Simple flavors from garlic, lemon, kale, tomatoes, parsley, oregano and rosemary make healthy Mediterranean meals!
Mediterranean Meals Begin with Mediterranean Ingredients
I often recommend meals made from Mediterranean ingredients. Why? They are full of flavor, full of nutrition and easy to learn to cook. Also, they use familiar ingredients that you can find quickly and inexpensively at an American supermarket. For a start, look at the ingredients in my photo at the left.
More Mediterranean Ingredients
To learn more ingredients that are used in the Mediterranean area of the world, think of the flavors of Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, France, North Africa and what grows locally there. The list includes olives and olive oil, fresh seafood, colorful fresh vegetables, colorful fresh fruits, nuts, dairy yogurt, simple grains, lentils, beans and more. A Mediterranean shopping list may come in handy.
Mediterranean Meals
Here are two ideas for quick and easy meals for your family table. Remember to make enough for 2 meals and then refrigerate for a repeat meal 2 days later. This will save you a lot of time and effort while serving up excellent nutrition.
Meal 1: Cold Pasta salad – Cook pasta, cool. Add cut up tomatoes and cucumbers, shredded carrot, olives, minced parsley and oregano. Top salad with canned tuna or salmon. Dress with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, dash of salt and pepper.
Meal 2: Eggplant ‘Stew’ – Wash and cut up eggplant, tomatoes, onion, zucchini, sweet Bell peppers into 1-1/2 inch chunks. Put into pan, add a very little water and cover with lid. Cook on low heat for 1-2 hours, stirring to prevent sticking to pan. When all vegetables are tender, add canned, rinsed, drained chickpeas and season with salt, pepper, rosemary, basil.
Resources for Your Healthy Kitchen
A healthy kitchen begins with fresh ideas and inspiration. Learning about easy meals and ingredients to stock is the next step. Practicing what you learn is the next step. Start your journey to more flavor and better health today. LIKE my Facebook page and INVEST in simple kitchen meal and recipe e-books. Your good health and your family’s is well worth it!
