The Mediterranean cooking influence has been fruitful as the desserts and other foods have become tremendously tasty and suitable for all kinds of taste buds. Countries like Greece, France, Italy, Croatia, Egypt, and many others exhibit such influence through their selection of ingredients and culinary style.
What is it: A layered pastry with variable fillings, depending on the countries it is made in. For example, in Turkey, the almonds, walnuts, and pistachios are traditionally used while in Iran, the baklava is drier and served with rose water. This popular preparation is a vegan item that is usually cut and served in a diamond shape.
How does it taste like: The crispy texture of the pastry, made of filo, is sweetened with honey and scented with orange flower water and rosewater. It is often topped with nuts.
What is it: The gluten-free dessert includes eggs, almond flour, figs, and lemon. This has a golden brown color on the sides, but in the middle, it is paler.
How does it taste like: The lightweight cake is soft because of almond flour and olive oil. There is a prominent taste of olive oil and the figs, ruling the cake.
What is it: The paleo-friendly pudding has chocolate and maple syrup, along with avocados. The sumptuous dessert has a promising appearance that won’t leave you disappointed.
How does it taste like: The creamy pudding has a chocolaty flavor. It is served with a cherry on top or sea salt and crushed hazelnuts. Since this is a dairy free dessert, people who are lactose intolerant can have this without any issue.
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What is it: As per the name, it is a mousse prepared from mangoes. The smoothies, puree, all will be about mangoes. For a hot summer day, this Mediterranean dish is simply the best.
How does it taste like: It is so mangoish! Cold while served, preferably after refrigeration of 2 hours, the mousse is served with varied toppings. The cream-like consistency is often complemented with crushed fruits on the top.
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What is it: As simple as it gets, the baked apple is mostly consumed as a part of a weight-loss diet. Other ingredients are added to make it an ideal food, so much so that it is considered as a dessert. Usually, the red apple looks golden brown after the baking.
How does it taste like: The apple flavor is the main one for sure with some ground cinnamon, chopped walnuts, and mixed spices. The apple is softer than usual.
What is it: The origin of the recipe is Greece, but later on it has spread in all surrounding countries. This is a pastry that includes semolina custard within it. People in Turkey call it Laz böreği.
How does it taste like: The square pastry has a golden shade, with a syrupy taste due to the garnishing with some syrup. However, for additional flavor, orange or lemon might be added to the custard.
What is it: The small round balls are made of cashew nuts, apricots, nuts, and coconuts. The name is justified for such chewable as you can have it for instant energy. The nutrient-enriched preparation might have had its variations as far as ingredients are concerned.
How does it taste like: There is a mixed flavor of all the ingredients mentioned, along with orange and lemon zest. The spicy flavor that it gives is due to ground ginger and cinnamon.
What is it: The watermelon is grilled first and then immersed in a yogurt mix. This is a popular Greek dessert, but with some time, the style of preparation of the dish has changed.
How does it taste like: The grilled watermelon and the combination of yogurt, including wine vinegar, thyme, lemon juice, leave a spellbinding flavor on your tongue. The garnishing is done with mint leaves and olive oil.
What is it: The roasted pears make a nice amalgamation with cheese, pistachios, butter, and honey. It can be consumed anytime, but due to its taste, it is categorized as a dessert.
How does it taste like: The taste of ripe pears is enhanced when it is mixed with other ingredients. The sweetness is ensured with a few drops of honey on top of the pears.
What is it: This is a cheesecake with an origin in the Middle East. The popularity has increased so much that many other countries have their own version of Kanafeh. The alternate name is Künefe, Tel Kadayıf, depending on the type of the preparation.
How does it taste like: It is either semolina dough or the pastry with a noodle-like texture. The sweetness is achieved due to the syrup that is used.
The concept of Mediterranean dessert is not limited to any particular country, rather it encompasses many countries of the same region. With the changing taste of people and the availability of the ingredients, the desserts are improvised each day. Therefore, you are likely to come across many versions of a single dessert, even in the same country.
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