Peter Minaki - The Big Book Of Mediterranean Recipes More Than 500 Recipes For Healthy And Flavorful Meals

SPANAKOTYROPITA. LAMB EXOHIKO. BAKLAVA.

Delicious, healthy Mediterranean dishes like these have been served for generations and continue to delight those who want to eat well and live well, today. Focused mostly on the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains along with healthy lean proteins such as fish and seafood, the Mediterranean diet has its origins in ancient Greece, but has grown to include dishes from southern Italy, Provence, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Cyprus, the Middle East, and North Africa. All these cuisines share seasonal, locally grown foods that are prepared simply and are full of flavor.

Whether youre looking to expand your repertoire of these amazing dishes or are just starting to try the Mediterranean diet, in The Big Book of Mediterranean Recipes youll find more than 500 recipesranging from Olive Bread to Sage-Ricotta Chicken Breasts to Octopus Stifadothat represent many regions of the Mediterranean. These recipes will take you from breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner with snacks, sides, and appetizers in between. Youll find many healthy vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free recipes as well as recipes for fish, seafood, and meat dishes. Youll also find slow-cooked recipes that are perfect when you and your family have a busy week. Whether youre looking for a quick snack, an easy weeknight meal, a decadent dessert, or a special occasion dinner, this book has something for you, your family, and your friends.

People in the Mediterranean have eaten like this for generations and do not see it as a fad or trend; it is a way of life. And these recipes arent just good, theyre good for you, too. Many of the healthy recipes included in this book use olive oil, the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. Olive oil should be your preferred oil in the kitchen; use it in salads, cooking, and even frying. Studies have shown that cooking with olive oil can deter heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimers, and some cancers. In addition to being good for you, olive oil helps make cooked dishes and salads more flavorful, especially when mixed in with citrus juices and an array of herbs.

The health benefits of following this diet arent just from what you eat, but how you eat. In the Mediterranean, the main meal of day is lunch; dinner is usually a light meal. Eating ones main meal during the day allows the body time to properly digest the food and burn calories more efficiently for the rest of the day. This allows you to indulge a little without worrying about putting on extra pounds. And once you begin to make these amazing recipes, you wont be able to stop indulging!

To keep mealtime interesting, feel free to experiment with these recipes. Try adding your favorite herbs and spices to your food. If you prefer one kind of cheese to another, try it in the recipe. Youll see that many recipes have specific measurements for salt and pepper, but again, experiment and add as much or as little as you want or need. In addition, you wont find many cream sauces in this bookbut if you wish to add some richness to a dish, just add a dollop or two of strained Homemade Greek Yogurt in place of cream. Whatever you do, have fun with your food and make it your own. And dont worry about finding the ingredients used throughout this bookmost can be found in your local supermarket or in Mediterranean specialty stores.

The Mediterranean diet is one of the oldest ways of eating and living. How could it not be, with its reliance on local, seasonal ingredients that are prepared so simplyand with such a focus on extraordinary taste? Get ready to try the more than 500 recipes in this book and experience the Mediterranean diet in a way you never have before. Enjoy.

There are so many mushroom varieties. Be creative and mix them up in this recipe.