How to Incorporate Mediterranean Ingredients into Your Home Cooking?

• By admin
• 22 April,2023

While running a restaurant, we’ve seen that people prefer Mediterranean food due to its use of fresh ingredients. It is also known to be good for their health. As the Mediterranean diet is based on moderation, it is a realistic, healthy, and enjoyable way to live. Most recipes don’t need any special tools. Many of them are easy to make on a weeknight at home.  

Here’s what you need to know to start making Mediterranean food at home:  

How to Cook at Home in the Mediterranean Style?  

The Mediterranean area comprises Italy, southern France, Greece, Spain, Egypt, and Lebanon. Because the Middle East takes up a big part of the area, Mediterranean food has also influenced Middle Eastern food.  

Mediterranean cooking is all about being mindful of what you consume and knowing the origin of your food. A lot of emphasis is put on using only the best ingredients. Food is considered the most important thing in everyday life.  

At the very outset, if you wish to learn to cook Mediterranean food at home, opt for the freshest ingredients initially. Try out different kinds of vegetables, like different leafy greens.  

Know your farmer. Think like an Italian. Consider buying good food as an investment in your health. Cooking healthy meals at home might seem to be pocket-pinching. But have you considered fewer medical bills in the long run? Better ingredients also taste better and are more fun to work with.  

The Mediterranean food in Glendora is the best kind of slow food. Meals are supposed to be consumed slowly and talked about with friends and family. Cooking like this at home makes every meal a party.  

Most Important Ingredients in Mediterranean Food  

Considering the Mediterranean diet as a food pyramid, the base comprises a lot of vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains. Next are fish and seafood that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, followed by small amounts of meat and dairy products (especially cultured dairy like yogurt and cheese), which are mostly used as seasonings in dishes. Red wine and light desserts are at the very top.  

Olives and Olive Oil  

In Mediterranean cooking, olive oil is at the center of every dish. Choose extra-fresh olive oil, which is made from olives that have not been treated with chemicals. Extra-fresh oil tastes better and is better for your health.  

As a beginner in Mediterranean cooking, try substituting olive oil for other cooking fats like butter or canola oil in both sweet and savory dishes. You can also add a finishing touch with good oil.  

A meal with a Mediterranean style also comprises a lot of whole olives. They can be marinated whole or turned into a tapenade, which is usually a mixture of chopped olives, herbs, garlic, lemon, and olive oil. Tapenade is amazing for putting on crostini, which are tossed pieces of bread with a spread on them.  

Vegetables  

A Mediterranean meal is always built around vegetables. They are often served on their own as complete meals. And vegetables will always be served with meat or fish.  

Eggplant is one of these vegetables that can make a dish taste creamy and full-bodied. Choose an eggplant that is smooth, shiny, and feels heavy for its size. It should be kept at room temperature and used within a few days of being bought.   

As eggplant quickly soaks up oil, cut it into thick slices and sprinkle them with salt before cooking. This keeps the texture of the eggplants while they are cooking. Grilling is an outstanding method for making eggplant taste more delicious. Try cutting it in half lengthwise to make it easier to move on a grill.  

Tomatoes are one of the most famous foods used in Mediterranean cooking. You can grow them in your garden, put them in pots on your balcony, or get them at a farmer’s market. Use a high-quality canned or jarred tomato when you can’t find fresh, ripe tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes and tomato paste both add a big hit of savory flavor to dishes. Both are good to have on hand if you want to cook with Mediterranean flavors.  

Grain and Wheat  

In Mediterranean cooking, you always have good wheat and grains on hand. Try consuming a lot of different things and don’t stick to only one kind of bread or pasta. This will make your meals more interesting and keep you interested in the kitchen because you can always try something new.  

Add wheat products to salads, such as bulgur and couscous. Vegetables and herbs go well with grains.  

Fresh Herbs  

Include fresh herbs in your meals to experience the authentic Mediterranean taste. Parsley and oregano are two of the most common herbs in the area. But use whatever fresh herbs you have on hand, and don’t be afraid to try new ones. 

Seafood and Fish 

Fish and seafood are often used in recipes from the Mediterranean. Most preparations are simple to show off how good and fresh the proteins are. Most of the time, a sauce is made separately. It is usually made with fresh herbs, lemon, and olive oil.  

Salmon is not a typical fish from the Mediterranean, but it can be used in place of other fatty fish in many traditional dishes. You could try Moroccan salmon salad.  

Other hardy fish that can be used are haddock, cod, and halibut. Ask your fishmonger if a certain kind of fish will work in the dish you want to make.  

Acid  

Add a squeeze of lemon or a drizzle of vinegar to the end of your Mediterranean home-cooked meals. Both of these add acid to a dish to round it out.  

Real balsamic vinegar is only made in the Italian city of Modena. It goes well with tomatoes, parsley, and oregano. It has a stronger, fuller flavor than lemon, which adds acid in a lighter, more delicate way.  

Fresh lemons are always a good thing to have on hand. Adding a little lemon juice at the end of cooking can help almost any soup or stew. You can also use preserved lemons, which add a concentrated, mouth-watering tang and a salty, briny flavor that makes the other flavors stand out.  

Conclusion  

Even after reading this article, if you still don’t feel confident cooking Mediterranean food at home, you should visit our restaurant for mouth-watering Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. What we can assure you is that you would never feel disappointed!