Popular and Mouth-Watering Mediterranean Foods

Mediterranean food has gained popularity due to its succulent flavors and health benefits.

Food is a topic on which we can talk for hours. It is a good conversation topic and an ice-breaker. Who doesn’t like to talk about food? Well, the answer is obvious, no one. The topics range from our favorite foods, healthy food to different cuisines.

We love sharing recipes or spending lot of time on the internet trying to find a recipe which we can try in our respective homes. Additionally, we also love visiting restaurants to try out different cuisines and experience different culture via food.

On the topic of different cuisines,Mediterranean cuisine is both tasty as well as healthy. The reason behind the food being healthy is mainly due to the use of vegetables, beans, fruits, peas, grains and olive oil. Chicken, fish and some dairy produce are used in moderate quantity. On the other hand, you will find red meat in less quantity in this cuisine. Another important aspect is the inclusion of healthy fats. For example, olive oil is a mono-unsaturated fat while nuts, oily fish and seeds contain ploy-unsaturated fats.

Below, a few of the food items which are popular from this sunshine cuisine is discussed.

Falafel

Falafel is a traditional Mediterranean food. It was originally made with fava beans and it is still made in the same way in Egypt and a few Arab countries. In Israel, it is made from chickpeas, where it is wildly popular. You will find numerous falafel stands in Israel, where it has become a common form of street or fast food. The same scenario can be witnessed throughout the Middle East.

Have you tried this dish? If your answer is in negative, then try it as soon as possible. You can try these fried vegetarian fritters along with hummus and tahini sauce, you’ll surely love it. A truly delicious falafel will be hot, and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

There are many preparations of falafel, which you may like. For example, falafel pita, falafel burgers, etc. It is tasty and healthy also.

Few health benefits are:

  • Great source of protein, especially for people who do not include meat in their diet.
  • Low in fat.
  • Chickpeas contain iron, which is essential for the production of red blood cells
  • No cholesterol, if it is fried in grapeseed oil which is heart healthy
  • It contains manganese, which is needed by the body to produce energy.

Moreover, it serves as a nourishing as well as a filling meal when you top it with veggies in a pita. This is definitely one of the best foods that you can add to your diet.

Shawarma

Shawarma is a succulent meat which is slow-roasted on a turning pit. This process makes the meat, juicy and tender. It is often grilled for as long as a day and is extremely popular among the people, both young and old. In the United States, people love to eat shawarma, which is the most popular staple of Mediterranean cuisine.

Though the common main ingredients in this cuisine is beef and lamb, chicken shawarma is also quite common and often considered to be a healthy option. Gyros are the Greek equivalent to this dish. Both are quite similar, except for the choice of dressings or meat. Another difference is that, shawarma marinates all day long in a variety of seasonings and spices, like cardamom, bay leaves, cinnamon, vinegar, allspice and dried lime.

You may find shawarma in a soft flat bread along with pickled vegetables, sliced onions and generously drizzled with garlic sauce, tahina or hummus. This is definitely a little bundle of goodness.

Great variety is available with shawarma mainly due to the option of various toppings. So, it is a flexible meal for different individuals. For example, it can also be served in a pita bread sandwich.

Few health benefits are:

  1. You will get healthy fats such as mono-unsaturated fat and poly-unsaturated fat in a typical shawarma sandwich.
  2. Contains an abundance of protein and carbohydrates.

Shish Kabob

You must have heard about shish kabob, which is appetizing, delicious and full of flavors. If you have not yet tasted them, then you are seriously missing out on something which is really tasty.

The word ‘shish kabob’ comes from the Turkish words, meaning the words ‘skewer’ and ‘roast meat’. In other words, it literally means ‘gobbets of meat roasted on a spit or skewers’ in Turkish. It is a Turkish signature meal.

This Mediterranean food is a slice of lamb, beef or chicken slowly roasted on a vertical rotating spit. There are a wide variety of marinades which are used and can include any combination of olive oil, milk, yogurt, lemon juice, cinnamon, allspice, and other ingredients. Onion wedges, tomatoes and green bell pepper is used to separate the meat on the skewers to make it look more attractive.

You will get an endless variety of kabobs. Similarly, there seems to be countless recipes for the same.

Few health benefits are:

  • Shish kebab with pita bread and salad is quite a healthy option.
  • Grilled chicken is high in iron but low in fat.
  • Onions are great for bone-building.

You should try the foods mentioned above if you have not done it yet. These dishes will provide you with a unique experience and a taste of the Middle East’s interesting culture. Just find a good restaurant that prepares authentic Mediterranean foods if you are not in the Middle East.

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