Published by Programme B
Cruises are one of the best types of vacations to take. The ocean gently and smoothly carries a luxurious ship to its destination, which fully immerses the passengers into its culture. One of the best ways to fully experience one of these cultures is through eating its food. A Mediterranean cruise provides many different options for delicious cultural food.
Spanakopita
The first wonderful Mediterranean food recommended while you are at one of many Mediterranean cruise ports is spanakopita. Spanakopita is a Greek delicacy and normally is filled with spinach, feta cheese, onions, eggs, and seasoning. It is essentially a Greek spinach pie. While this may seem odd, it is very common in Greece.
Baklava
Next up is baklava. Baklava is a dessert found in the Middle East and was originally made in the Ottoman Empire. Baklava is a dessert based on phyllo or filo bread. Filo bread is very thin when made, and must be stacked and stuck together with oil or butter. While this filo is being made, various nuts, such as walnuts and pistachios are put in between two separate batches of filo dough. Once the filo bread has been made, and the nuts along with it, the baklava is covered in a sugary syrup that ties everything together.
Falafels
Falafels are another Mediterranean food originated in either Libya or Egypt that is delicious. Falafels can be in the shape of doughnuts, patties, or balls. They are made using ground chickpeas or fava beans. They are then deep-fried and commonly eaten in pita bread. When choosing a sauce to go with falafels, most people use a tahini-based sauce or hummus, in addition to their pita bread.
Couscous
Couscous is interestingly named “pasta made from semolina flour mixed with water.” This dish is mostly found in Northern Africa. The semolina flour is made from durum wheat, also called pasta wheat. Durum wheat is the second most grown types of wheat in the world, after only common wheat. Then, the couscous is steamed and develops a light, fluffy texture. Couscous can be served as a meal by itself, but often is eaten with other foods. Couscous can be put in salads, sauces, stews, and more. Couscous is a very versatile pasta that is easy to make, delicious, and can be used in many different foods.
Ratatouille
Finally, we have Ratatouille. Ratatouille is a French-based dish made of roasted vegetables, most likely made in a swirl pattern. Ratatouille was made known to many in the Americas by the movie Ratatouille. In the movie, the protagonist, a rat, makes the dish as it is seen in real life. This dish is extremely delicious and healthy.
Mediterranean foods are very unique, and they are very appetizing and healthy. When going on a cruise, one’s goal is to experience as much of the culture that they are visiting as they can. Spanakopita, baklava, falafels, and couscous are just a few of the many different foods you can experience throughout the Mediterranean. These Mediterranean foods are all country specialties, and fully immerse someone into the lifestyle of a local.