We’re pretty familiar with Mediterranean food and know that many good dishes originate from this region. This is where you’ll find unbelievable feasts like moussaka that aren’t that famous in the US.
But, lucky for you, we’re here to bring new types of food to your plate. And we’ll do exactly that with this blog.
Keep reading to learn more about Mediterranean ingredients and the meals you can make with them.
How to Switch to Mediterranean Cooking
Though this article won’t focus solely on Mediterranean cooking and diet, it won’t hurt to mention a few pillars of the region’s food regime.
- Always have high-quality olive oil.
This is one of the most important factors. Using Mediterranean ingredients will get you close to reaching the authentic taste the dishes from the region have. And olive oil is a large part of it.
- Eat more
Fruits and veggies first, but also try to consume more whole grains, beans, and nuts.
- Eat less
If you’re on a strict Mediterranean food diet, eating no sweets is the best option. Also, try to avoid red meats.
- Use herbs and spices
To enhance the flavor of your meals, try using fresh herbs and spices instead of salt. Garlic and citrus are the go-to for most great recipes.
Lemon Garlic Salmon
Let’s start with something that doesn’t take too long to prepare. This way of making salmon will leave you amazed. And it will take you just a bit of prep and less than 20 minutes of cook time before you have salmon on your plate.
Salmon is one of the tastiest Mediterranean foods, and it’s good for you, as well. What’s better than pairing something delicious and healthy in one package? Not many dishes are both.
So, wait no more. Check out what goes into making one of Mediterranean’s great recipes, listen to our tips, and follow the instructions.
Tips That Make a Difference
There are a few things you can’t find in most online recipes. Certain secrets are kept and not shared on the internet. However, we’ll share tips that will make a difference and allow you to make the best salmon of your life.
- Enhance the flavor
There are delicate types of fish that you need to be careful of when preparing. Salmon isn’t one of them.
It’s quite fatty and easily stands up to bold flavors. In fact, salmon benefits from being paired with more robust flavors. That’s why we’re using a lemon-garlic sauce for this recipe.
- Foil saves the day
If you aren’t experienced in the kitchen, then following this tip is crucial to getting the best out of your fish.
Wrapping the salmon in aluminum foil will keep the steam inside and make your fish tender and perfectly flaky. So, if you wish to avoid eating a dry meal, keep the salmon in the foil while cooking.
Lemon-garlic Sauce Ingredients
- Two large lemons
Juice both lemons and keep the lemon zest as well.
- Fresh garlic
Get lots of garlic! We’ve mentioned that salmon enjoys bold flavors, so feel free to go hard on the garlic. Just makes sure the pieces are minced or finely chopped.
- High-quality olive oil
Some recipes online will recommend using melted butter, but that’s not the proper way. Extra virgin olive oil will give you the flavor you are searching for in this dish.
Good dishes require attention to detail, so we’ll use the best Mediterranean ingredients that we can find.
- Herbs and spices
You’ll need three ingredients. Whisk paprika, oregano, and black pepper into a sauce.
Prepare the Salmon
Get aluminum foil and set it inside a pan you’ll be using to cook the fish. Make sure the foil can cover the entire piece of salmon. Then, brush the top with olive oil.
Tap the salmon dry, salt it, and place it in the pan.
Now it’s time to pour the sauce all over the fish. Also, add a couple of lemon slices on top of the filet. Then wrap the foil, and the fish will be ready for cooking.
Bake
The last step is baking the salmon. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and bake the fish for 15 minutes. Add a couple of minutes to the cooking time if your filet is over 1 1/2 inches thick.
Once the baking is finished, remove the fish from the oven, uncover it and place it under the broiler for a few more minutes.
And just like that, the meal is finished.
Garlic Mushroom Pasta
It’s hard to make a lousy bowl of pasta. Regardless of the recipe, the dish will likely turn out decent.
However, if you’re really into mushrooms and want to try a real pasta mushroom feast, this recipe is made for you.
Tips That Make a Difference
The one thing to keep in mind about this recipe is the mushroom to pasta ratio. We will be using three times more mushrooms than pasta.
The sorts we recommend for this dish are baby Bella, white buttons, and meaty portobello mushrooms. And, of course, don’t forget to use high-quality organic ingredients.
Preparing the Mushrooms
Our advice is to sauté the mushrooms for the tastiest results. Check out these tips on how to do it properly.
- Clean and dry the produce
Use a damp paper towel to clean the mushrooms. Using too much water will turn the shrooms into a squeaky dinner you wish to avoid.
- Careful with the slicing
As you probably know, mushrooms shrink during cooking, causing them to lose shape. Keep that in mind when slicing and avoid unwanted results.
- Don’t forget the seasoning.
While the mushrooms are in the pan, give them a toss and use this opportunity to season your dinner. Kosher salt is undoubtedly a good choice, but you’re more than welcome if you want to add more spices.
Making Mushroom Pasta
Many good dishes have only two key ingredients, and that’s the case with this one. Things will be significantly simpler once you prepare the pasta and mushrooms.
- Cooking the pasta
There are no special instructions for cooking pasta. Boil the water, wait a few minutes, drain, and that’s it.
- Making the mushroom sauce
Using a large cast-iron skillet is the best choice for this task. Firstly, sauté the shallots and the garlic with some olive oil. Then, add all the mushrooms and wait for the pile to lower. After a couple of stirs and a few minutes on the heat, it will go down.
Once that happens, add tomato paste, red wine, and some pasta water. Cook for another 5 minutes and the sauce will be done.
- Put it all together.
Combine everything in a large pan and give it a good toss. Make sure all of the pasta is coated.
Don’t forget the little things that make this dish special, and grate some Parmesan cheese on top. If you wish to make it extra fancy, garnish the plate with fresh parsley, crushed walnuts, and pepper flakes.
Grab a Meal With Us
If you’re feeling hungry in Miami, visit Glass & Vine restaurant and grab a meal with us. We’ll serve you the best Mediterranean dishes Florida has to offer.
