famous for its sauces, such as alfredo sauce and tomato sauce, which may be served over a variety of cuisines such as pizza or pasta. The squid belongs to the cephalopod family, which also contains the octopus and cuttlefish. Squid is a frequent element in many cuisines worldwide, particularly in Mediterranean nations such as Italy and Greece. Squid is often eaten whole, although it may also be filleted into rings or split into strips. Squid, apart from being tasty, is also a fantastic source of protein: one dish (100 grammes) contains around 19 grammes of protein. Although this figure seems low in comparison to other meals, it makes up for it with high quantities of vitamin B12 (which helps with brain function). When it comes to culinary options at your favourite Mediterranean restaurant or market, or even if you want to cook your own dish at home, squid can be exactly up your alley! Sausage cooking is both an old art and a skill. It's both a science and an art. The only thing you can't name your sausage is "art," since that would be cheating. This is just a sample of the excellent meals available in Mediterranean nations. There is something for everyone, from spaghetti to falafel! While certain foods may seem to be identical to those found in other regions of the globe, they frequently have their own distinct twist or taste profile that sets them apart. Check out our blog area if you want to learn more about Mediterranean food or get some ideas before visiting one of these countries!

Lentils and the Beautiful Foods They Produce

Frequently Asked Questions

Neapolitans are known for their pizza, pasta and coffee.

Moussaka is made from ground lamb, ground veal, or ground beef, layered with eggplants, and roasted with tomato sauce and cheese on top. It is then cut into slices and served.�

Paella is one of the most famous dishes in Spain. It�s widely popular because there are many varieties of paellas and paellas are simple to make. To be considered a true paella, the dish must include Spanish rice, seafood and meat.