Greek food can be very similar to food in some Middle Eastern countries, for example, Turkey, the Levantine states, especially Syria and Lebanon, and also Iran. News, questions and fun related to Greece. The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions are geographically close, which has cultivated similarities in their cuisines over the centuries. Both diets contain a large amount of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nutritious fats from olive oils, nuts and seeds, as well as less red meat than in many other cultures.
However, the two are not interchangeable, although they are often confused with each other and there are several differences that separate them. Greek cuisine is the cuisine of Greece and the Greek diaspora. Like many other Mediterranean cuisines, it is based on the triad of wheat, olive oil and wine. Use vegetables, olive oil, cereals, fish and meat, such as pork, poultry, veal and veal, lamb, rabbit and goat.
Other important ingredients include pasta (for example, hilopites), cheeses, herbs, lemon juice, olives and olive oil, and yogurt. Bread made from wheat is omnipresent; other cereals, especially barley, are also used, especially for paximatia. Common dessert ingredients include nuts, honey, fruit, sesame, and filo pastries. It continues the traditions of ancient Greek and Byzantine cuisine, while incorporating Asian, Turkish, Balkan and Italian influences.
Middle Eastern food tends to be quite similar throughout its region, in line with generally similar cultures, while Mediterranean. The food is much more varied: from southern Spain and Morocco in the west, to Cyprus in the east. Foods are varied, as are cultures. Middle Eastern cuisine includes several Middle Eastern cuisines.
Common ingredients include olives and olive oil, pitas, honey, sesame seeds, dates, sumac, chickpeas, mint, rice, and parsley, and popular dishes include kebabs, dolmas, falafel, baklava, yogurt, doner kebab, shawarma, and mulukhiyah. For example, Middle Eastern dishes tend to be more spicy and salty, while Mediterranean cuisine is known for its lighter touch and for focusing on seafood and fresh vegetables. While lamb is a popular protein in both regions, countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea tend to include more seafood in their meals. In any case, the treat is a Mediterranean staple and can be found in most Arab and Greek restaurants. Whether it's to savor Greek moussaka or to enjoy a Lebanese mezze, exploring the culinary similarities and differences between Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines offers a delicious journey through history and flavors.
Mediterranean cuisine encompasses a wide range of culinary traditions from the countries of the Mediterranean basin, while Middle Eastern cuisine showcases the rich flavors of the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Anatolia and beyond. Without a doubt, Mediterranean food is one of the best known and most varied culinary traditions in the world. The food of your Kurdish people will be very similar to that of Kurdish communities in Syria, Iraq and Iran. It's an interesting question. I think that in Northern California, most restaurants offering Middle Eastern food come from countries bordering the Mediterranean: Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Turkey and Jordan (almost).
Greek cuisine uses some aromas more frequently than other Mediterranean cuisines, such as oregano, mint, garlic, onion, dill, cumin and bay leaves. Kebabs are usually street or restaurant food, served with bread, salad and pickles, and are not usually prepared at home. The word “Cypriot” only occurs in Greek restaurants (of which there are many), and there are many who describe themselves as French and Italian. From ancient Romans and Greeks to the Ottoman Empire, Mediterranean cuisine presents a wide range of influences.
Other popular seafood dishes include baked fish, Nicoise salad, fried calamari, shrimp soup, and grilled scallops. The truth is that I don't consider Northern Italian food to be Mediterranean in the same way that Portuguese, Provençal, Greek, Spanish, Serbian and Bulgarian food is Mediterranean. My teenage self, born on Long Island, would not have known the Mediterranean beyond Greek and Italian.
