Explore the benefits of the Mediterranean diet with delicious recipes, nutrition tips, and lifestyle advice - Irini Savva
If you like making your own condiments as I do, then you'll need to know how to sterilise your bottles and jars to keep your natural products from spoiling too soon.
Have you ever wondered what ingredients go into your condiments? A product like ketchup is so quick and easy to make, and yet we find it easier to reach for a bottle of the ready made stuff. I made a batch of this aromatic tomato ketchup this morning and you just can't compare store bought quality to the real thing.
A few days before the Orthodox Easter, Greek-Cypriots start their traditional Easter baking and dying of eggs. The eggs are dyed in various colours, red being the most commonly used colour. I wanted to try a few new colours other than the usual red eggs using food as the colouring. Brown onion skins always work very well but you can also use spices and vegetables to create other shades. I tested ground turmeric for yellow eggs, red cabbage for blue eggs (yes blue!) and beetroot for red eggs.
Based on a classic French chocolate cake recipe, this cake is beautifully moist with added beetroot purée for a dense, bitter-sweet chocolate dessert.
A sublime combination of seasonal sweet pumpkin, immune boosting garlic and ginger, and finished off with creamy coconut milk.
Eggs are not only an inexpensive way to add healthy nutrients and protein to your diet, but are also used in many Mediterranean dishes.
A good seasonal fruit salad is the perfect end to a meal–sweet, crisp and refreshing with a tangy citrus dressing.
A delicious twist on a classic Greek spanakopita with halloumi cheese and herbs in the traditional filling, and shaped into crispy finger sized rolls. Serve as a snack or starter.
Greens and eggs are a traditional combination enjoyed in many Greek households. Simply prepared using seasonal greens–usually courgettes (zucchini) or wild greens known as Horta–local olive oil, fresh herbs and a few eggs.
One of the best food ingredients you can have in your kitchen (other than fresh produce) is a good quality chicken stock. Making your own not only ensures a healthier bone broth but also imparts a wonderful flavour and aroma to many dishes than the shop bought cube stock.
