7 Mediterranean Dishes that you Cannot Resist from Eating

A typical Mediterranean diet includes a lot of vegetables, cereal products, moderate amount of fish, meat and dairy products. The concept of Mediterranean cuisine has its roots near the Mediterranean Sea. The characteristics of Mediterranean cuisine are specified by the climate and geography of the region. The sunny, and mild climate influences the growth of fresh vegetables that dominates the foods of this region.

1. Hummus - Hummus is made from chickpeas that have been cooked until tender and then mashed.Highly favored in Middle Eastern Countries as a delectable spread or dip for a variety of foods. Few additional flavorings of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and tahini are added to the hummus to get a better taste.Hummus is an ancient food that was a favorite of Sultan Saladan, the founder of the Ayyubid Dynasty in 12^th century Syria and Egypt. This Mediterranean dish has a complete nutritional value as it contains proteins, carbohydrates and rich amount of vitamin C and iron.
   
   The method of eating hummus is usually by dipping pita bread, flat bread or tortilla chips into the hummus. You can also eat it with fish, eggplant, chicken, meze and falafel. Commonly it is garnished with chopped cucumbers, cilantros, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, and sautéed mushrooms.
2. Shawarma – Shwarma is made by alternately stacking strips of fat and meat on a vertical spit. An onion, or tomato is used for decoration. The meat is roasted slowly on all sides to make a perfect shawarma. This food is eaten as a fast food. Made up into a sandwich wrap with a pita or lavash together with vegetables and dressing.
3. Falafel - Falafel is a common Mediterranean food that is made from chickpeas. They are scrumptious, round golden brown croquettes. Falafels are crispy and crunchy on the outside and moist inside. This dish is made using high quality fava beans, chick peas, chia seeds, onions and garlic with a special blend of spices. Like the cumin, coriander, fennel, mint and cinnamon. This food is full of vegetarian protein.
4. Baba ghanoush - Baba ghanoush is a Levantine dish of cooked eggplant. Mixed with tahini, olive oil and various seasonings it gives the best taste. The preparation method is first the eggplant is baked or broiled over an open flame before peeling, so that the pulp remains soft and consists of a smoky taste. Baba ganoush is a typical meze or a starter, often eaten as a dip with pita.
5. Shish Kebab – A shish kebab is a skewer with meat and vegetables. It is usually grilled and contains lamb, beef, fish or chicken. Mixed with vegetables like green peppers, onions and mushrooms it tastes best. The term kebab derives from a Persian word that denotes grilling. Aside from being simple, shish kebabs allow you to cook meat and vegetables together in a portable format. If you have got meat or shrimps, fish or tofu you can marinate it. After that thread it on skewers with any combination of vegetables you like. Shish kebab can be made with a variety in the meats. Such as: Chicken shish kebab and beef shish kebab.
6. French Fries – French fries are deep fried potatoes and are served hot, either soft or crispy. They are generally eaten as a part of lunch or dinner or as a snack. They commonly appear on menus of various Mediterranean kosher restaurants. French Fries are prepared by first peeling and cutting the potato into thin strips. These are then wiped and soaked in cold water to remove the starch. Then they are fried in very hot fat to crisp the exterior. After that they are placed in a cloth to drain, salted and finally served.
7. Tahini – This is one of the kitchen staples along with olive oil, and canned chickpeas that is used on every Mediterranean and Israeli dishes. Tahini was traditionally made by separating the sesame seed hull from the bran, and then grinding the bran into a paste. Now, the dish has become so famous that it is seed on most of the dishes. The sesame seed paste adds creaminess to salad dressings and a nutty, slightly bitter flavor to the dish called hummus. It becomes lip-smacking when it’s drizzling over shakshuka or French fries.You can blend tahini with frozen bananas in breakfast, or even have it with slathered on toast. Moreover, you must know that this dish is finger licking on its own.

So, make haste and prepare all these dishes at home. To taste these dishes without making any effort, you can visit a Mediterranean restaurant to taste these dishes.