Category: Mediterranean

Categories
Mediterranean Recipes Salad

Couscous Salad

This Couscous Salad is a delicious summery delight that is ready in minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 mango, peeled and cubed
  • ½ cucumber, peeled and diced
  • 1 Roma tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1 can chick peas, washed and drained
  • 5-6 large pitted black olives, sliced
  • 1 block feta cheese, cubed (optional)
  • ½ cup couscous
  • 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 Tbsps olive oil
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp oregano

Directions

  1. Boil ¾ cup of water and turn off the heat. Add ½ cup couscous and let it stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let it cool.
  2. Add the diced mango, cucumber, tomato, chick peas, black olives and feta (optional) to a bow. Mix in the couscous.
  3. Beat the olive oil and vinegar with a fork to make an emulsion. Add black pepper and oregano to make the dressing.
  4. Toss the salad with the dressing and serve at room temperature.
Categories
Gluten-Free Mediterranean Recipes Squash Vegan Vegetarian

Squash, Pepper and Onion Tian

Tian is a French Provincial way of cooking vegetables. This Squash, Pepper and Onion Tian is so delicious and a feast for the eyes!

Ingredients

  • 1 yellow squash, sliced
  • 1 green pepper, sliced
  • ½ onion, sliced
  • 3-4 pods of garlic, with skins
  • 6-7 grape tomatoes(optional)
  • 4-5 large pitted olives, sliced (optional)
  • 1 tsp marjoram, fresh
  • 1 tsp thyme, fresh
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Directions

  1. Grease a 6 cup baking dish with some olive oil and rub it with some cut garlic.
  2. Season the cut vegetables with salt and pepper and layer them in the baking dish starting with the squash, followed by the onions and green peppers.
  3. Sprinkle with grape tomatoes, olives, thyme and marjoram.
  4. Drizzle with some olive oil and bake at 350F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and broil for 10 minutes.
Categories
Burger Mediterranean Recipes Vegan Vegetarian

Black-Eye Peas Burger

This Black-Eye Peas Burger is so simple and yummy that you just have to try it!

Ingredients

  • 2 cans, black-eye peas, washed, drained and mashed
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • 1 garlic clove, grated (substitute ¼ tsp. garlic powder)
  • 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Directions

  1. Mix the back eye peas, bread crumbs, onions, garlic, egg and Italian seasoning.
  2. Form into burgers and broil for 15 minutes. Turn over gently and broil for another 10 minutes. Serve with your favorite toppings.
Categories
Bread Italian Mediterranean Recipes Vegan Vegetarian

Herbed Garlic Bread

The best ever Herbed Garlic Bread that is so easy to make!

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf, French bread
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh marjoram, chopped
  • (Substitute: 1 tsp Italian seasoning for the fresh herbs)
  • 2 Tbsps. olive oil

Directions

  1. Add garlic to olive oil and microwave for 10 seconds. Mix in the oregano and marjoram ( or Italian seasoning if you do not have fresh herbs).
  2. Slice the French bread in half and cut into 6 inch slices. Brush with the garlic-herb-oil mix.
  3. Place on a sheet pan and broil in oven for about 5 minutes till golden brown. Serve hot.
Categories
Mediterranean Pie Recipes Spinach

Spanakopita

Spinach never tasted so good! This simple version of Spanakopita is is sure to please!

Ingredients

  • 2 8oz bags of spinach, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/3 cup onions, diced
  • 1/4 cup green onions, diced
  • 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
  • 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 sheets phyllo dough
  • 2 tbsps olive oil

Directions

  1. Add a little oil to a pan and sauté the onions for about a minute till they are soft. Add garlic, spinach, green onions, parsley and sauté till the spinach is wilted. Take off heat and squeeze out all the water from the spinach mixture. Cool.
  2. Add eggs and crumbled feta cheese to the spinach mixture and mix well to make the spinach filling.
  3. Place a four phyllo sheets in a greased 2 cup dish brushing each with olive oil.
  4. Spread ½ the spinach filling evenly over the phyllo and layer with another 3 phyllo sheets, brushing each sheet with olive oil.
  5. Spread the other ½ of the spinach filling followed by four phyllo sheets, each brushed with olive oil. Cut into squares with a sharp knife.
  6. Bake at 375F for 30-40 minutes till golden brown.

Categories
Italian Mediterranean Recipes Soup Vegetarian

Minestrone Soup

This classic Minestrone Soup is a one pot vegetarian meal that really satisfying!

Ingredients

  • 4 oz pasta shells
  • 1 cup onions, diced
  • ¾ cup celery, diced
  • ¾ cup carrots, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ¾ cup canned kidney beans, washed and drained
  • ¾ cup canned chick peas, washed and drained
  • ¾ cup tomato-basil sauce
  • ¾ cup spinach, chopped
  • 2 ½ cups broth/water
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Directions

  1. Sauté onions with a little olive oil till it softens. Then add the garlic, carrots and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes till the vegetables soften.
  2. Add water/broth, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, shell pasta, tomato sauce and boil covered for about 15 minutes.
  3. Add kidney beans and chick peas and boil for another five minutes.
  4. Take the pot off the heat and stir in the chopped spinach.
Categories
Cucumber Gluten-Free Mediterranean Recipes Tomatoes Vegetarian

Simple Greek Salad

This uncomplicated and traditional this Simple Greek Salad is loaded with antioxidants and needs no lettuce!

Ingredients

  • 1 English cucumber
  • 2-3 plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 onion
  • 6-7 Kalamata olives
  • 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • 3 Tbsps olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

  1. Cube the cucumbers and tomatoes and mix them.
  2. Cut the onion to fine slices and scatter them on the cucumber and tomatoes. Add the kalamata olives to the salad as well.
  3. Make a vinaigrette dressing by mixing the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and black pepper. Toss the salad with the dressing.
  4. Sprinkle some feta on the top (optional). Skip the cheese for a vegan version.
Categories
Asian Burger Chick Peas Gluten-Free Mediterranean Recipes Vegan Vegetarian

Falafel Burger

Make this mouth-watering, vegan, and gluten-free burger with this Falafel Burger recipe. Tastes awesome with or without a bun!

Ingredients

  • 2 cans chick peas, washed, drained
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ onion, chopped
  • ½ inch slice ginger, minced (optional)
  • 1 tsp serrano peppers, chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1/3 cup chick pea flour
  • 1/3 cup canola oil

Directions

  1. Add the garlic, ginger, onions, chick peas to a food processor and pulse into a rough mixture. Empty into a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix in cumin powder, chick pea flour and divide into six portions.
  3. Make them into patties and place on a parchment lined pan. Refrigerate the burgers for at least ½ hour.
  4. Add a little oil to a griddle and cook the burgers for about 8 minutes, turning over every two minutes.
  5. Assemble with spinach, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, tahini and hot sauce. Enjoy it with or without a bun!