Mediterranean cuisine: recipes. Features of Mediterranean cuisine

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

What is Mediterranean cuisine? You will find the answer to the question posed in the materials of this article. In addition, we will tell you about the features of this cuisine and present some simple recipes for preparing delicious dishes.

General information

It's easy to guess that Mediterranean cuisine combines only the cuisines of those countries that are adjacent to the Mediterranean region. However, it should be noted that in cooking there are common elements that are inherent in all cuisines of the world. For example, the use of herbs, olive oil, garlic, etc. In this regard, many experts note that Mediterranean cuisine is only a collective concept. Despite this, she is still different.

Features of Mediterranean cuisine

Combined with the fairly popular Mediterranean diet, which has long been proven to be beneficial, this cuisine is especially popular with those who lead a he althy lifestyle. After all, it includes a wide variety of seafood, fish, lean meat, vegetables (Bulgarianpeppers, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini), rice, onions, flour products, etc.

It should also be noted that Mediterranean dishes are very popular among gourmets due to their extraordinary taste, which is formed through the use of garlic, olives, various spices and herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil). These cuisines often include fresh dairy products, cheese, fruit, white bread, red wine, pasta, and eggs.

Where is Mediterranean cuisine most common? You can find a menu with aromatic and he althy dishes in restaurants located in various natural areas of the Mediterranean, namely in France, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Israel, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Macedonia, the Balkans, as well as in others. states of this solar region.

Mediterranean diet

Mentioning Mediterranean dishes, the recipes of which we will consider later, one cannot help but talk about the Mediterranean diet. The term was introduced back in the 1950s by Margaret and Ansel Kay.

It should be especially noted that a huge number of medical studies have shown that the inhabitants of the sunny Mediterranean are the least susceptible to heart and vascular diseases, as well as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes. In addition, such a diet significantly reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease. What is it connected with? Experts say that Mediterranean cuisine, including a large amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals and a small amount of fish and meat products, contributes torecovery of the body. Moreover, nutritionists have compiled a special formula, thanks to which a person is able not only to significantly reduce his own weight, but also maintain his he alth for many years.

So, the Mediterranean diet is based on consuming the following amount of vital elements per day:

• 10% protein, specifically beans, meat, peas, fish and beans;
• 30% fat, which should come primarily from olive oil;
• 60% of carbohydrates that should be ingested with bread and pasta.

Mediterranean cuisine: recipes for salads, soups, main courses, appetizers and desserts

Those who have ever visited restaurants serving Mediterranean cuisine know that it includes completely different dishes that are distinguished by incredible aroma and unsurpassed taste. But if you do not have the opportunity to go to this sunny region, then you can easily prepare salads, soups, snacks, etc. at home. To do this, just use one of the recipes below.

Shrimp salad

To prepare such a light but hearty salad we need:

• large shrimp - about 10 pieces;
• pasta (that is, pasta made from durum wheat) - about 200 g;
• mussels - 140 g;
• garlic - 2 small cloves;
• broccoli - 110g;
• unrefined olive oil - 70 g;
• fresh basil –about 4 branches;
• Parmesan cheese - about 60g;
• marinated red beans - 1 standard jar;
• ground black pepper and s alt - a pinch each;
• sand sugar - optional.

Food processing

Parmesan cheese should be grated on the smallest grater, and then put in a blender and add fresh basil leaves. This mixture must be crushed until smooth. Moreover, it should turn out to be loose.

Boil the broccoli in a saucepan with slightly s alted water and a little sugar. The last ingredient is needed in order for the vegetable to retain its natural green color. Boil cabbage after boiling, preferably about four minutes.

Mussels and shrimp should be boiled in the same bowl as broccoli. However, they should not be kept on fire for too long. After the seafood is ready, they must be cooled and put in a bowl. At the same time, it is recommended to leave the mussels whole, but the shrimp should be peeled.

Durum wheat pasta, or so-called pasta, must be boiled in lightly s alted water, and then discarded in a colander. A jar of canned red beans should be opened, drained of all liquid, and the bean product should be rinsed a little in cool water.

The garlic needs to be crushed through a press and then mixed together with black pepper, s alt and olive oil. This dressing should be as fragrant as possible.

Shaping lettuce

Put the pasta in a deep plate, and place all other components on top of it. Last but not least, you need to put the shrimp in the dishes, which must be sprinkled with a mixture of parmesan cheese and basil. At the end, all the ingredients must be poured with dressing. This salad should be served without stirring immediately after preparation.

Chickpea soup with squid

As you can see, Mediterranean cuisine includes only simple and he althy products that can always be found in ordinary supermarkets.

When compiling the menu for the festive table, one should not forget about the hot, or rather about the soup. After all, it is this dish that can saturate guests well.

So, to make chickpea and squid soup we need:

• frozen squid - about 600 g;
• fresh rosemary - 5-10g;
• bay leaves - 2 pcs;
• canned chickpeas - about 800g;
• fresh sage - approximately 10g;
• fresh carrots - 2 pcs.;
• onion - large head;
• fresh garlic - 4 cloves;
• vegetable broth - 2 l;
• fresh parsley - 20 g;
• olive oil - about 100 ml;
• tomato paste - dessert spoon;
• s alt - add to taste;
• ground black pepper - add to taste;
• celery stalk - about 4 pieces

Cooking process

Why is Mediterranean cuisine so popular in our country? Her recipes include inexpensive and simple products, thanks to whichyou can set a chic festive table.

To prepare a hearty and fragrant soup, celery, carrots and onions should be cut into small pieces and fried in olive oil in a saucepan for five minutes. Next, to the vegetables, you need to lay out sage, rosemary, tomato paste and a couple of cloves of chopped garlic. Fry all this for 3 minutes on low heat, stirring constantly. After that, the ingredients must be put in a saucepan, add a can of canned chickpeas (washed) and vegetable broth to them. Boil food for about twenty minutes. Next, you need to remove the sage and rosemary from the dish, pour roughly chopped parsley into it, and also pepper and s alt.

Squids need to be boiled separately, cleaned from films and cut into thin rings. After that, you need to heat the olive oil in a pan, add 2 cloves of garlic, and fry for 2-3 minutes. At the end, put the seafood in the soup, mix thoroughly and serve.

By the way, if you want to get mashed soup, then it is recommended to beat the fried vegetables and chickpeas with a blender beforehand.

Wander (second course)

What should you do to make your guests enjoy Mediterranean cuisine? Fish is the product that no one is able to refuse. In order to prepare the classic second course of the ferment, we need:

• red fish (preferably salmon) - 600g;
• olive oil - 4-5 large spoons;
• sweet bulbs - 2 largeheads;
• garlic cloves - 5-6 pieces;
• tomatoes in their own juice - a jar (approximately 400 g);
• white wine - about 100 ml;
• fresh squid - 200 g;
• bay leaves - 2 pcs;
• dry rosemary and basil - ½ dessert spoon each;
• dry thyme - 1 dessert spoon;
• fresh parsley - large bunch.

How to cook?

Mediterranean cuisine, the recipes of which we consider in this article, is distinguished by the fact that its dishes are prepared surprisingly quickly and easily. You can see for yourself.

To make a brodet for lunch, you should chop the onion and fry it in olive oil until completely transparent. Next, you need to place garlic there (for about 10-15 seconds) and hold it until a specific smell appears.

Canned tomatoes must be freed from tough skins, mashed with a fork along with juice. Next, the resulting vegetable puree must be sent to a saucepan and simmer over low heat for about a quarter of an hour. After that, you need to pour white wine into the tomatoes, add bay leaves, dry basil, thyme and rosemary, as well as slices of chopped red fish, black pepper and s alt (add spices to taste). In this composition, it is advisable to stew the dish, without interfering, over low heat for about 20 minutes.

After the specified time, finely chopped squids, chopped fresh parsley and previously fried onions with garlic should be added to the saucepan. After keeping the dish on the stove for another 3-4 minutes,the dishes must be removed, tightly closed with a lid and let the dish brew for about 16 minutes. Brodet is recommended for lunch with polenta (corn porridge).

Mediterranean snack

What are the characteristics of Mediterranean cuisine? The menu for the week, compiled using the recipes of this cuisine, can contain an incredible number of different dishes. However, it won't be complete without a classic appetizer.

So, to make a hot Mediterranean sandwich we need:

• mozzarella cheese - about 200 g;
• pesto - about 12 large spoons;
• cherry tomatoes - about 500g;
• toast bread - 4 slices;
• s alt - add to taste;
• arugula - add to taste;
• ground black pepper - add to taste.

Cooking a snack

To prepare these sandwiches, preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Next, you need to remove the mozzarella from the package, wait until all the liquid drains from the cheese, and cut into slices. After that, it is necessary to divide the cherry tomatoes in half, and generously grease the bread toasts with pesto sauce and place on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. To finish off, place vegetables and cheese on top of the sandwiches, and add some more sauce on top.

It is recommended to bake beautifully decorated toasts in a hot oven for no more than 8-10 minutes. During this time, the cheese should completelymelt. After the sandwiches are ready, they should be sprinkled with pepper, s alt and finely chopped arugula on top.

Dessert tiramisu

Real tiramisu should be eaten with a spoon, not with your hands. It is this rule that those chefs who love to make such a dessert adhere to. For him we need:

• mascarpone cheese - 250 g;
• medium eggs - 3 pcs.;
• powdered sugar - 3 large spoons;
• cocoa powder - 2 large spoons;
• cookies (fingers) "Savoyardi" - about 350 g;
• freshly brewed coffee - 350 ml;
• cognac - 3 large spoons.

Cooking process

Before you prepare the Mediterranean dessert tiramisu, you should make an air cream for it. To do this, it is necessary to separate the whites and yolks into different vessels. To the last component, you need to add powdered sugar and cheese, and then mix thoroughly with a mixer. As for the proteins, they should be whipped into a strong foam and, laying out to the yolks, beat both masses together.

For the formation of such a dessert, you can use any dry biscuits, but it is better to take Savoyardi. It is required to alternately dip all the “fingers” into freshly brewed coffee mixed with cognac, and put it in an even layer in a deep bowl. Next, the cookies should be poured with cheese cream and put again "Savoyardi", soaked in an invigorating drink. Similar actions must be repeated until you run out of products. However, cream should act as the last layer.

At the end of the dessert, you need to sprinkle with cocoa powder (through a sieve). It is advisable to serve such a cake to the table only after it has been infused in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours.