There's no denying the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, and the fact that the dishes taste so delicious is a major bonus. You might not be able to travel to the waters of Greece or Italy, but you can still get the yum factor right at home with these recipes rich in nuts, vegetables, beans, olive oil, and fish. You'll want to try them ASAP, since many are springtime staples.
About once a month or so, I like to make a quiche. Sometimes I'll bake my own pie crust, but other times, when I'm in a hurry, I'll use a premade one from the store. The thing I love about quiche is its timelessness.
It can be enjoyed at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I've even eaten a cold slice as a snack in the afternoon! It's also a great way to use up old and leftover ingredients.
This Mediterranean-inspired quiche is my latest favorite recipe. It's a perfect easy meatless meal, and it's so good you may end up eating half of one quiche in a sitting!
The filling is a combination of sautéed onions, zucchini, red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes; gruyere and goat cheese provide a luxurious richness. To give it a try, read more
This may sound blasphemous, but I've never been quite able to get behind classic seven-layer dip. Don't get me wrong: I understand the appeal and then some. Heck, I wish I were as smitten with it as its many ardent fans are, but it's just not my cup of tea. So when I stumbled across this Mediterranean take on the iconic Super Bowl treat on one of my favorite blogs, I knew it was high time I got my offset spatula at the ready.
What I didn't anticipate was just how much I would adore this tangy, garlic-heavy appetizer. I'm only a hair embarrassed to say that I managed to polish off half the platter in one sitting. Each bite's ever-so-slightly different makeup makes it easy to keep coming back for just one more bite, and do so I did . . .
Meat isn't a necessary component of alfresco entertaining; one can easily host a complete vegetarian barbecue, and I've got the perfect menu to prove it! This feast takes its inspiration from the simple but scrumptious cooking found in the countries near the Mediterranean sea. To ensure that you spend as little time as possible in a hot kitchen, most of the dishes can be assembled in advance and are cooked on the grill. If you're in need of a laid-back vegetarian menu for an upcoming party, read on for inspiration.
If you're taking the time to make your own hummus, why not go the extra mile and serve it with homemade pita chips? They're so easy to make, you practically don't even need a recipe! The best thing about baking pita until it's toasted and crunchy is that you control the seasonings. Depending on what you serve it with (spinach artichoke dip, Greek salsa, etc.), adjust the spices to mimic the flavors in the dip. I offered these chips with red pepper hummus packed with lots of garlic, so before baking, I dusted the triangles of pita with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Get the uncomplicated method now.
If you're tired of the same old boring salad, I highly recommend you give this recipe a try. It combines pan-seared pork tenderloin with a hearty, delicious, and flavorful mixture of arugula, avocados, tomatoes, and olives. Feta cheese gives it a creamy texture and tangy saltiness. This dish comes together quickly, which is crucial for weeknight meals. While the meat cooks, put together the salad. Serve with crusty bread and a glass of white wine for a healthful and satisfying dinner. Check out the recipe after the break.
Charlie Sheen may or may not be off his rocker, but there's one facet of his high-profile life where I do believe he is #winning. Sheen just scooped up a 9,020-square-foot, six-bedroom, eight-bath manse in the prestigious gated community of Mulholland Estates in Sherman Oaks, CA for $7.5 million, and it is a beauty.
Save for the Mediterranean-style exterior, which is I think too played-out in Los Angeles, the house is stunning. The estate has sophisticated hardwood floors throughout; a fresh, white traditional kitchen with fancy new Bosch appliances; French doors; an open floor plan with a two-story entry and sweeping staircase; a mirrored entry bar; and views of the city, mountains, and canyons. Step outside for an outdoor bar/kitchen with Viking barbeque, two terraces, lawns, and large gas-heated veranda a pool.
Tell me what you think of Sheen's new purchase when you take the full tour!
If you like pasta, then you'll likely love fregola (or fregula). These Sardinian spherical pellets are made from rubbing semolina flour and water together in a circular motion to create a round shape, then toasting them in the oven. Quick-cooking fregola is denser and heavier than couscous and has a nutty flavor that tastes great in everything from stews and soups to risottos and salads.
Source: Flickr User embem30
Ever since one reader shared her simple weeknight meal of roasted asparagus, mushrooms, and quinoa, I've been wanting to show you my favorite take on the Peruvian grain as well. For a protein boost, I love to swap quinoa in place of bulgur wheat in the Middle Eastern parsley salad known as tabbouleh. You can't go wrong with such a simple dish, but the way to truly do this recipe justice is to use dry-farmed Early Girl tomatoes; they're an impeccable balance of sweet and tart, and add a vibrant red hue like no other tomato can. Make this and top with rotisserie chicken for dinner when you read more.
For an elegant but relaxed approach to tonight's dinner, serve grilled steaks with a sauce vierge.
This light and pungent sauce, which literally translates to "virgin sauce," is the Frenchman's rendition of Italy's salsa verde. Although the traditional elements, like capers, parsley, olive oil, and garlic still play a starring role, so do Provençal ingredients such as cornichons and Dijon mustard. As you allow all of the elements of the sauce to commingle, start heating up the grill to work on the steaks.
If you need to accommodate pescetarians, serve the fresh sauce on top of seared tuna or swordfish steaks for an equally tasty supper. Ready for the recipe? Then keep reading.
