Mediterranean food is loved worldwide, not just in our restaurant. People love the food because it is full of healthy fats and helps prevent heart disease. There are a lot of minimally processed meats, healthy oils, fresh vegetables, herbs, and spices.
We’ve noticed that Mediterranean recipes are so popular that they are now made in most parts of the world. But they come from Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, which are all known for their food.
We serve Mediterranean food in Glendora, which may have changed and spread globally. But in this article, we’ll look at the five best Mediterranean dishes in their most traditional forms. This guide will tell you about the best traditional Mediterranean dishes you should try, whether you want to try making them at home or are planning a trip to the area.
1. Pizza Margherita
There’s not much to say about the Margherita pizza. Pizza is kind of Italy’s national dish, which makes sense since it was made out of patriotism in honor of Queen Margherita in 1889. Its three toppings, which are white mozzarella, green basil leaves, and red tomato, even make up the Italian flag. The Margherita pizza is, of course, one of the most famous dishes in all of the Mediterranean countries.
When served in the Mediterranean style, Margherita pizza is not cut and is eaten with a knife and fork. But, like most famous Mediterranean recipes, the Margherita pizza and how to eat it have been changed around the world, so the way you eat it will be different depending on where you try it. The combination of crispy dough and melty cheese is a winner. It isn’t challenging to find a Margherita pizza wherever you go.
2. Greek Salad, Aka Horiatiki
Greek salad is a well-known dish from the Mediterranean, and Greek food is one of the most well-known types of food from the Mediterranean. It is the perfect summer salad because it has fresh flavors and a delicious drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. On top of the rest of the salad, you’ll usually find chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, black olives, and either crumbled feta cheese or a thick slice of feta cheese. The extra virgin olive oil balances out the onion’s acidity, and you might also find a sprinkle of oregano for a fragrant flavor.
It’s not clear when the Greek salad was first made. Tavern owners in Plaka made the salad we know and love today. This was between 1960 and 1970. But the recipe has been changed and used for a long time. Greece is one of the world’s biggest olive producers, and olive trees have been grown there since Ancient Greece. The climate in the Mediterranean is just right for growing olives and fresh vegetables all year long.
If you go to Greece, it won’t be hard to find a Greek salad in a cafe or restaurant. It’s also a great dish that’s easy to make at home.
3. Armenian Losh
Half of the meat in losh is ground lamb and the other half is ground beef. The meat is mixed with finely chopped white onion, fresh herbs like parsley, herbs, and spices. Armenian losh can be made into little balls and used to make burgers or kebabs. The meat patties are then grilled and served with olive oil-dressed rice pilaf and a salad. You might also get fried onions as a side dish. You should try Armenian losh as a street food or on a grill.
No one knows how Armenian losh came to be, but the recipe has been around for hundreds of years in different forms. The combination of meat and herbs is typical of a Mediterranean diet, and the way Armenian losh is eaten as a kebab is very typical of the Eastern Mediterranean.
4. Moussaka
Moussaka is a delicious eggplant-based dish that is very popular in modern Mediterranean cuisine. It is a staple of a Mediterranean diet. It kind of looks like lasagna with a thick layer of bechamel sauce on top. Many people think it’s like a Greek version of lasagna. Even though this isn’t true historically, it’s a good way to picture what the dish looks like. Moussaka is made with layers of eggplant or potato instead of pasta sheets. Between each layer is a rich tomato sauce and often ground lamb. Moussaka is the ultimate comfort food and is great for a hearty meal.
Moussaka has been around since around the 13th century, but no one knows for sure when it was first made. Today’s moussaka is a Greek version of an Arabic dish that was probably an eggplant stew in its original form. Since its beginning, the dish has changed a lot. Now, you can find moussaka in Greece, Turkey, and other countries in the Middle East and Mediterranean. You can also make the dish at home with little trouble.
5. Moroccan Tagine
After a long day, a warm, hearty dish like a Moroccan tagine is just what you need. The Moroccan tagine is one of the best Mediterranean recipes for slow cooking. It is cooked slowly in a cone-shaped dish over a smoldering fire. Tagine is traditionally a meat dish made with chunks of lamb or chicken. But there are also vegetable tagines that use things like potatoes, carrots, and onions. Spices like cumin, paprika, and turmeric are used to flavor the thick, paste-like broth in which the food is cooked.
Tagine is thought to have been created in the 8th century in the Islamic Empire; however, there is some disagreement about whether it was created in North Africa, Morocco, or the Islamic Empire. In either case, it is a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet and one of the most popular recipes from that region. Over hundreds of years in Morocco, tagine has been shaped and changed into what we know today.
Conclusion
So, aren’t you excited to try the things above at your home? If you want to try more authentic Middle Eastern recipes, then our restaurant is the best place to visit.
