The Glen Waverley food scene is more interesting, thanks to the Mediterranean cuisine. Now, for Mediterranean cuisine to have its distinction, much is owed to various herbs and spices. These ingredients give Mediterranean dishes that distinct flavour that is clearly unmatched.
Unfortunately, not much is known about these herbs and spices. Yes, these herbs and spices are widely used. However, it’s not given much attention. It is then a good idea to be acquainted with these ingredients. This way, these lovely flavour enhancers may also be used to liven up any common dish, Mediterranean or not.
Before doing a deep dive into these Mediterranean spices, knowing about Mediterranean cuisine is essential. Being familiar makes it relatively easy to reveal some of the fundamental roles herbs and spices have in the cuisine.
Introduction to Mediterranean cuisine
In this section, different facets of the cuisine are discussed. These interesting tidbits of information shall provide everyone with a good idea about Mediterranean cuisine and the area’s way of life in general.
Common Elements
The Mediterranean area is blessed with every factor that contributes to healthy livestock and hearty vegetation. This is precisely why the area has generally lively flora and fauna. As such, various food sources come bountiful for everyone’s omnivorous delight. All these factors play up to the inhabitant’s interesting use of ingredients- from plants to livestock.
With a mild climate all year round, the Mediterranean area is largely ideal for raising livestock. These animals enjoy a climate that promotes their natural growth and development. For countryside farms, these animals are raised with adherence to agrarian (and traditional) methods.
Similar to livestock, the Mediterranean is also blessed with the best-quality vegetation. It comes as no surprise that the traditional Mediterranean way of cooking only uses nothing but the freshest ingredients. It is also quite interesting to find out that most of their ingredients are just picked from their own backyard or garden.
Unique Culinary Characteristics and Distinctions
First of all, it is important to know that the Mediterranean is considered to have three culinary regions namely: Eastern Mediterranean, Southern Europe, and Northern Africa. The Glen Waverley food offerings, particularly the area’s authentic Mediterranean restaurants are influenced by any (if not, all) of the regions.
Eastern Mediterranean
This cuisine pretty much sums up the way of cooking and food preparation in areas such as Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, and Palestine. Dishes like yoghurt and cheeses (feta and halloumi) are common staples of this regional Mediterranean cooking. To dig deeper, yoghurt usually comes as either a sauce or condiment, while fresh cheeses are cooked as part of some dishes or eaten as it is.
With regards to herbs, Eastern Mediterranean uses a lot of parsley, sumac, mint, and lemon juice. Spreads and sauces also see a lot of pomegranates and various nuts. Grains come in abundance as well as it is widely used flatbread (eg. Pita).
This region’s primary sources of protein (meat) are lamb, mutton, poultry, and goat meat. These proteins are consumed grilled, skewered, or spit-fired like the more famous gyros. Mediterranean restaurants featured in the Glen Waverley food scene mostly serve these dishes.
Southern European
This covers the area of Italy, Southern France, and Spain. This specific Mediterranean culinary region includes wine as a predominant ingredient. The wine component makes the dishes more robust and richer as the main flavour enhancer.
The Southern European region considers pork as their main source of protein. However, other meats such as mutton, goat, and lamb are generally favoured as well. At the end of the day, the use of meat is decided upon by the dish to be served.
Grains are also used by inhabitants of this region. Such grains are used in pasta, rice, and leavened bread. In terms of herbs, spices, and vegetables, this Mediterranean region uses a lot of tomatoes, garlic, capers, anise, and pine nuts.
Northern African
Some Glen Waverley food establishments may also have a little bit of Northern African influence. This region covers Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. If both Southern European and Eastern Mediterranean regions use a lot of herbs in their cooking, Northern Africa is big on spices. They use coriander, saffron, cinnamon, cloves, paprika, cumin, and many more.
Their main sources of protein are lamb, mutton, and goat meat. However, they also use a lot of chicken (and sometimes beef) in their dishes. They cook their meat and vegetables in tagines (cone-shaped ceramic pots). Such tagine-cooked dishes are described as aromatic, hearty, well-balanced, rich, and robust in flavour.
Common Mediterranean Herbs and Spices
Some of these spices were already mentioned above. However, in this section, they take the center stage. Here are some of the herbs and spices that make Mediterranean dishes effortlessly stand out:
Basil
Basil has its origins in France and Italy. It is characterized by its sweet and peppery flavor which makes it perfect for sauces, salads, marinades, and even soup dishes. It perfectly goes well with spices such as oregano, rosemary, and thyme to name a few.
Cilantro
Cilantro has its origins in Southern Europe and the Middle East which explains its presence in most of the region’s dishes. It has a strong flavour that perhaps needs a little getting used to. Many people who tried it for the first time didn’t seem to like it. However, it grew on them, especially when added to other dishes such as Mediterranean stews, curries, vegetable salads, pizza, and more
Chives
Chives is a member of the onion family and have their roots in North America, Asia, and Europe. It is also widely used in many Glen Waverley food places. It is perfect for salads, yoghurt, egg, pasta dishes, and baked potato dishes. This versatile herb can also be added to sauces and dips to give it a little bit of tartness.
Oregano
Oregano has been mentioned so many times in different Mediterranean dishes and for good reason. This herb actually grows wild all over the area. Not only is it a popular herb added to Mediterranean cooking but also used in French and Italian dishes. It is used mainly as added flavour to marinades and tomato-based soups. It goes well with garlic, basil, thyme, and parsley.
Rosemary
Not much is known about Rosemary. Compared to the herbs earlier mentioned, not many people are familiar with what Rosemary is all about. In fact, not many dishes have it. For starters, Rosemary is a staple in Mediterranean dishes because it is abundant in that area. It is also widely used by the Italians for their grilled food marinades. Rosemary is also ideal for stews, sauces, and salad dressings.
Sage
Sage is a Mediterranean spice that is part of the mint family. It has a strong bitter taste with a touch of sweetness. People in the region use Sage in cooking meats, seafood, and poultry. Don’t be surprised to also find this herb in stuffings, salad dressings, soups, and bread.
Thyme
Same as Rosemary and Sage, people have yet to know more about Thyme. Even if it is one of the main herbs in authentic Mediterranean dishes in Glen Waverley food establishments, many are still left clueless about it. This is another lovely herb that grows abundantly in the Mediterranean.
It is characterized by a minty scent and flavour. It is also used in savoury and delectable soups and sauces with tomatoes which are common favourites in Glen Waverley food establishments, especially authentic Mediterranean restaurants.
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