Spain, Italy, Spain, Italy, Greece and the Greece and the

Middle EastMiddle East

MediterraneaMediterranean Cuisinen Cuisine

Spanish CuisineSpanish Cuisine

► Climate varies by region. North has more rain and Climate varies by region. North has more rain and cooler temperatures. Much of the country has mild cooler temperatures. Much of the country has mild winters and hot dry summer.winters and hot dry summer.

► In 16In 16thth century Spanish Christian explorers brought century Spanish Christian explorers brought food like tomatoes, sweet peppers, corn, squash, food like tomatoes, sweet peppers, corn, squash, coffee and chocolate to Europe from South America.coffee and chocolate to Europe from South America.

► Celebrations and festivals are important to Celebrations and festivals are important to traditional Spanish culture. traditional Spanish culture.

► Cuisine is relatively simple and relies on fresh Cuisine is relatively simple and relies on fresh ingredients.ingredients.

► Food is traditionally slow simmered to blend flavors.Food is traditionally slow simmered to blend flavors.► Often mix a variety of meats and Often mix a variety of meats and

vegetables into one dish.vegetables into one dish.

Ingredients in SpainIngredients in Spain

► Wheat, barley, oats rye, potatoes and rice.Wheat, barley, oats rye, potatoes and rice.► Olives, beans, onion, garlic, mushrooms, Olives, beans, onion, garlic, mushrooms,

asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage and asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, cabbage and potatoes.potatoes.

► Grapes, oranges, clementines, figs, dates, Grapes, oranges, clementines, figs, dates, melons, pomegranates and apples.melons, pomegranates and apples.

► Wine, saffron (a smoky flavored yellow spice), Wine, saffron (a smoky flavored yellow spice), cinnamon, anise, orange peel, almonds, paprika, cinnamon, anise, orange peel, almonds, paprika, cumin, capers, caperberries & olive oil add flavor.cumin, capers, caperberries & olive oil add flavor.

► Herring, scallops, prawns (large shrimp), Herring, scallops, prawns (large shrimp), anchovies, mussels & whitefish are among the anchovies, mussels & whitefish are among the variety of seafood.variety of seafood.

► Beef, lamb, ham and poultry.Beef, lamb, ham and poultry.

Spanish RecipesSpanish Recipes

► Tapas: Appetizers that vary from simple to Tapas: Appetizers that vary from simple to elaborate. Plate of olives to savory pastries.elaborate. Plate of olives to savory pastries.

►Gazpacho: cold tomato soup. One of many Gazpacho: cold tomato soup. One of many soups popular in Spanish cuisine.soups popular in Spanish cuisine.

► Chorizo: spicy smoky flavored sausage.Chorizo: spicy smoky flavored sausage.► Paella: Spanish rice dish which contains a Paella: Spanish rice dish which contains a

variety of vegetables, meats and plenty of variety of vegetables, meats and plenty of saffron.saffron.

►Desserts: Flan (caramel custard), rice Desserts: Flan (caramel custard), rice pudding & sponge cake.pudding & sponge cake.

Italian CuisineItalian Cuisine

► Expansive coastline makes seafood Expansive coastline makes seafood important to cuisine and economic export.important to cuisine and economic export.

►Mountainous rugged terrain limits farming.Mountainous rugged terrain limits farming.► Roman Catholic church influences diet.Roman Catholic church influences diet.► Cuisine is varied but simple and relies on Cuisine is varied but simple and relies on

fresh ingredients.fresh ingredients.► Regional differences. North uses more dairy, Regional differences. North uses more dairy,

pork and rice. Central cuisine uses more pork and rice. Central cuisine uses more beans and ricotta. Southern dishes rely on beans and ricotta. Southern dishes rely on tomato sauces, mozzarella cheese and is tomato sauces, mozzarella cheese and is generally spicier.generally spicier.

Common Ingredients in Italy Common Ingredients in Italy

► Pasta, rice, polenta and gnocchi.Pasta, rice, polenta and gnocchi.► Tomato, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, Tomato, mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant,

artichoke, beans, peppers, and spinach.artichoke, beans, peppers, and spinach.► Grapes, lemons, figs, pears, cherries, plums.Grapes, lemons, figs, pears, cherries, plums.► Parsley, garlic, olive oil, anise, saffron, sage, Parsley, garlic, olive oil, anise, saffron, sage,

basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, capers, basil, thyme, sage, rosemary, capers, pinenuts and mint.pinenuts and mint.

► Clams, mussels, shrimp, sardines, anchovies, Clams, mussels, shrimp, sardines, anchovies, squid, tuna. Pork, lamb, veal.squid, tuna. Pork, lamb, veal.

► Cheese often named after region. Cheese often named after region. Parmesan, Romano, provolone, gorgonzola, Parmesan, Romano, provolone, gorgonzola, ricotta and mozzarella. ricotta and mozzarella.

► Strong black coffee and wine consumed Strong black coffee and wine consumed daily. Milk is only put in coffee before noon.daily. Milk is only put in coffee before noon.

Italian RecipesItalian Recipes

►Gelati is the Italian version of ice cream.Gelati is the Italian version of ice cream.►Risotto is a northern dish of simmered rice Risotto is a northern dish of simmered rice

prepared with a variety of meats and prepared with a variety of meats and vegetables often in a creamy sauce.vegetables often in a creamy sauce.

►Antipasto means appetizer. It is a colorful Antipasto means appetizer. It is a colorful cold plate of olives, meats, cheeses and cold plate of olives, meats, cheeses and vegetables.vegetables.

►Popular American foods with Italian roots Popular American foods with Italian roots include spaghetti, lasagna, cannoli, include spaghetti, lasagna, cannoli, tiramisu, ministrone soup, wedding soup, tiramisu, ministrone soup, wedding soup, pizza, calzone and water ice.pizza, calzone and water ice.

Foods of GreeceFoods of Greece

►Cuisine has a long history. Greeks Cuisine has a long history. Greeks thought to be some of the earliest people thought to be some of the earliest people to cook food rather than eat it raw.to cook food rather than eat it raw.

►Extensive coastline and rocky terrain. Extensive coastline and rocky terrain. ►Greek Orthodox Church influences diet.Greek Orthodox Church influences diet.►Easter celebration includes feasts and Easter celebration includes feasts and

fasts.fasts.►Has both European and Middle Eastern Has both European and Middle Eastern

influences on cuisine.influences on cuisine.

Ingredients in GreeceIngredients in Greece► Pasta, pita bread, bulgur, rice and phyllo Pasta, pita bread, bulgur, rice and phyllo

dough.dough.► Olives (kalamata), capers, honey, lemon juice, Olives (kalamata), capers, honey, lemon juice,

basil, cinnamon, dill and oregano flavor foods.basil, cinnamon, dill and oregano flavor foods.► Eggplant, zucchini, grape leaves, tomatoes, Eggplant, zucchini, grape leaves, tomatoes,

cucumbers, sweet peppers, red onions, cucumbers, sweet peppers, red onions, spinach, artichoke, fennel and horta (wild spinach, artichoke, fennel and horta (wild greens).greens).

► Citrus fruits, grapes, raisinsCitrus fruits, grapes, raisins► Goat, chicken and lamb. Various fish & Goat, chicken and lamb. Various fish &

shellfish.shellfish.► Milk is consumed fresh or made into cheese Milk is consumed fresh or made into cheese

(like feta) or yogurt to keep for longer period (like feta) or yogurt to keep for longer period of time.of time.

► Lentils, lima and chickpeas are popular beans.Lentils, lima and chickpeas are popular beans.► Nuts like pistachios, almonds, walnuts & Nuts like pistachios, almonds, walnuts &

pinenuts.pinenuts.

Greek RecipesGreek Recipes

►Dolmades: grape leaves stuffed with Dolmades: grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and pinenuts.seasoned rice and pinenuts.

► Hummas: spread made with Hummas: spread made with chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic and chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic and tahini (sesame seed).tahini (sesame seed).

► Baklava: honey sweetened dessert Baklava: honey sweetened dessert made by layering phyllo dough and made by layering phyllo dough and walnuts.walnuts.

►Moussaka: eggplant and lamb Moussaka: eggplant and lamb casserole.casserole.

►Green Salad: tomatoes, cucumbers, Green Salad: tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, red onions and feta cheese.olives, red onions and feta cheese.

Middle Eastern CuisineMiddle Eastern Cuisine

► Includes Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Includes Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Egypt. and Egypt.

►Generally dry and arid climate. Hot dry Generally dry and arid climate. Hot dry summers and warm wet winters. summers and warm wet winters.

►Some areas along coast line or rivers Some areas along coast line or rivers (Nile, Tigris and Euphrates) will have (Nile, Tigris and Euphrates) will have more fish in diet.more fish in diet.

►Strict dietary laws of Islam and Strict dietary laws of Islam and Judaism limits cuisine.Judaism limits cuisine.

Impact of Religion on CuisineImpact of Religion on Cuisine

► Islamic laws forbid eating certain foods. Islamic laws forbid eating certain foods. Forbidden foods include pork, alcohol, sick Forbidden foods include pork, alcohol, sick animals or those slaughtered inhumanely.animals or those slaughtered inhumanely.

► Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan and on other occasions.month of Ramadan and on other occasions.

► In Jewish areas food is kept Kosher by In Jewish areas food is kept Kosher by separating meat and dairy products. Foods separating meat and dairy products. Foods are processed using strict guidelines. Pork are processed using strict guidelines. Pork products and shellfish are forbidden. products and shellfish are forbidden.

► Passover (symbolic seder), Rosh Hashanah Passover (symbolic seder), Rosh Hashanah (honey cookies, sweet potato pudding), Yom (honey cookies, sweet potato pudding), Yom Kippur (fasting) & Chanukah (potato pancakes Kippur (fasting) & Chanukah (potato pancakes and doughnuts) are important holidays.and doughnuts) are important holidays.

Middle Eastern FoodsMiddle Eastern Foods►Hummus, olives, caviar, dates, figs, Hummus, olives, caviar, dates, figs,

pomegranates, & pita bread.pomegranates, & pita bread.►Tabule: salad of bulgur, parsley and spices.Tabule: salad of bulgur, parsley and spices.►Rice Pilav: Rice dish with tomato & seasoning.Rice Pilav: Rice dish with tomato & seasoning.►Kebabs: Skewered seasoned meat (lamb).Kebabs: Skewered seasoned meat (lamb).►Coffee is served thick, strong, sweet & spiced.Coffee is served thick, strong, sweet & spiced.►Honey is used in various desserts.Honey is used in various desserts.►Yogurt used in salads and soups.Yogurt used in salads and soups.►Couscous: tiny pasta cooked with various Couscous: tiny pasta cooked with various

vegetables, spices and meats.vegetables, spices and meats.