Mediterranean Cuisine
Why Mediterranean cuisine? Well, this is a blog about my journey, and it includes not just poker and fashion but food, too. Yum, here goes! I’ve got to admit I am what they call a foodie – an unabashed food lover. It helps that I love cooking too, and I am partial to my kitchen – there, as in my office, I love to rule!
George Bernard Shaw once said, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food”. I am sure that all those who are passionate about the mouth watering cuisines around the world would agree with him. All the globe trotters who indulge in good food have something in common – their endless search for new places that tantalize their taste buds. For centuries, human civilization with all its different cultures, people, ways of life and availability of locally grown products has experimented immensely with tastes and food variety. From the sea food on the shores of Greek towns to the swanky restaurants in Milan, there is a plethora of recipes to be relished.
Recently, I travelled to Turkey and thereabouts and fell in love with the food there. Mediterranean Cuisine has highlighted its place on the food map of Europe and globally too; and has mesmerized millions with its offerings. How many times do we find ourselves basking in the taste of a finely made thin crust pizza or a Moroccan Chorba? While you read this article and start craving for these delicacies, let’s take a virtual trip through the above mentioned cuisine and see what we discover new.
Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean cuisine is the food from the cultures adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, of course. This region spans wide with a variety of cultures and historic connections, but the influence of the Mediterranean Sea on the region’s climate and economy, has led to the rise of certain common elements in the food. The nations on the shores of the brilliant azure Mediterranean Sea—Italy, Spain, France, Morocco, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Israel— have added delight to a vibrant mix of Mediterranean cuisine. The main components of Mediterranean cuisine include heart-healthy olive oil, protein-rich legumes, fish and whole grains with moderate amounts of wine and red meat. Regular consumers of this food can rest assured of a rich flavor and lesser occurrences of ailments caused by high blood pressure and high cholesterol, too.
It gives me a great pleasure to share with you a few recipes. Try them at home and see your dinner table come alive with smiles and great conversation.
Sicilian Marinated Olives
Sicilian Marinated Olives
In this easy appetizer recipe, olives are marinated to present as an antipasto. Try this with plain green olives from a supermarket and see them give you a relishing flavour.
Makes: About 2 cups
Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unpitted green olives
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium stalk celery, coarsely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
- 1 small fresh red or green chile pepper, thinly sliced
- 3 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
- 1 teaspoon white-wine vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Sicilian or Greek
Preparation
- Rinse olives in a colander, tossing gently under running water. Then dry on a kitchen towel. Transfer olives into a bowl, add oil and gently toss to coat.
- Add celery, garlic, chili, 2 tablespoons
