Mediterranean cuisine: recipes. Features of Mediterranean cuisine

What is Mediterranean cuisine? The answer to this question is found in the materials of this article. In addition, we will tell you about the features of this kitchen and will present a few simple recipes for cooking delicious dishes.

General information

It is easy to guess that the Mediterranean cuisine combines only the cuisine 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 the cuisines of the world. For example, the use of greens, olive oil, garlic, etc. In this regard, many experts note that Mediterranean cuisine is only a composite concept. But despite this, it is still different from others.

Features of Mediterranean cuisine

Combined with a fairly popular Mediterranean diet, which has long proved its worth, such a kitchen is especially popular with those who lead a healthy lifestyle. After all, it includes a variety of seafood, fish, lean meat, vegetables (Bulgarian pepper, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini), rice, onions, flour products, etc.

It should also be noted that the dishes of Mediterranean cuisine are very popular among gourmets due to their extraordinary taste, which is formed by using garlic, olives, various spices and herbs (thyme, oregano, rosemary and basil). Often such a kitchen uses fresh dairy products, cheese, fruit, white bread, red wine, pasta and eggs.

Where is the most common Mediterranean cuisine? Menu with aromatic and healthy dishes can be found in restaurants that are located in different natural areas of the Mediterranean, namely France, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Israel, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Macedonia, the Balkans, as well as in other States of this solar region.

Mediterranean Diet

Recalling the dishes of Mediterranean cuisine, the recipes of which we will consider below, we can not help but tell about the Mediterranean diet. This term was introduced in the 1950s by Margaret and Ancel Kay.

It should be especially noted that a huge number of medical studies have shown that residents of the sunny Mediterranean are the least susceptible to heart and vascular diseases, as well as to increased pressure, obesity and diabetes. In addition, such a diet significantly reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease. What is the reason for this? Experts say that Mediterranean cuisine, including a large number of fresh fruits and vegetables, dishes from cereals and a small number of fish and meat products, contributes to the improvement of the body. Moreover, dieticians have made a special formula, thanks to which a person is able not only to significantly reduce their own weight, but also to maintain their health for many years.

So, the Mediterranean diet is based on the fact that a day use the following number of vital elements:

• 10% of proteins, or rather beans, meat, peas, fish and beans;
• 30% of fats, which should be obtained mainly from olive oil;
• 60% of carbohydrates, which must enter the body together with bread and pasta.

Mediterranean cuisine: recipes for salads, soups, main courses, snacks and dessert

Anyone who has ever visited a restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine knows that it includes completely different dishes that have an incredible flavor 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.

Salad with shrimp

To make such a light, but a hearty salad, we need:

• Shrimps are large - about 10 pcs .;
• Paste (that is, macaroni from solid wheat varieties) - about 200 g;
• Mussels - 140 g;
• Garlic - 2 small denticles;
• Broccoli cabbage - 110 g;
• Unrefined olive oil - 70 g;
• Fresh basil - about 4 branches;
• Parmesan cheese - about 60 g;
• Red beans marinated - 1 standard jar;
• Pepper ground black and salt - on a pinch;
• Sand sugar - at the discretion.

Processing of products

Parmesan cheese should be rubbed on the smallest grater, and then put into a blender and add fresh basil leaves. This mixture must be ground to a uniform state. And it should turn out loose.

Broccoli should be boiled in a saucepan with slightly salted water and a little sugar. The last ingredient is needed in order for the vegetable to retain its natural green color. Cook cabbage after boiling, preferably about four minutes.

Mussels and shrimps must 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. It is recommended to leave mussels whole, but shrimps should be cleaned of shell.

Macaroni from hard wheat varieties, or so-called pasta, must be boiled in slightly salted water, and then discarded in a colander. The can of red canned beans should be opened, drained of all liquid, and the bean product should be rinsed a little in cool water.

Garlic must be crushed through a press, and then mixed together with black pepper, salt and olive oil. Such a dressing should be as fragrant as possible.

Salad formation

In a deep plate should lay out the paste, and on top of it place all the other components. In the last place in the dishes you need to lay out the shrimp, which must be sprinkled with a mixture of Parmesan cheese and basil. In the end, all ingredients must be poured by dressing. Such salad should be served on the table, without stirring, immediately after cooking.

Soup with chickpeas and squid

As you can see, Mediterranean cuisine includes only simple and useful products that can always be found in regular supermarkets.

Making up the menu for the festive table, do not forget about the hot, or rather about the soup. After all, it is this dish that can satiate guests well.

So, for making soup from chickpeas and squid, we need:

• Squid frozen - about 600 g;
• Fresh rosemary - 5-10 g;
• Laurel leaves - 2 pieces;
• Canned chickpea - about 800 g;
• Fresh sage - about 10 g;
• Fresh carrots - 2 pcs .;
• Onions - a large head;
• Fresh garlic - 4 teeth;
• Vegetable broth - 2 liters;
• Fresh parsley - 20 g;
• Olive oil - about 100 ml;
• Tomato paste - dessert spoon ;
• Salt - add to taste;
• Pepper ground black - add to taste;
• Stalk of celery - about 4 pcs.

Cooking process

Why is Mediterranean cuisine so popular in our country? Recipes of her dishes include inexpensive and simple products, thanks to which you can cover a chic festive table.

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

Squid need to be boiled separately, cleaned of films and cut into thin rings. After this, it is necessary to heat olive oil in a frying pan, adding 2 cloves of garlic, and fry for 2-3 minutes. In conclusion, the seafood should be put in the soup, mix thoroughly and serve to the table.

By the way, if you want to get soup-puree, then fried vegetables and chickpeas are recommended to pre-whip with a blender.

Wandering (second course)

What should you do to make your guests like Mediterranean cuisine? Fish - this is a product that no one can refuse. In order to prepare a classic second course wanders, we will need:

• Red fish (preferably salmon) - 600 g;
• Olive oil - 4-5 large spoons;
• Bulbs sweet - 2 large heads;
• Cloves garlic - 5-6 pieces;
• Tomatoes in its own juice - a jar (about 400 g);
• White wine - about 100 ml;
• Fresh squid - 200 g;
• Laurel leaves - 2 pieces;
• Dry rosemary and basil - per ½ dessert spoon;
• Dry thyme - 1 dessert spoon;
• Fresh parsley is a big bunch.

How to cook?

Mediterranean cuisine, the recipes of which we consider in this article, is different in that its dishes are prepared surprisingly quickly and easily. You can make sure of this yourself.

To make the dinner wander, it is necessary to cut the onion and fry it in olive oil until it is completely transparent. Then you need to place the garlic (for about 10-15 seconds) and hold it until a specific smell appears.

Canned tomatoes must be freed from hard peel, mash with a fork along with the juice. Further, the resulting vegetable puree should be sent to a sauté pan and simmer at low heat for about a quarter of an hour. After that, tomatoes need to be poured in white wine, add laurel leaves, dry basil, thyme and rosemary, as well as pieces of chopped red fish, black pepper and salt (add spices to taste). In this composition, the dish should be stewed, without interfering, on low heat for about 20 minutes.

After this time, add finely chopped squids, chopped fresh parsley and previously fried onions with garlic. Having sustained the dish on the stove for another 3-4 minutes, the dishes must be removed, close tightly with a lid and let the dish stay for about 16 minutes. Serve wanders are recommended for dinner together with polenta (porridge from chopped corn).

Mediterranean snack

What are the features of Mediterranean cuisine? The menu for the week, made with the help of recipes of this cuisine, can contain an incredible number of different dishes. However, it will not be full if it does not use a classic snack.

So, for the preparation of a hot Mediterranean sandwich, we will need:

• Mozzarella cheese - about 200 g;
• Pesto - about 12 large spoons;
• Cherry tomatoes - about 500 g;
• Bread, intended for toast, - 4 slices;
• Salt - add to taste;
• Arugula - add to taste;
• Black pepper ground - add to taste.

Cooking a snack

For the preparation of such sandwiches, you must pre-heat 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 this, it is necessary to divide the cherry tomatoes in half, and pour the bread toasts with pesto sauce and place on a baking sheet covered with baking paper. In conclusion, the sandwiches should be placed with vegetables and cheese, and on top add a little more sauce.

Bake beautifully designed toasts in a hot oven is recommended no more than 8-10 minutes. During this time, the cheese should completely melt. After the sandwiches are ready, they should be sprinkled with pepper, salt and finely chopped rocket on top.

Dessert tiramisu

A real tiramisu should be eaten with a spoon, not with hands. It is this rule that those cooks who like to make such a dessert adhere to. For him we will 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 a Mediterranean dessert tiramisu, you should make for him an air cream. For this, it is necessary to separate the proteins and yolks by different dishes. To the last component, you need to add sugar powder and cheese, and then mix thoroughly with a mixer. As for proteins, they should be whipped into a strong foam and, having laid out to yolks, whisk together both masses together.

Any dry biscuit can be used to form such a dessert, but it is better to take "Savoyardi". It is required to dip all the "fingers" one by one into freshly brewed coffee, mixed with cognac, and lay it evenly in a deep dish. Next, the cookies should be filled with cream cheese and again put the Savoyardi, soaked in an invigorating drink. Similar actions should be repeated until you run out of food. However, the last layer should be a cream.

At the end, the dessert is required to be sprinkled with cocoa powder (through a sieve). Serve this cake to the table is desirable only after it is infused in a refrigerator for at least 6 hours.