Cook the Book: 'The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook'
With a handful of feta here and a tub of yogurt there, The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook doesn't read much like a dieter's guide. If you're looking for a quick (and probably unpleasant) way to drop a dress size, this isn't it. Veteran food authority Nancy Harmon Jenkins is concerned with your lifelong health, not your upcoming highschool reunion.
Since ancient times, the Greeks and southern Italians have been consuming a largely plant-based diet, with small amounts of meat, fish, and dairy, and with olive oil as the principal fat. They've been known to pour themselves glass of wine now and again, too. And if you've read your classics, you'll know that the average Greek or Roman, providing he wasn't assassinated by the state first, lived to a ripe old age.
Conceived in a "rugged stone farmhouse...in the middle of a long Tuscan valley", Jenkins' cookbook promotes a way of eating that has barely evolved since the Homeric epics. Her recipes draw from every country in the fertile Mediterranean region, among them Lebanese fattoush, Turkish minted yogurt soup, and honey-sweetened baked beans from Greece. We'll be sharing one with you every day this week. —Michele Humes
Win 'The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook'
Courtesy of Bantam, we are giving away five (5) copies of The New Mediterranean Diet Cookbook. In the comments below, just tell us your favorite Mediterranean dish.
Contest will end and comments will close at 3 p.m. ET, Monday, January 19, 2009. One entry per community member. The standard Serious Eats contest rules apply.

Comments are closed: 568 Comments:
hm..id have to say.. falafels!
sassysprite at 1:26PM on 01/12/09
i love me a good falafel sandwich. and now i want one.
french tart at 1:27PM on 01/12/09
Can't go wrong with caprese salad.
bobcatsteph3 at 1:31PM on 01/12/09
anything with eggplant or artichokes
kathyvegas at 1:32PM on 01/12/09
feta, luscious tomatoes, cucumber, kosher salt...oh boy!
Bria at 1:35PM on 01/12/09
spanikopita...hands down! my dad makes it the best.
sweeetheartfever at 1:35PM on 01/12/09
Baked kafta for the main meal & kanafeh for dessert.
katemc at 1:36PM on 01/12/09
Greek Antipasto Pitas
kalajo at 1:36PM on 01/12/09
ratatouille
Dee at 1:38PM on 01/12/09
I love hummus, it's one of my favorite foods!
saraskitchen at 1:42PM on 01/12/09
Angel hair pasta with garlic, olive oil, and pecorino romano is my kind of comfort food!
CEBakes at 1:43PM on 01/12/09
seafood dishes like calamari, octopus, etc etc
piehole at 1:43PM on 01/12/09
Any dish with feta cheese.
dhorst at 1:46PM on 01/12/09
hummus.
NYCEater at 1:46PM on 01/12/09
i love polenta
creamy pillows on my tongue
food that makes me smile
handful of cheese and
a drizzle of olive oil
would be perfection
my roots call them grits
mixed with bacon and butter
...i'll have some grits, too
thebeef at 1:47PM on 01/12/09
Baba Ghanoush.
llarabyth at 1:47PM on 01/12/09
Tomato salad (called different things based on the country, and not limited to the Mediterranean) - tomato, feta, cucumber, onion, parsley, with some olive oil and vinegar. I'm not sure why we Americans think salad = lettuce.
chicagojen at 1:48PM on 01/12/09
falafel and hummus is not just my favorite mediterranean dish, it's it my top 3 favorite dishes, period!
sarahlucy at 1:48PM on 01/12/09
A good pita gyros is the best thing ever.
shoneyjoe at 1:50PM on 01/12/09
Baked Gigantes!
LIRC at 1:55PM on 01/12/09
spanakopita
sloppy at 1:56PM on 01/12/09
hummus
crackerfan at 1:57PM on 01/12/09
I love everything, but hummus and spanokopita rate highly.
KarynMC at 2:01PM on 01/12/09
eggplant parm
PerkyMac at 2:03PM on 01/12/09
it must have feta to be a favorite!
pumpkinfiend at 2:05PM on 01/12/09
Lamb marinated with Greek yogurt and rosemary. Grilled octupus. Olives!
suthungirl at 2:06PM on 01/12/09
eggplant parma
saraann at 2:06PM on 01/12/09
Gyros, please...
jessie at 2:07PM on 01/12/09
Roasted eggplant and garlic
Sigismondo at 2:08PM on 01/12/09
Simple grilled fish.
Brettsy at 2:08PM on 01/12/09
Simple grilled fish.
Brettsy at 2:09PM on 01/12/09
I wish fattoush was in season year round where I live.
Pierogi at 2:10PM on 01/12/09
anything with artichokes
diamath at 2:12PM on 01/12/09
How 'bout a nice lamb schwarma? Oooh, yumm...
fiveforefun at 2:13PM on 01/12/09
My favorite is dolmas (dolmades) with or without meat. Yum!
Schlappette at 2:15PM on 01/12/09
basic Greek salad
semarr at 2:16PM on 01/12/09
Baklava. and how.
doron at 2:17PM on 01/12/09
stuffed grape leaves
ssultan23 at 2:18PM on 01/12/09
anything with tzatziki
Cebca at 2:18PM on 01/12/09
spanikopita. mmmm.
horsefish at 2:19PM on 01/12/09
greek salad in any form
ReneeRobinson at 2:19PM on 01/12/09
fattoush or kibbeh! and anything topped w/ garlic sauce!
KatieN326 at 2:20PM on 01/12/09
Oh, this just sounds delightful - if I had to pick one, I'd say I love some tasty stuffed grape leaves. Now I've got a craving! I guess I'll have to hit up my kitchen, because there are hardly any good mediterranean restaurants out here in Hawaii!
tiffdyer at 2:21PM on 01/12/09
Gyros and Greek salad!!!!
etirv at 2:21PM on 01/12/09
spanakopita!
TOMFARL at 2:21PM on 01/12/09
Souvlaki
dishingupdelights at 2:22PM on 01/12/09
My mom's meat dolmas. MMMMMMMMM.
tkln at 2:23PM on 01/12/09
pitas and hummus with a side of greek salad
ssommerville at 2:23PM on 01/12/09
Spanikopita!
krissyc at 2:25PM on 01/12/09
I'd have to say the tyropitas we make for the holidays. How can you go wrong with filo dough stuffed with feta?
LttlMichey at 2:25PM on 01/12/09
Greek salad
ocarol at 2:25PM on 01/12/09
I'd be happy taking a bath in greek yogurt drizzled with honey.
:-)
Elmig at 2:26PM on 01/12/09
simply grilled squid...mmm!
tlinjang at 2:26PM on 01/12/09
I love a really well-made baba ghanoush. Slightly smoky, a hint of acidity, smooth texture...lovely with just-made puffy pita bread.
jbeach at 2:27PM on 01/12/09
Hummus, anything with eggplant, and FETA!
HMcChezz at 2:27PM on 01/12/09
spanakopita
drew13000 at 2:29PM on 01/12/09
Hummus
bobfole at 2:29PM on 01/12/09
pasta alla puttanesca, without a doubt, for it's colorful origins and also because it's unbelievably delicious
linneabelle at 2:29PM on 01/12/09
Falafel and pita with a lot of good hummus on the side.
jazzinx at 2:31PM on 01/12/09
lamb schwarma!
FamishedFem at 2:34PM on 01/12/09
A nice big Greek salad!
hungryinhouston at 2:35PM on 01/12/09
can't choose, ALL of the above.
donnie at 2:35PM on 01/12/09
I'd rather have a falafel than an awful fall.
oneperfectegg at 2:40PM on 01/12/09
Falafel & Hummus!
Cupcake819 at 2:41PM on 01/12/09
I second the "anything with tzatziki" comment and I love love love a Horiatiki salad (tomato, cucumber, onion, olives, feta) - puts the iceberg I choked down in the cafeteria today to shame
CooksForOne at 2:47PM on 01/12/09
moussaka. yum.
bmcbrides at 2:48PM on 01/12/09
Pistou soup. Its been our favorite for years.
erialc at 2:50PM on 01/12/09
greek salad, spinach pie, kebobs with yoghurt sauce.
JudyH at 2:52PM on 01/12/09
Definately HUMMUS!!
Cami_D at 2:54PM on 01/12/09
spinach pie, hummus, falafel. I could go on forever!
izatryt at 2:55PM on 01/12/09
spanakopita and baba ganoush
sharlynn at 2:56PM on 01/12/09
Just lather me with hummus and sprinkle feta like a spring shower and I am golden!
uninorth at 2:57PM on 01/12/09
This question is nearly impossible for me to narrow down. How about anything with lots of eggplant, garlic and/or yogurt?
yogurtsoda at 2:58PM on 01/12/09
Fasoulakia.
karen r at 2:58PM on 01/12/09
I'm not sure this counts, but I love baba ganoush - especially from the Wegmans' salad bar.
esmesbell at 2:59PM on 01/12/09
A schwarma sandwich, schmeared with hummus, filled with Israeli salad and all the fixins, maybe some chopped hardboiled egg...mmm.
annerska at 3:01PM on 01/12/09
greek salad and gyro.
Koren at 3:02PM on 01/12/09
Avoglemano Soup.
vox8ight at 3:04PM on 01/12/09
Grilled octopus
NSW at 3:08PM on 01/12/09
grape leaves
zina1017 at 3:09PM on 01/12/09
Hummus! Spanikopita isn't far behind.
DJ Dedd at 3:09PM on 01/12/09
hummus, shawarma, babaganoush...everything!
devine719 at 3:10PM on 01/12/09
another vote for hummus here :)
psychsarah at 3:11PM on 01/12/09
Fresh basil scattered over very ripe, warm from the summer in my garden, tomatoes...little balsamic, a little olive oil, sprinkle of good cheese. Yummm!
SueZeeQ at 3:11PM on 01/12/09
not "dishes" exactly, but baba ghanoush and hummus are two of my favorite things on earth
rbear at 3:12PM on 01/12/09
Mmm... falafel...
jenilowrance at 3:12PM on 01/12/09
hummus and Eggplant are my faves
Luby26 at 3:17PM on 01/12/09
I could make hummus a meal every night!
polly28 at 3:18PM on 01/12/09
Grilled feta cheese + grill tomato!
eileen216 at 3:20PM on 01/12/09
tzatziki!!!
azured00 at 3:21PM on 01/12/09
I like an odd blend of Falafel on top of Polenta...
Sigma_Greg at 3:23PM on 01/12/09
Chicken schwarma with a nice feta pizza on the side ......ummmmm ....
foodie51 at 3:23PM on 01/12/09
Baba ghanoush - I could go for some now, actually...
abs294 at 3:26PM on 01/12/09
Dolmades! My favorite has rice, currants, garlic, cilantro, pine nuts and spices, with lemon juice drizzled on top.
I made them for a party once, but everyone thought they were too weird to eat. more for me!!
redhead at 3:26PM on 01/12/09
Soulvaki -- chunks of grilled marinated lamb, in a pita pocket with cukes, red onion, mint and yogurt sauce.
Also any freshly caught fish grilled with lemon, olive oil & oregano -- octopus...oh heaven.
juliebugsmama at 3:29PM on 01/12/09
grilled octopus/squid with a little olive oil & lemon juice
z911empire at 3:31PM on 01/12/09
baba ganoush if it's done well, hummus even if it's not, and some grilled haloumi cheese
threedogkitchen at 3:38PM on 01/12/09
those green beans stewed in tomatoes and olive oil and oregano... oh, it's not fancy, but it is oh. so. tasty.
that's really just the tip of the iceberg as greek food is one of my all-time tops. braised lamb shank, anyone?
meredila at 3:41PM on 01/12/09
Tabouli may be my favorite food in any cuisine
zenright at 3:41PM on 01/12/09
Mediterranean food IS my favorite food. I cannot pick just one. Don't make me do it!
greyrussian at 3:42PM on 01/12/09
kalamata olives, hummus, arugala and roasted red peppers on focaccia bread...
...mmm I'm all for a plant-based lifestyle!
hungrychristel at 3:44PM on 01/12/09
Baba ganoush
juliec at 3:45PM on 01/12/09
hummus good olives warm pita bread and a splash olive oil
johnney47 at 3:49PM on 01/12/09
I like a lot of the options, but there's just something about that spinning cone of meat that makes the gyro something special.
sidebernie at 3:50PM on 01/12/09
fish, olives, olive oil, freshness...
_greenbean at 3:50PM on 01/12/09
hummus, greek salads, baba ganoush, shawarma, anything that you can dip or stuff in a pita.
LiveToEat at 3:52PM on 01/12/09
Cucumber Yogurt Salad!
kmrosen at 3:54PM on 01/12/09
melon wrapped in prosciutto
priestess at 4:01PM on 01/12/09
any fresh grilled seafood
BaguettenBrie at 4:02PM on 01/12/09
melon wrapped in prosciutto...take me home
priestess at 4:02PM on 01/12/09
hummus
Laurs87 at 4:05PM on 01/12/09
Stuffed artichokes.
roxlet at 4:05PM on 01/12/09
Grilled whole fish brushed with olive oil; anything with feta
pickled at 4:07PM on 01/12/09
Moussaka!!! Since I was a kid.
bessfour at 4:07PM on 01/12/09
Mmmm... bathing in hummus while eating falafel.
meredithcb at 4:09PM on 01/12/09
I can't pick just one! falafel, hummus, tahini, Greek salad, spanakopita, moussaka, gyro or schawarma sandwiches...
brooke29 at 4:10PM on 01/12/09
nice and chunky tabbouli with warm greek-style puffy pitas
musicalpandibear at 4:10PM on 01/12/09
Minestrone is mine
zekks at 4:11PM on 01/12/09
Ooooopah! Flaming cheese.
Mama Beckala at 4:18PM on 01/12/09
I'm a sucker for a good gyro... anything mediterranean really!
Steffie100 at 4:23PM on 01/12/09
A perfectly cooked tortilla de patatas from Spain.
danwalk at 4:27PM on 01/12/09
tahini
laur_uic at 4:29PM on 01/12/09
A huge Greek Salad...preferably from my local diner.
cdziuba at 4:31PM on 01/12/09
I adore fattoush.
deejaycee at 4:36PM on 01/12/09
Gyros are delicious. That could be at the top. Also up there would be any sort of fresh squid dishes and that silly flaming cheese you can get at some Greek restaurants (no clue if it's authentic or not, but it's fun and tasty).
dbrackst at 4:36PM on 01/12/09
Cioppino
sjwoodin at 4:38PM on 01/12/09
hummus preferably from the recipe in casa moro.
asherandeva at 4:39PM on 01/12/09
Yay for hummus!!!!!!
jh70095 at 4:42PM on 01/12/09
Greek yogurt with honey. I have another favorite made with ground lamb or ground beef, cinnamon, and pine nuts, but I can not remember the name of it. Thank you.
bohemiangypsy at 4:45PM on 01/12/09
Lentil salad with feta cheese!
cthewig at 4:45PM on 01/12/09
hummus
mariomenendez at 4:48PM on 01/12/09
I'd have to agree with spanakopita.
lpree at 4:48PM on 01/12/09
Kifta kabob, or is it kefta kebab. The dish that is spelling many ways. Either as a sandwich or with fattoush.
SusanP at 4:53PM on 01/12/09
My very favorites are gyros and dolmathes.
yankeesgal at 4:54PM on 01/12/09
Squid or octupus grilled with some sea salt on top. Demitris, a great BYOB in Philly, is where I had it the first time. (Not sure if it is still there, but wonderful simple Greek food.)
cranberrycheese at 4:57PM on 01/12/09
anything with feta and olives
shannons at 4:59PM on 01/12/09
I love anything with artichokes!
little orange straw at 5:00PM on 01/12/09
Soulvaki, my favorite.
tgrabler at 5:02PM on 01/12/09
hummus adn taramolsalata
ramy kin at 5:04PM on 01/12/09
hummus and feta, I love it!!
weebb33 at 5:05PM on 01/12/09
Taramosalata - no doubt! Whipped caviar with so much garlic that it's cruel to go within 50 feet of anyone for the rest of the day - yum!!!
PhredYammers at 5:07PM on 01/12/09
Moussaka made with lamb.
LindaY at 5:08PM on 01/12/09
for crying out loud, some of these posts are absurd. Polenta and chicken parm are NOT Mediterranean food. Anywhoo, my vote will be for falafel.
simon at 5:10PM on 01/12/09
I looooove falafel
agordon10 at 5:12PM on 01/12/09
Anything with feta.
joanne117 at 5:17PM on 01/12/09
My favorite mediterranean disn would be couscous with vegetables.
mskayz at 5:22PM on 01/12/09
couscous with feta, kalamata olives, tomato
agreen at 5:22PM on 01/12/09
i love some fresh tabouleh...
pumpkinspice at 5:25PM on 01/12/09
falafels and hummus, for sure!
cupcakemuffin at 5:25PM on 01/12/09
Pasticio!!!!
mlbykb at 5:36PM on 01/12/09
gyros
slb3334 at 5:43PM on 01/12/09
Cacciucco, yum! Thank you!
Tina12312 at 5:50PM on 01/12/09
Kourabiedes-Greek Butter Almond Cookies-are my favorite!
teraustin@mindspring.com
Fatmama at 5:51PM on 01/12/09
A creamy, garlicy hummus with a nice pool of olive oil on top.
lisal at 5:53PM on 01/12/09
Dolmades
spanklin at 5:56PM on 01/12/09
hummus/hummos/hommos
(a three-way tie!)
jd7979 at 6:00PM on 01/12/09
If I HAVE to pick only one....tzatziki sauce.
Jeana at 6:03PM on 01/12/09
Grilled octopus drizzled with olive oil, lemon and torn mint leaves. Oh my God.
meglo91 at 6:08PM on 01/12/09
Many posters have said falafel but I differ from these folks due to the fact that falafel is my favorite food period.
That being said, my response would be shawarma.
steamsoldier at 6:11PM on 01/12/09
Flatbread, feta, olives and hummus drizzled with olive oil and lemon. YUM!!!
bitchincamero at 6:14PM on 01/12/09
Meglo91 and I ought to meet for dinner. I LOVE octopus "tiganito" (grilled)
with a horiatiki salata on the side.
pixframe at 6:16PM on 01/12/09
Soulvaki
winkyj at 6:20PM on 01/12/09
Lamb Kabobs. I love lamb
hassanchop at 6:24PM on 01/12/09
ratatouille
bibliothecaire at 6:26PM on 01/12/09
hummus, gyro and Couscous. Of course a Greek Salad is also nice.
southerncooker at 6:29PM on 01/12/09
babaghanoush
tracker at 6:30PM on 01/12/09
gyros are great..I'm kind of limited on this subject
joni514 at 6:33PM on 01/12/09
hummus
EmilySC at 6:34PM on 01/12/09
Baba Ghanoush.
ghinson at 6:34PM on 01/12/09
Baba Ghanoush (is that Mediterranean)?
Skipper50 at 6:37PM on 01/12/09
today it would be Fasoulakia
mverno at 6:47PM on 01/12/09
Mousakka!
kdjmom3 at 6:51PM on 01/12/09
Either hummus or baba ghanoush on warm pitas. Or falafel, spanakopita, moussaka, stuffed grapes leaves, and lamb schwarma. Oh, and baklava. I could never pick just one.
kimberlymac at 6:52PM on 01/12/09
Assuming "Mediterranean" includes the south of France, the answer is pissalidiere from L'Hostellerie de l'Abbaye de la Celle (an Alain Ducasse inn in the tiny town of la Celle). Followed by fresh sardines stuffed with ble (a sort of tabbouleh-like wheat concoction) and fried zucchini flowers (in season) at La Merenda in Nice.
Mizbee at 6:56PM on 01/12/09
babaganoush
ynot4me at 7:03PM on 01/12/09
Opa! Moussaka!
MadameTart at 7:06PM on 01/12/09
Stuffed grape leaves
janmarkel at 7:06PM on 01/12/09
Sandy/ nortsand@yahoo.com
Pita gyros!
nortsand at 7:07PM on 01/12/09
mussels cooked in white wine parsley sauce
hoff_83 at 7:13PM on 01/12/09
hummus
catalu at 7:20PM on 01/12/09
Couscous, hummus and flaming cheese!!!
jdar1988 at 7:25PM on 01/12/09
falafels!
PoignantTuna at 7:30PM on 01/12/09
Pastitsio!
pizzagoddess at 7:41PM on 01/12/09
My favorite dish is feta with olives, slices of tomato and fresh pitas drizzled with really good olive oil and oregano.
ceeveg at 7:45PM on 01/12/09
Gyros
calliope at 7:51PM on 01/12/09
hummus and pita
roseteng at 8:01PM on 01/12/09
Falafel.
PDXbiker at 8:06PM on 01/12/09
Greek Salad
raspberrypicker at 8:11PM on 01/12/09
Greek yogurt
pourgirl at 8:21PM on 01/12/09
I had never eaten anything Mediterranean until October when I went on a tour, and we ate at a restaurant in Sacramento. We had to make our choice before we got there, and I decided on the Mediterranean salad. Was I surprised when I tasted it. I loved it! Now I want to try other foods from that part of the world.
lydiasggma at 8:22PM on 01/12/09
babaganoush
denvergal at 8:23PM on 01/12/09
Chummus mainly, but baklavah for desert!
Phil W. at 8:25PM on 01/12/09
I love love love making red pepper hummus
tortor at 8:26PM on 01/12/09
mixed seafood in red pasta sauce over linguine
:)
mercuryhime at 8:28PM on 01/12/09
Gyros
fmd518 at 8:28PM on 01/12/09
grilled octopus
derosa at 8:36PM on 01/12/09
I love baklava, chicken soulvaki, and anything with hummus on it.
shellockjohn at 8:36PM on 01/12/09
saganaki, maybe some fresh fruit on the side like fresh picked apricots
Airedalelover at 8:40PM on 01/12/09
Shish kebob-lamb.
tcjanes at 8:41PM on 01/12/09
Hummus with pita bread.
fangirl at 8:46PM on 01/12/09
Pastitsio. (Actually, anything with a lot of carbs and cheese really.)
CafePhine at 9:04PM on 01/12/09
Dolmades... yum!
RitaM4 at 9:04PM on 01/12/09
stuffed grape leaves
TNFarmer at 9:04PM on 01/12/09
Lamb anything!
Josh Baugher at 9:05PM on 01/12/09
All my favourites! Falafel, baba ghanoush, hummus, spanakopita, ful medames, tzaziki, tabbouleh... Vegetarian paradise
PeanutButter at 9:13PM on 01/12/09
ful medames! The most filling breakfast you'll ever have...
Natalie at 9:22PM on 01/12/09
Tsatsiki with Pita.
janetfaye at 9:25PM on 01/12/09
Feta cheese and olive oil on everything is the best.
brlucky7 at 9:27PM on 01/12/09
felafel in pita bread, with all the sides stuffed in....
jkershen at 9:28PM on 01/12/09
hummus and feta with a toasted pita
cassnles at 9:35PM on 01/12/09
A simple spinace and feta salad.
Celia at 9:36PM on 01/12/09
dolmades and babaghanoush
mochihead at 9:39PM on 01/12/09
falafel with hummus and tzatziki
minimuffin at 9:41PM on 01/12/09
fresh yogurt with a hunk of bread. mmmmmmmm.
flurie at 9:44PM on 01/12/09
falafels!
marchpane at 9:50PM on 01/12/09
Caponata!
emmab at 9:56PM on 01/12/09
Paella mariscada, salad nicoise, anything with harissa
Oenonome at 9:59PM on 01/12/09
any of Paula Wolfert's amazing recipes - authentic, interesting, flavorful, delicious
gorzd at 10:06PM on 01/12/09
i love dolmas!
amwhiteh at 10:07PM on 01/12/09
Gyros. I make my own.
dbcurrie at 10:13PM on 01/12/09
Love the Gyros !!!
djrnewcastle at 10:15PM on 01/12/09
gotta go gyros
Jeane at 10:17PM on 01/12/09
hummus..gyros..spanikopita...hummus...gyros..spanikopita...over and over.
grtrossini at 10:32PM on 01/12/09
hummus ... mmmm :)
graciecat at 10:33PM on 01/12/09
Are we excluding Italian? Because if not, I'd have to pick that entire cuisine (it is my heritage, after all).
If yes, then I pick couscous with vegetarian chickpea stew - the one with the caramelized onions and sultanas.
Or hummus.
piccola at 10:35PM on 01/12/09
Falafel, no question. I think.
kroehl at 10:37PM on 01/12/09
hummus is awesome
floridayaya at 10:37PM on 01/12/09
Can't pick one! Falafel, hummus, caprese salad, gyros, caponata, dolmades, etc.!
madball911 at 10:40PM on 01/12/09
I think it's a tie between Greek salad (with lots of feta cheese!) and pitas with hummus.
Vincci at 10:40PM on 01/12/09
A lovely oblong platter of assorted mezzas like baba ghanoush, hummus, dolmas and tabouleh all drizzled lightly with a fragrant olive oil and served with fresh, warm pita to scoop it all up!
Nothing better!
beebers at 10:41PM on 01/12/09
Garlic hummus, I love it!
randio at 10:43PM on 01/12/09
gyros
sandy89 at 10:48PM on 01/12/09
gyros
thumber at 10:49PM on 01/12/09
Falafel is my pick. Thanks!
mistyriver at 11:12PM on 01/12/09
Falafal with a lot of tahini
msilver875 at 11:23PM on 01/12/09
greek yogurt
nmp164 at 11:27PM on 01/12/09
eggplant parmasian
chromiumman at 11:57PM on 01/12/09
I love dolmates, spanakopita, and moussaka. I also love baklava. Also my local mediterranean restaurant makes this fantastic lamb with artichokes that is heavenly.
vdeliz at 11:59PM on 01/12/09
hummus, of course.
Michael Z at 12:41AM on 01/13/09
Spanakopita. It was love at first bite!
missm at 12:47AM on 01/13/09
tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil leaves
toastworthy at 1:00AM on 01/13/09
Falafel, mmm!
deenarae0 at 1:34AM on 01/13/09
moussaka
Marilyn at 1:46AM on 01/13/09
(armenian style) baklava, dolma, & chata (spelling could be off)
dementeddoll at 1:53AM on 01/13/09
Tabbouleh ftw!
weheartfood at 2:00AM on 01/13/09
My favorite Greek dish is the gyro, but I haven't had much exposure to Greek food really. I have had stuffed grape leaves and I definitely do NOT like that at all.
elangomatt at 2:24AM on 01/13/09
Pitas and hummus. Simple and delicious.
blackrose42 at 2:33AM on 01/13/09
I have never had Mediterranean food myself but some of the things listed sound very good...except octopus or squid.
lorrij7 at 2:34AM on 01/13/09
My favorite Mediterranean dish is Baklavah. Thanks for the giveaway!
cmg94538 at 5:30AM on 01/13/09
I love authentic hummus loaded with garlic. Yummm!
PageZel at 5:41AM on 01/13/09
I like all Mediterranean food. Tabouleh and hummus are among my favorites.
clc408 at 5:43AM on 01/13/09
i love Ratatouille, Squid roasted in olive oil, and anything (especially bread) with Thyme in it!
AlanaMarie at 6:01AM on 01/13/09
I love anything Greek. Moussaka the best, thanks for the chance
sloney at 6:52AM on 01/13/09
Felafel im Frites. (That's felafel with french fries)
dikaryon at 6:52AM on 01/13/09
Stuffed grape leaves.
anyang at 7:17AM on 01/13/09
Hummus
myntric at 8:06AM on 01/13/09
tabbouleh
carogonza at 8:25AM on 01/13/09
falafel
mrsbao at 8:38AM on 01/13/09
Smooth silky hummus with warm pita bread.
Lauri at 8:46AM on 01/13/09
grilled fish with olive oil and lemon
tillacat at 8:55AM on 01/13/09
My favorite is Fata (Lamb and Bread Soup).
dijon9955 at 8:57AM on 01/13/09
Gyros and greek salad sounds very good to me.
loveflowers74 at 9:04AM on 01/13/09
Olives, olives, olives.
goodlearner at 9:22AM on 01/13/09
Falafel & Baklava & Gyros, but also Hummus and poissibly Gage yogurt!
oishi at 9:26AM on 01/13/09
Mousaka or lamb souvlaki with tzatziki!
leah4hand at 9:33AM on 01/13/09
...tabbouleh and pita.....
pjlein at 9:40AM on 01/13/09
Greek salad with Kalamata olives, Feta, and fresh lemon juice dressing, served with warm Pita bread.
amylou61 at 9:43AM on 01/13/09
I love hummus! Thank you for this giveaway!
dglitter at 9:51AM on 01/13/09
Mojadara is wonderful!
susanchester at 9:53AM on 01/13/09
Falafel and Mujadrah!!! Yummy love on a plate!
Jennefur at 9:56AM on 01/13/09
I make a vegetarian Mousakka that rocks!! And I just love saying "mousakka".
Tricia316 at 10:00AM on 01/13/09
hummus, Feta - together or on anything
emf77 at 10:05AM on 01/13/09
Hummus is great!
dove1960 at 10:24AM on 01/13/09
Orange salad with onions and olives
ewalsh at 10:27AM on 01/13/09
I love a great gyro
Marilouise at 10:29AM on 01/13/09
my mouth is watering just thinking about dolmas.
majorpepper at 10:31AM on 01/13/09
Grilled squid.
CheesePlease at 10:35AM on 01/13/09
Grilled squid.
CheesePlease at 10:36AM on 01/13/09
Paella!
mizBIGhead at 10:41AM on 01/13/09
ratatouille or baba ganoush or anything with EGGPLANT!!
andrearode at 10:50AM on 01/13/09
Caprese salad with crusty Tuscan bread!
kfarrel3 at 11:17AM on 01/13/09
Soulvaki
toughturtles at 11:18AM on 01/13/09
i love hummus!
lamacha at 11:24AM on 01/13/09
Muhammara!
blgrimes at 11:27AM on 01/13/09
Moroccan chicken with olives and preserved lemons
Channa at 11:30AM on 01/13/09
Gyro, Lamb with yogurt sauce.
bongeezer at 11:38AM on 01/13/09
Set me up with some fresh-baked bread and hummus, artichoke salad, tapenade, roma tomatoes and (real) sharp provolone, and you've made me a very, very happy woman.
AsTheNight at 11:39AM on 01/13/09
schwarma!
llick at 11:47AM on 01/13/09
hummus and gyro's.....the salads sound awesome also!
haven't had much Mediterranean food....need a cookbook!
farmkat at 11:50AM on 01/13/09
I love falafel, spanakopita, hummus, and calmari salad
gervitsd at 12:03PM on 01/13/09
Would have to be a Mediterranean Pizza! Yum!
trishden at 12:10PM on 01/13/09
Spanikopita for me.
cher48603 at 12:27PM on 01/13/09
spicy grilled eggplant
Cath25 at 12:54PM on 01/13/09
I love any FRESH veggies and salad with Olive oil drizzled over. Love Hummus and grilled egglplant...
Oh.. Dolma... OMG.. so good...
LeslieVeg at 12:59PM on 01/13/09
linguini with white clam sauce and shrimp scampi.......
starsmom at 1:13PM on 01/13/09
Grilled Squid with couscous that has a lot of garlic, feta, olives, sundired tomatoes and good olive oil in it.
slvance at 1:27PM on 01/13/09
Roasted lamb chunks, with yogurt sauce and a soft, fresh, hot flatbread and some cucumbers, tomatoes and olives. Oh my.
Elena3141 at 1:30PM on 01/13/09
Caponata!
NO_Pam at 1:36PM on 01/13/09
bread chunks in olive oil, yum!
Sunnyvale at 1:58PM on 01/13/09
Anything lamb. So hard to find good lamb in most of the US.
Blue Iris at 2:15PM on 01/13/09
This may seem boring, but my favorite really is fresh-baked bread, dipped into good quality olive oil, with a sprinkling of black pepper. It just doesn't get any better than that!
pants at 2:30PM on 01/13/09
Souvlaki with lots of tzatziki
gratefulted at 2:31PM on 01/13/09
greek salad like they had at Palacinka before it closed.
semarr at 2:33PM on 01/13/09
Spanakopita!
poke87 at 2:49PM on 01/13/09
Hummus!
gammypie at 2:49PM on 01/13/09
Dolmades, served cold with plenty of tzatziki.
aadams73 at 2:51PM on 01/13/09
Grilled eggplant rollups with feta, grilled onion, tomato and a herb mix of rosemary, marjoram and lemon juice.
finsbigfan at 2:52PM on 01/13/09
I've not tried it before.
Rajee at 3:08PM on 01/13/09
dolmathes
gschaefer at 3:12PM on 01/13/09
My Sicilian grandmother used to make delicious sesame cookies--the cookies themselves were very plain, but they were rolled in sesame seeds before baking and had a lovely nutty crunch. I keep trying to duplicate them without success.
I could name any number of fabulous pastas or salads, but those cookies always make me think of her!
Barbd at 3:15PM on 01/13/09
mmmm hummas, and gyros, spanokapita- i love mediterannean food.
etrnlone at 3:20PM on 01/13/09
pork souvlaki!
pupilindenial at 3:30PM on 01/13/09
Haloumi Cheese sandwich in a pita with tomatoes - wow so good!!
manali98 at 3:34PM on 01/13/09
Gyros is my favorite.
lazybones344 at 3:39PM on 01/13/09
My family is Lebanese and I've inherited the "old" recipes - nothing written down, but my favourites are kousa (I grow my own), anything with tomatoes (I roasted a huge crop of tomatoes with olive oil, balsamic vinegar & S&P this summer-yummy!), olive oil, tabbouleh, kibbee, you name it. Everybody's old recipes are different...
Mocha466 at 3:41PM on 01/13/09
It has to be hummus for me.
marinelm at 3:44PM on 01/13/09
Stuffed courgette
Tzatziki
Kritikos Dakos
Baked Feta
My list goes on and on. I spend 2 weeks in Greece eating & touring, touring & eating, eating while touring and just eating. I didn't gain a pound. FABULOUS food.
Corysmom at 3:45PM on 01/13/09
Lamb Kebab with Pita and Tzatziki
gpops44 at 4:02PM on 01/13/09
almost anything with eggplant--eggplant parmesan, baba ghannoush, imam bayildi,...
icecreamsandwich at 4:06PM on 01/13/09
I love anything with feta, and nearly anything Italian.
parfait01 at 4:17PM on 01/13/09
Easy! Take a fresh pita and sear it on the flattop grill in the lamp drippings from the 'lamb shank tilt-a-whirl' and then smear it with fresh hummus and a splash of extra virgin olive oil. Then, ladle in a nice helping of tabouli and two beautiful slices of gyro and a dollop of tahini sauce. Fold together and shovel all into salivating mouth. Then, swallow and bliss out.
janalynn222 at 4:28PM on 01/13/09
Shepherd salad (tomatoes and cucumbers, tossed with onions and vinegrette) and cacik (yogurt salad). But garlic soup is the BEST! The garlic is so mild after cooking, you will be surprised it's in there.
lambowner at 4:31PM on 01/13/09
I love Greek salads!
juliamagrath at 4:37PM on 01/13/09
Orange salad with cinnamon, sugar and a splash of rosewater. Fragrant, gorgeous, Heaven!
Pointy at 4:40PM on 01/13/09
hummus and pita bread
roseteng at 4:50PM on 01/13/09
a bowl of hummus with fresh veg's and pita and stuffed grape leaves on the side.
plowlady at 5:14PM on 01/13/09
for me its dolmades with lemon sauce, souvlake with a salad, and galatoboureko for dessert. boy now i'm stuffed.
dearrie at 5:14PM on 01/13/09
hahha--anything with olive oil and lamb!
bajjmayer at 5:16PM on 01/13/09
Mmmm - Mediterranean food, food of my youth! I love fatayah, kibbee, yubruk, koosa, and no eating utensils -- grab it with a piece of Syrian bread. Great, now I gotta go get me some grape leaves and start stuffing!
sito50 at 5:25PM on 01/13/09
A huge steaming bowl of ratatouille sounds great to me right now.
Nicholas H at 5:40PM on 01/13/09
Falafel, gyros, and tzaziki. Yum!
Nellbie at 5:41PM on 01/13/09
Hummus, spanikopita, or dolmathes. Yum!
bansidhe at 5:43PM on 01/13/09
babaganouch and tabuleh
anado at 5:51PM on 01/13/09
Gyros
fmd518 at 6:08PM on 01/13/09
hummus with fresh pita YUM thanks
mama43 at 7:06PM on 01/13/09
Baklavah...I haven't had that in years!! Mmmmmmmm........
AmaHugs2 at 7:12PM on 01/13/09
baklavah
dandylion at 7:32PM on 01/13/09
Ooh, man is this a hard one to narrow down...
I guess I'd have to say b'stilla.....
hmneilson at 7:45PM on 01/13/09
Red Pepper Hummus is my favorite dish.
asketcher2 at 7:45PM on 01/13/09
Greek salad...........mmmmmm!
zekebamm at 8:02PM on 01/13/09
chickpea soups
sgiraffe at 8:11PM on 01/13/09
I don't like spinach, but I love Spanikopita !
js2222 at 8:47PM on 01/13/09
I like Gyros, and greek salad.
inismom at 8:51PM on 01/13/09
I love Greek food and would love the cook book
silverbele at 9:06PM on 01/13/09
Falafels and tzatziki sauce
edinat at 9:15PM on 01/13/09
Hummus is a real treat, as are gyros and greek salad.
pancak at 9:39PM on 01/13/09
simple hummus and baklava
Sigilum at 9:53PM on 01/13/09
My favorite Mediterranean dish is - Egg Plant Parmesania.
fredscholl at 9:54PM on 01/13/09
oh, hummus!
mrsfoodissues at 10:06PM on 01/13/09
I love imam bayaldi as well as a host of north african dishes from Morocco to Tunisia!
oregonpinot at 10:26PM on 01/13/09
Shawarma!
hamkracker at 10:49PM on 01/13/09
I love a good Greek Salad.
DePro1 at 11:00PM on 01/13/09
We love hummus!
HSlater351 at 11:03PM on 01/13/09
Spanikopita
DudeLovesFood at 11:04PM on 01/13/09
really just olive oil and good bread, of any sort, does it for me. or maybe any other vehicle for olive oil..
malecki at 11:12PM on 01/13/09
Syrian Potato Salad, from my grandmother - born in Aleppo
We boiled some red or white potatoes, the waxy kind, and when the knife went through, remove from the water and wash with cold water so you can peel the skin with your fingernails. While they are still hot, cut into bite sized pieces,
and add the following:
Generous chopped flat leaf parsley
fresh ground cumin
fresh ground coriander
black pepper
several pinches of Aleppo pepper, (or 1 part cayenne and 2 parts Spanish paprika)
lemon zest
lemon juice fresh!
good olive oil
Gently toss the spuds with the dressing until only a small pool of dressing remains at the bottom of the bowl. The hot potatoes will suck up the dressing. This is a summer afternoon dish no one will forget.
mymymichl at 12:08AM on 01/14/09
I add this not to win a book but to share another of my grandma's recipes:.Babaganoush
One medium sized eggplant, slashed to let the steam out, and a barbecue or open flame stove. Roast the eggplant, turning to keep it from really burning, but enough to let the skin char. That charred taste makes it authentic. If you think it might be cooking too much, it's about right. Remove from the fire when the innards are tender. Let cool slightly. Cut the eggplant to lay open the insides, and scoop out with a spoon into a bowl. Mash it with a fork.
Now add lots of crushed garlic, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, chopped parsley, freshly ground cumin, good E-V olive oil. Keep tasting. Set aside for half an hour to let the flavors develop and get friendly with one another.
Scoop up with triangles of freshly made pita. Here's my cheat:
Use pizza dough pressed into thin rounds and let to stand half an hour, can be cooked over the barbeque. Turn them often, pay attention to them. They should puff up.
mymymichl at 12:22AM on 01/14/09
couscous
jbeckett at 12:39AM on 01/14/09
Grilled octopus!
jlsmei at 12:46AM on 01/14/09
easy peasy, fresh mozzarella with basil and tomatoes and cucumbers and a nice healthy drizzle of olive oil.
kagey10 at 2:34AM on 01/14/09
chicken schwarma, though I have to say I'll eat just about anything with some good feta on top...
Magycmyste at 2:48AM on 01/14/09
There are so many, but one of my favorites is ratatouille, made with veggies fresh from the garden.
Sekhmet at 3:03AM on 01/14/09
Feta cheese on top of everything and anything
Teeeveee at 8:08AM on 01/14/09
Gyros
nicnac at 8:18AM on 01/14/09
spanikopeta
overw8 at 8:28AM on 01/14/09
basically all the meze (or appetizers, whatever you call them). I always get the mixed meze, which seems to be a big plate with labne, babaghanouj, hummus, tabouli, and either leeks or green beans dressed with walnuts, olive oil, onions, and some tomato - or some variation thereof.
prunesaregood at 8:37AM on 01/14/09
Falafel, pita and hummus
lucylucy at 9:25AM on 01/14/09
Greek Salad!
Betsy B at 10:05AM on 01/14/09
I love the salads and fresh fish from mediterranean diets. And of course the olive oil with bread is much yummier and healthier than butter!
Hurdler4eva at 10:18AM on 01/14/09
Greek Salad is one of my all time favs :)
ktgonyea at 10:26AM on 01/14/09
Mushrooms a la Greque with crusty bread and a chilled white wine. Heaven.
snowmoonelk at 10:40AM on 01/14/09
Pastizzi from Malta. Oh how I miss my Nana's pastizzi!
jymbrittain at 11:00AM on 01/14/09
grilled fish with lemon
kevlney at 11:17AM on 01/14/09
Grilled seafood in particular sardines/
MikeyMikes2k at 11:29AM on 01/14/09
Chard & Pine Nut Tart.
HelloChris at 11:33AM on 01/14/09
Definitely spanikopita
hindyg at 11:37AM on 01/14/09
I love mediterranean food more than I can say. We have a local restaurant that makes a mean Chicken Schwarma. I order it every time I go.
mpmckinney at 11:40AM on 01/14/09
Caponata, and any self-styled putanesca sauce over pasta
Rhetor at 12:16PM on 01/14/09
Greek salad and grilled pita bread
Sue Klinger at 1:27PM on 01/14/09
Anytime you can make something with calamari or octopus and then add olives, I am in. I also like feta chese
jason@allworldautomotive.com
parkerozgood at 1:29PM on 01/14/09
Marinated lamb.
marieinla at 1:40PM on 01/14/09
How about a perfectly grilled fish seved by the sea?
ess12 at 1:52PM on 01/14/09
I'd say anything Greek...probably pastitsio.
painterjane at 2:14PM on 01/14/09
My family is Greek, and I love anything made with honey-- especially baklava!
blazegirl at 2:16PM on 01/14/09
I love the salads...
trippyjanet at 2:19PM on 01/14/09
Greek salad and grilled pita
suek
Sue Klinger at 2:24PM on 01/14/09
It's such a toss-up. I love falafel wraps. But a nice salad of tomatoes, feta, and cucumbers also tops the list. And I could go for hummus and pitas any time!
Megs915 at 2:34PM on 01/14/09
gyros and falafel!
caroliiine at 2:51PM on 01/14/09
I love stuffed zucchinis, a dish my Syrian grandmother taught my mother. You core out the zucchini while whole. Stuff it with rice, beef or lamb, pine nuts and some seasonings, then simmer all day in a pot of tomato soup with a big bone. Add warm pita bread to the meal and it's amazing
lelhindi at 2:53PM on 01/14/09
hummus... with garlic and roasted red peppers... served with toasted pita chips
debralu at 3:07PM on 01/14/09
Mmmm I definitely have to agree with some of the other posters here, hummus with lots of garlic and toasted pita chips and falafel are some of my favorites!
dubyoskjenn at 3:32PM on 01/14/09
anything with eggplant or artichokes
kathyvegas at 3:43PM on 01/14/09
I add kalamatas, tomatoes, feta, toasted pine nuts etc. to many dishes to make them mediterranean! I guess you could say that I don't have a fave dish, but fave flavors...
lo82070 at 4:38PM on 01/14/09
braised lamb dishes...especially tagines.
connor at 5:07PM on 01/14/09
fattoush!
jervell at 6:43PM on 01/14/09
hummus!
mberwald at 6:45PM on 01/14/09
falafel made with roasted eggplant!
peanutbutterpleaser at 6:46PM on 01/14/09
a freshly made greek salad on a warm day. joy!
ruby182 at 7:08PM on 01/14/09
fool madamas. i could eat it every day with some toasted pita chips. yum!
Traci7822 at 8:23PM on 01/14/09
I love pitas and hummus.
legab67156 at 8:23PM on 01/14/09
Definitely falafels and hummus.
sharsd at 8:28PM on 01/14/09
stuffed grape leaves
chrisv400 at 9:46PM on 01/14/09
I adore Baklava
pamerino at 9:46PM on 01/14/09
I love Imam Bayildi. With fresh pita bread...mmmm. Even better is iskender kebab. Turkish tea...oh man, I could go on and on. I'm actually doing a special event at my school's restaurant and its going to be a Turkish tasting menu.
LadyFlambe at 9:48PM on 01/14/09
Lamb, slow roasted with lemon, garlic and rosemary - the smell, the taste - decadence!
bareneed at 10:20PM on 01/14/09
Grilled calamari, thick greek yogurt drizzled with honey, and anything with garlic and lemon.
beegoode at 10:34PM on 01/14/09
Spanikopita and anything with tsatziki on it!
danipal at 10:52PM on 01/14/09
grilled bread rubbed with garlic and a drizzle of green olive oil
lardarium at 11:26PM on 01/14/09
Does eating the entire container of mixed olives count? If you have a glass of wine, it would be a ballanced meal...
Colengal at 12:00AM on 01/15/09
spanakopita or caprese salad.
alixwall at 12:45AM on 01/15/09
this blog is making me hungry for some cabbage rolls and tabouleh!
terrigogo at 2:15AM on 01/15/09
Tzatziki on ANYTHING!!! I'm obsessed with the stuff!
Baklavah for dessert
Erinay77 at 3:12AM on 01/15/09
I heart falafel, tabouleh, and all that good stuff!
meredycat at 3:31AM on 01/15/09
pizza
hedi777 at 7:41AM on 01/15/09
My favorite "dish" is really all the apps - mezethes. This is my favorite mediterranean meal.
rockandroller at 8:44AM on 01/15/09
I recently had the honey sweetened beans and they are now my favorite. I love anything with feta cheese. A salad without feta is not a salad, just like a day without sunshine.
bbyrne at 9:43AM on 01/15/09
Spanakopita, hummus on anything, and a big Greek salad with lots of feta!
dana828 at 9:45AM on 01/15/09
Artichokes!
kitchenography at 10:08AM on 01/15/09
Although probably not considered the healthiest of a Mediterranean diet, what's better than a gyro (& American fries!)
LKSachs at 12:16PM on 01/15/09
hummus
hedgehog at 12:17PM on 01/15/09
Flaming cheese. OPA!
JudyZ at 12:27PM on 01/15/09
Definitely caprese salad. Oh, or fried cheese!
Tactful_Cactus at 12:55PM on 01/15/09
kibbe naya (raw), molokhia--an egyptian soup, fattoush, shawarma, and of course kofta sandwiches
veggieout at 1:18PM on 01/15/09
Mediterranean dish....that's such broad category.
Most recently, I've been enjoying a lot of turkish foods at a local place called Sofra. I love their turkish breakfast, but that's not exactly a dish.
I think I'll have to go with turkish mezze in general (does that count as Mediterranean?)
Leah Klein
Boston Family Foodie
http://www.examiner.com/x-1240-Boston-Family-Foodie-Examiner
bffoodie at 1:18PM on 01/15/09
I love a good Greek salad - with lots of herby notes. To me it's the perfect harmony of flavor, texture, and color.
Suebee at 1:47PM on 01/15/09
paella
rockymountainmarta at 1:56PM on 01/15/09
ahh so many..I love anything with artichokes, tabbouleh, eggplants, bakalava. but if I had to narrow it down to one dish that epitomizes mediterranean food for me it would be a plate of warm, marinated olives.
banana at 2:01PM on 01/15/09
Hummus or anything chickpea!!
kobrien at 2:02PM on 01/15/09
Ful mudames
Sheryl at 2:07PM on 01/15/09
I live for falafel.
ultraviolet79 at 2:16PM on 01/15/09
chicken tarna with tahini sauce and baba ghanouj... insanely, insanely good.
slindstedt at 2:18PM on 01/15/09
Moroccan tagines.
schnitzel at 2:49PM on 01/15/09
white bean salad with feta, lemon, parsley, mint...yumm
abellas at 3:12PM on 01/15/09
my gf makes a tremendously delicious baba ghannouj out of roasted eggplant. YUMMM
frontier at 3:54PM on 01/15/09
i love fattouche with lots of za'atar
kasia at 3:56PM on 01/15/09
souvlaki with warm pita bread.
carhoff at 4:18PM on 01/15/09
hummus! hummus! hummus! also ANYTHING with olives in it!
momtimestwo at 4:19PM on 01/15/09
I like it all! Bring on the humus, olives, feta and anything made with eggplant, artichoke and lamb!
VAHam at 4:32PM on 01/15/09
I love homemade hummus with fresh, homemade pita bread and tabbouli.
MeganCochran at 6:07PM on 01/15/09
baba ghanoush - although I don't know if I'm spelling it right!
tomie at 6:09PM on 01/15/09
homemade hummus with olives, feta, and warm pita
jenhen at 6:14PM on 01/15/09
Ironically, my favorite dish is fattoush with crispy pita chips to dip into it.
Cassaendra at 7:01PM on 01/15/09
Hummus with pita and grilled squid. Delish!
KrazyB at 8:06PM on 01/15/09
Eggplant Parmesan! Thanks!
sharonjo at 9:18PM on 01/15/09
i love schwarmas!
Joyous2003 at 9:20PM on 01/15/09
I just love hummus. Thank You.
RoyalCheryl at 9:31PM on 01/15/09
I love Greek salads with olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese. But I crave spanokopeta even more!
abeaudet at 10:56PM on 01/15/09
It's a toss-up between hummus and tzatziki, either one with some fresh hot pita!
lissame72 at 11:28PM on 01/15/09
baba ghanoush
arugulafiles at 11:30PM on 01/15/09
Let me have lamb, feta cheese, greek olives and some wonderful pita bread and I have a heaven on earth experience.
akiss at 11:34PM on 01/15/09
Pasta all'amatriciana
AdriBarr at 11:50PM on 01/15/09
Scwhwarma. Hands down.
anissa at 3:10AM on 01/16/09
Falafel. No....baba ganoosh. No...falafel topped with baba ganoosh!
Pepper at 9:38AM on 01/16/09
ohh such a hard choice. amazing pita with hummus and feta is definitely up there though-simple and tasty
missmicker at 10:46AM on 01/16/09
israeli salad and grape leaves and tzatziki (and so much more)!
Amillia20 at 11:01AM on 01/16/09
Pasta tossed with warm tomatoes, basil, Kalamata olives, feta, and a little olive oil....so good!
bwightman at 12:32PM on 01/16/09
hummus got me through college, so i'd have to say that.
redismal at 1:14PM on 01/16/09
Oh, there are so many! To name a few... vegetables dipped in hummus or baba ghanoush... olives... ratatouille... baked gigantes... marinated mushrooms... dolmas... falafel... and I have a feeling that today's "Cook the Book" recipe for Turkish apricots stuffed with yogurt just might make it onto my list, once I try making it tonight...
Steen at 1:18PM on 01/16/09
pastries flavored with olive oil.
mazacote at 1:21PM on 01/16/09
Kalamattas
mlbykb at 1:26PM on 01/16/09
Baklava made with pistachios....and hummus, feta, pita, cracked olives, fresh tomatoes, oregano, and EVOO.
Ok, now I'm hungry!
Kimc54 at 1:27PM on 01/16/09
pasta sauced with in-season vegetables in a mild tomato sauce - lots of good hard cheese.
suegsf at 1:29PM on 01/16/09
garlicky hummus with warm fragrant pita bread swirling around in my mouth
sumosez at 1:36PM on 01/16/09
Muhammarah and hummus!
bookwormchef at 1:46PM on 01/16/09
Baklava!
lotswife at 1:53PM on 01/16/09
spanikopita or baklava and I learned how to make both this winter!!
surdel1 at 2:52PM on 01/16/09
taramolsalta and hummus
ramy kin at 3:31PM on 01/16/09
Hummus, falafel- more chickpeas please!
mallgirly at 3:32PM on 01/16/09
dolmades!
cdcdcd at 4:07PM on 01/16/09
Lebanese style stuffed vegetables; vine leaves, squash (koosa)...In my current state of trying to take off some weight, I have to laugh when I think that as a young teenager, I used to compete with my male cousins to see who could eat more squash...Sorry to say that's still my ideal sport!
mamiejane at 4:19PM on 01/16/09
Meatless rice stuffed dolmades with lots dill
harstark at 5:18PM on 01/16/09
Avgolemono soup.
tallmisto at 5:25PM on 01/16/09
Hummus, anything with greek olives, spanokopita. I love it ALL, and if I won I might know how to make it....
rmc1raataoldotcom
rmc1ra at 6:42PM on 01/16/09
I like a simple salad - all fresh ingredients tossed with a lemon / oil combination, and garnished with some fresh cheese. On this snowy day, that taste of summer seems awfully far away.
BLJ1952 at 7:02PM on 01/16/09
I love spanikopita....I think that counts as medierranean. Thanks for the great giveaway.
fairydancer at 7:57PM on 01/16/09
Gyros
phoney2 at 8:08PM on 01/16/09
Beans and Greens are my favorite!
seurick at 9:07PM on 01/16/09
falaffel!
Indigo608 at 10:19PM on 01/16/09
I love a good risotto, perhaps with fennel and shrimp. Start with a greek salad, end with baklava.
eluckstead at 10:48PM on 01/16/09
Imam bayildi - with a name like that, you know it has to be good....
firni at 11:19PM on 01/16/09
My favorite is a beautiful pita stuffed with fresh greens, sauce, kalamata olives and falafel! Oh yeah, that's good stuff.
play4k at 11:55PM on 01/16/09
Eggplant and artichoke sound good. Please enter me, thank you
debbie78 at 2:37AM on 01/17/09
I apologize for butchering this but the rolled grape leaves, I believe they are called dolmaides or something similar.
ky2here at 8:30AM on 01/17/09
Provencal fish stew, by whatever name.
tereza at 10:00AM on 01/17/09
anything that has eggplant, artichokes, olives, seafood and/or a good olive oil scores up there with me! and of course Baklava for dessert!
alycep06 at 10:09AM on 01/17/09
I love baklava and couscous. Mmm!, yummy
curlycurvy at 1:12PM on 01/17/09
Souvlaki!!!
doctor fat at 1:12PM on 01/17/09
eggplant, hummus, pitas
sln123 at 1:50PM on 01/17/09
Tabouli
frozenman20 at 2:26PM on 01/17/09
Oh gosh ... maybe a turkish-style lamb stew with okra, tomatoes, and eggplant ... or rose petal jam ... or manti ... OOOOH - or cig kofte - won't get THAT served in the US :-). Or anything that makes good use of Maras peppers. Or real, Israeli-style pita that comes out of the oven all puffed-up and fluffy ... so righteous.
tacroy80 at 2:56PM on 01/17/09
falaffel!
bigtim60 at 3:07PM on 01/17/09
Falafel with tomato, onion, and tzatziki.
lbellomy at 6:35PM on 01/17/09
Cracked Greek olives are yummy served with homemade pita bread accompanied by tzatziki, baba ghanoush and fresh feta. I could make a meal of that. But if we are including Italian here, I would have to go with fried zucchini flowers stuffed with basil and ricotta cheese. There is nothing better!
jausten at 7:46PM on 01/17/09
I love greek yogurt; and hummus, but picking just one thing is hard!
gr8tjoy at 9:50PM on 01/17/09
dolmades-rice stuffed-yummy!
carolasar at 10:22PM on 01/17/09
a Greek Salad.
FIBERONE at 12:19AM on 01/18/09
On the streets in the Mediterranean, I ate a pita stuffed with falafel, lettuce, french fries, onions, and tomatoes, wrapped in newspaper. Wonderful!
LucyJ at 12:33AM on 01/18/09
We love gyros!
yellowlabs at 12:42AM on 01/18/09
Gotta love that hummus, with some roasted garlic.
jayfr at 1:13AM on 01/18/09
polenta
marybad at 9:18AM on 01/18/09
I like Gyros. Thanks for the chance to win.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
wwe11 at 10:13AM on 01/18/09
Those little Greek donut thingies with the honey drizzled on top...
sachidewey at 10:40AM on 01/18/09
calamari! hummus! (but not together)
bellenoelle at 10:50AM on 01/18/09
pastichio
lfosses at 11:04AM on 01/18/09
Tabuli and hummus on pita bread is my favorite
jh2014 at 11:50AM on 01/18/09
There's so many good foods to choose from! I'll pick falafel with some feta cheese.
pickledseeds at 12:56PM on 01/18/09
Gyros, hummas, olives.
Aisling at 1:14PM on 01/18/09
Fresh pesto made with just picked basil and flavorful olive oil.
Just put on pasta and inhale!
Kondratowitch at 2:31PM on 01/18/09
sofrito!!!
primaclementina at 2:37PM on 01/18/09
eggplant in olive oil
pop1951 at 2:42PM on 01/18/09
Definitely gyros
rhuzzar at 4:35PM on 01/18/09
dolmades
harstark at 4:59PM on 01/18/09
Hummus, mmmm!
bamachiqa at 5:00PM on 01/18/09
so many hummus, dolmas, greek salad, falafel, tabuli yum
purplepod at 5:39PM on 01/18/09
A good fish meal made mediterranean style
dn6511 at 5:59PM on 01/18/09
Gyros
madeas at 6:02PM on 01/18/09
Gyros
madeas at 6:05PM on 01/18/09
Baklava--I really, really like it.
Suekey at 6:46PM on 01/18/09
Spanakopita
kohndr at 8:03PM on 01/18/09
A freshly made Greek Salad with feta, cucumbers, red onion and olives, served with a side of tabuli.
skytoucher at 8:31PM on 01/18/09
Gyros
drala625 at 8:39PM on 01/18/09
Gyros, any fish dish and lots of fruits and veggies- bring it on!
MonCherie at 10:33PM on 01/18/09
Turkish food for me!
nancymorrell at 10:52PM on 01/18/09
I love cous cous.
danzeo at 11:21PM on 01/18/09
Stuffed Eggplant,actually anything eggplant. Every year I try to grow them.
djolsen at 11:30PM on 01/18/09
I love hummus!
nesta67 at 12:00AM on 01/19/09
Not loc-cal but Baklava
rosans4@comcast.net
rosannepm at 12:25AM on 01/19/09
falafel with the works!!! Yummy!
jillian3445 at 12:36AM on 01/19/09
Dolmades! I love them!
atreau at 12:44AM on 01/19/09
Gyros with extra tzatziki
Baklava for dessert
Erinay77 at 1:36AM on 01/19/09
I love baklava for dessert. and greek salad with feta cheese sounds good right now.
theolotto at 2:24AM on 01/19/09
Dolmas
sdeas at 2:32AM on 01/19/09
Spanakopita, Greek Salad, Feta Cheese (!) Greek style Lamb and Chicken, and don't get me started on all my favorite Italian dishes!
Salleefur at 2:42AM on 01/19/09
I loooooove Fatayer Bi Sabanekh and of course Tzatziki!!! Sometimes I just have the Tzatziki by itself, it's so refreshing!
greenellephant at 2:43AM on 01/19/09
truly, i like it all, but if i could only have one item for the rest of my life, it'd be hummus on pita. i'm easy to please.
grace24 at 3:27AM on 01/19/09
hummus is freaking awesome!
samanthapayntr at 4:08AM on 01/19/09
...we enjoy Greek Salad, Fakes (lentil soup), and Yemista (stuffed baked vegetables).
brianpiero at 5:15AM on 01/19/09
Grilled fish & shrimp
Naddez at 7:44AM on 01/19/09
spanikopita, yummmmm Thanks
psalmstress at 7:53AM on 01/19/09
Dolmas for sure!
kastro at 9:03AM on 01/19/09
Grape leaves (stuffed)
garrettsambo at 9:13AM on 01/19/09
Couscous and roasted vegetables.
hungrylikethewolf at 9:14AM on 01/19/09
Spanakopita
rdazer at 9:37AM on 01/19/09
I love baklava!
lilyk at 9:39AM on 01/19/09
i love some hummus!
thanks!
jessieann84 at 9:58AM on 01/19/09
Gyros!
storm5 at 10:26AM on 01/19/09
My favorite are gyros.
artmarcia at 10:35AM on 01/19/09
Spanikopita! - Love It!!!
cdrury@gmail.com
cdrury at 10:38AM on 01/19/09
I'm not familiar with Mediterranean foods at all
jennifer57 at 10:47AM on 01/19/09
I like Pastitsio.
purplepassion126 at 10:56AM on 01/19/09
baklava has to be my favorite but I have not tried but a few dishes but I have been wanting to try more.
jojoanddash at 11:01AM on 01/19/09
Gyros
djohnson21 at 11:49AM on 01/19/09
spanikopita
jeepsterQT at 12:05PM on 01/19/09
hi! i was SO happy to find this...just by chance....a happy cooincidence
my favorite mediterranean dish? ....wow...that's hard - there are so many
but falafel comes to mind....
i am SO looking forward to frequenting this site...thanks for having me!
donnasn at 12:17PM on 01/19/09
Caprese salad .... delicious!
norcalgal at 1:34PM on 01/19/09
I'd have to say Polenta
AICORP at 1:35PM on 01/19/09
My 7 year old takes dolmas to school almost every day for lunch. I would have to say that they're my favorite because they've saved her from a 5 day a week pb&j habit.
ieatyarn at 1:35PM on 01/19/09
Gyros and tomato and cucumber salad
ricereport at 1:38PM on 01/19/09
I have never been able to recreate the wonderful dolma I had in Turkey. Mmmm...dolma...
ecmurphy at 1:48PM on 01/19/09
Love Greek salads!
mrstrooper at 1:57PM on 01/19/09
Gryros!!
kybeauty1 at 1:58PM on 01/19/09
I like couscous
donnak4 at 2:02PM on 01/19/09
Fresh pesto on pasta and a Greek salad, is my favorite meal. Thanks for having the contest!
brmetcalf at 2:11PM on 01/19/09
Gyros & grilled shrimp!
ZESTYWONDERLAND at 2:29PM on 01/19/09
feta with any veggies
07violet at 2:40PM on 01/19/09
I love stuffed grape leaves and anything with olives. Since I do the cooking as well as the eating, I really need this cookbook. Thanks for the contest.
kathleenyohanna at 2:53PM on 01/19/09
Can't beat the gyro!
tkissilles at 3:06PM on 01/19/09
Thank you for participating, and congratulations to our winners:
missmicker
jymbrittain
inismom
emf77
pjlein
Winners have been notified by email and also appear on our Contest Winners page.
Adam Kuban at 3:11PM on 01/19/09