TRY EVERYTHING AND EAT IT UP!

Published Date : 08-03-2022
Category : Mediterranean Cuisine
Author : Admin

If you are planning to visit Europe, you will fall in love with the local people's beauty, friendliness, and welcoming nature. Europe is one of the world's largest continents, and no doubt is way more diverse when talking about people, culture, tradition and food. This month, team Orbis has explored varieties of Mediterranean cuisines. Who doesn’t want to try diverse cuisine while roaming around Europe?

We took a small tour of Portugal and Algarve in our previous blog. I was astounded about knowing the historical facts of the country. The entire exploration left me curious about what the food would be like if you were to travel down the balmy trail to experience a true Mediterranean culinary odyssey.

My dear food & travel lovers! I am back this month with a laser focus on the food trails of Europe. If you, like me, eat to live, then join me as I explore the culinary marvels of the Mediterranean. This month, I will sprinkle a little magic about the must-try dishes while planning a tour in Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Turkey. Let’s dig in!

top portuguese foods to eat

Time for some Portuguese flavours

Being one of the oldest countries in Europe, Portugal has developed a very authentic and highly regarded culinary history. From chicken Piri-Piri to regional stews, Portuguese recipes have made their way into inspiring global fusion dishes.

To celebrate the Portuguese taste and flavours, I went in search of some famous dishes you need to try during your Portugal tour - peppered with some interesting historical facts.


Bifanas

It would be unfair to talk about Portuguese food without even talking about Bifanas. Bifanas is a delicious sandwich that originated in the small town of Vendas Novas near Lisbon. Bifanas are traditionally served as hot buns blended with wine, garlic, paprika and spices. They are also considered the most popular food item in Portugal. Regardless of who invented this dish, Bifanas are considered Portugal’s national sandwiches.

easy portuguese prego rolls

Prego Roll

Prego roll is nothing less than a grilled, marinated steak with a sinful amount of garlic butter and a fresh roll. The name ‘prego’ comes from a Portuguese word that means ‘nail’, a knot made of garlic, later mashed up to make the sauce. Explore this wonderful dish in Lisbon during your tour. Do not worry, my vegetarian friends - I got you covered. Substitute the grilled meat with baked cauliflower for an equally flavourful substitute.


Chicken Piri-Piri

Chicken Piri-Piri is one of the traditional dishes of Portugal. The dish came into existence during Portugal’s colonial expansion into Angola and Mozambique making Chicken Piri-Piri, one of the traditional Portuguese dishes. The expansion introduced the Portuguese to pepper. You can find Chicken Piri-Piri anywhere in Portugal. Chicken Piri-Piri can be prepared using the grill and even an oven.

Are you finding your way to Portugal? Let us help you with the booking while you find places for your taste buds to munch out! Check out some of the best hotels to stay in during your Portugal visit.

spanish foods to try

Welcome to Spain!

‘Bienvenida a espana!’ If you’ve ever been to Spain, you might know how important food is for the people there. Over the centuries, Spanish cuisine has developed into refined flavours and spices from ancient times, giving your taste buds an excuse to increase your weight!

Que aproveche ! That means ‘take advantage’ and dive with me to explore some of the mouth-watering Spanish food you must try.


Croquetas

Start your food ‘Busqueda’ with the ultimate tapas bar classic - croquetas. Many countries have their version of croquetas, but the Spanish flavours will blow your mind. If you want to enjoy the best croquetas, combine your dish with cured ham, morcilla and bacalao. You can also blend it with bechamel sauce. Like yours, my mind cannot stop craving Croquetas.

tortilla espanola spanish egg and potato omlette

Tortilla Espanola

Another favourite dish is Tortilla Espanola. This Spanish omelette is very famous around the world. Tortilla is usually eaten as a main course in Spain but is also flexible enough to match snack time. You will find this dish very popular among Spanish kids. All you need is some onions and potatoes sauteed in olive oil and then add in the egg to create this fluffy slice of heaven. To spice up your dish, try chorizo and spinach. Deliciosa!

spanish leche frita dessert

Leche Frita

Ever wondered what fried milk will taste like? Neither have I. To be quite honest, I am shocked because I never knew that fried milk even existed! Leche Frita - which translates to Fried Milk, is a popular dessert in Northern Spain. It starts with preparing a milk pudding. Then you encase the pudding within a warm, crunchy batter dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Serve it with whipped cream and enjoy!


Greek dishes? Coming right up!

Greece is famous for its ancient stories, enchanting beauty and traditional Greek food. But, there is something that you might not know. Greek cuisine has been influenced by the Middle East, Italian and Ottoman cultures. You will be witnessing olive oil, meat, fish, grains, and wine plays a significant role in Greek dishes. Cheese, bread, olives, herbs and yoghurt are mandatory ingredients in Greek recipes.

traditional greek dolmadakia stuffed grape leaves

Dolmadakia

Dolmadakia or dolmades is one of the popular vegetarian greek dishes. Dolmades is prepared using grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with onions, parsley, mint, dill and rice. Dolmadakia is also very popular in the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East. They can be served with or without a dip or sauce. Dolmades are shaped like cigars and are boiled until the leaves get tender.


Saganaki

Saganaki is a frying pan used in Greece to prepare dishes. Several dishes in Greece are named Saganaki as they are prepared using this pan. Saganaki is prepared using a variety of cheese like halloumi, graviera and kefalograviera. The cheese is melted in the pan and is served with a sprinkle of lemon, pepper and some bread.

traditional greek salad

Greek Salad

That’s enough cheese! Think of something healthy now. Have your salad with a new Greek twist. Greek salad is very famous among fitness freaks. The salad is served using tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, capers and kalamata olives. Greek salad is topped with feta cheese, dressed with olives, salt, pepper and oregano. Enjoy your tasty, mouth-watering salad!

Craving for Dolmadakia and Saganaki? Explore Greece with us.


Let’s Dig in Turkish Food Delights

Turkey is very famous for its kebabs, but there are so many more dishes preserving the real taste of the country. Europe has a tsunami of flavours - all thanks to the landscape. Turkish cuisine is famous for its olive-oil-based dishes from the Mediterranean Coast, pastries and subtle spicy flavours. Turkish recipes do not rely much on seasonings, but they find out the best ingredient to fit with your meal and let it shine through. Hadi kazalim!

traditional turkish lentil meatballs mercimek koftesi

Marcinek Kofte

Marcinek kofte is a vegetarian delight. The dish is also known as Belluh to the locals. Marcinek is prepared using lentils, fine bulgur, onions, scallions and tomatoes. Just pop one of these nuggets of flavour onto a lettuce leaf. Squeeze a lemon on top and munch away. Sorry! But I am not comfortable sharing my Kofte. Suit yourself with another plate!


Cag Kebab

The people of Erzurum take their meat very seriously. The delicious kebab is smeared with onions, salt and black pepper mix. Then the heart is left to marinate for at least half a day. After this long wait, the divine Cag Kebabs are served with slices of bread, tomato, white onion and sivri (green peppers).


Gozleme

‘Goz’, meaning ‘eye’, is believed to come from dark spots forming pastry cooks, absorbing the oil on the sac, making it look like ‘eyes’. Gozleme is popularly known as sac boregi, a pastry cooked on a sac, a hot metal plate. This plate is filled with cheese, spinach and minced beef. Gozleme is considered a village food and needs expert handling to roll out paper - thin dough.

Get on a plane NOW!

At the start of the blog, we promised you a bucketful of dishes to suit the Mediterranean food lover. In order to truly explore Mediterranean cuisine, you need to head out in person and experience these marvels for yourself. Luckily, we have curated packages ready for you, adding an adventurous flavour to your Mediterranean destination!


Contact us if you do not want to miss out on travelling to countries like Spain, Greece, Turkey and Portugal and experiencing their culinary phenomena in person!

Adios!, Antio!, Bye! and Tchau! We will be back with some new blogs to entice you with an international vacation.

TRY EVERYTHING AND EAT IT UP!

Published Date : 08-03-2022
Category : Mediterranean Cuisine
Author : Admin

If you are planning to visit Europe, you will fall in love with the local people's beauty, friendliness, and welcoming nature. Europe is one of the world's largest continents, and no doubt is way more diverse when talking about people, culture, tradition and food. This month, team Orbis has explored varieties of Mediterranean cuisines. Who doesn’t want to try diverse cuisine while roaming around Europe?

We took a small tour of Portugal and Algarve in our previous blog. I was astounded about knowing the historical facts of the country. The entire exploration left me curious about what the food would be like if you were to travel down the balmy trail to experience a true Mediterranean culinary odyssey.

My dear food & travel lovers! I am back this month with a laser focus on the food trails of Europe. If you, like me, eat to live, then join me as I explore the culinary marvels of the Mediterranean. This month, I will sprinkle a little magic about the must-try dishes while planning a tour in Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Turkey. Let’s dig in!

top portuguese foods to eat

Time for some Portuguese flavours

Being one of the oldest countries in Europe, Portugal has developed a very authentic and highly regarded culinary history. From chicken Piri-Piri to regional stews, Portuguese recipes have made their way into inspiring global fusion dishes.

To celebrate the Portuguese taste and flavours, I went in search of some famous dishes you need to try during your Portugal tour - peppered with some interesting historical facts.


Bifanas

It would be unfair to talk about Portuguese food without even talking about Bifanas. Bifanas is a delicious sandwich that originated in the small town of Vendas Novas near Lisbon. Bifanas are traditionally served as hot buns blended with wine, garlic, paprika and spices. They are also considered the most popular food item in Portugal. Regardless of who invented this dish, Bifanas are considered Portugal’s national sandwiches.

easy portuguese prego rolls

Prego Roll

Prego roll is nothing less than a grilled, marinated steak with a sinful amount of garlic butter and a fresh roll. The name ‘prego’ comes from a Portuguese word that means ‘nail’, a knot made of garlic, later mashed up to make the sauce. Explore this wonderful dish in Lisbon during your tour. Do not worry, my vegetarian friends - I got you covered. Substitute the grilled meat with baked cauliflower for an equally flavourful substitute.


Chicken Piri-Piri

Chicken Piri-Piri is one of the traditional dishes of Portugal. The dish came into existence during Portugal’s colonial expansion into Angola and Mozambique making Chicken Piri-Piri, one of the traditional Portuguese dishes. The expansion introduced the Portuguese to pepper. You can find Chicken Piri-Piri anywhere in Portugal. Chicken Piri-Piri can be prepared using the grill and even an oven.

Are you finding your way to Portugal? Let us help you with the booking while you find places for your taste buds to munch out! Check out some of the best hotels to stay in during your Portugal visit.

spanish foods to try

Welcome to Spain!

‘Bienvenida a espana!’ If you’ve ever been to Spain, you might know how important food is for the people there. Over the centuries, Spanish cuisine has developed into refined flavours and spices from ancient times, giving your taste buds an excuse to increase your weight!

Que aproveche ! That means ‘take advantage’ and dive with me to explore some of the mouth-watering Spanish food you must try.


Croquetas

Start your food ‘Busqueda’ with the ultimate tapas bar classic - croquetas. Many countries have their version of croquetas, but the Spanish flavours will blow your mind. If you want to enjoy the best croquetas, combine your dish with cured ham, morcilla and bacalao. You can also blend it with bechamel sauce. Like yours, my mind cannot stop craving Croquetas.

tortilla espanola spanish egg and potato omlette

Tortilla Espanola

Another favourite dish is Tortilla Espanola. This Spanish omelette is very famous around the world. Tortilla is usually eaten as a main course in Spain but is also flexible enough to match snack time. You will find this dish very popular among Spanish kids. All you need is some onions and potatoes sauteed in olive oil and then add in the egg to create this fluffy slice of heaven. To spice up your dish, try chorizo and spinach. Deliciosa!

spanish leche frita dessert

Leche Frita

Ever wondered what fried milk will taste like? Neither have I. To be quite honest, I am shocked because I never knew that fried milk even existed! Leche Frita - which translates to Fried Milk, is a popular dessert in Northern Spain. It starts with preparing a milk pudding. Then you encase the pudding within a warm, crunchy batter dusted with sugar and cinnamon. Serve it with whipped cream and enjoy!


Greek dishes? Coming right up!

Greece is famous for its ancient stories, enchanting beauty and traditional Greek food. But, there is something that you might not know. Greek cuisine has been influenced by the Middle East, Italian and Ottoman cultures. You will be witnessing olive oil, meat, fish, grains, and wine plays a significant role in Greek dishes. Cheese, bread, olives, herbs and yoghurt are mandatory ingredients in Greek recipes.

traditional greek dolmadakia stuffed grape leaves

Dolmadakia

Dolmadakia or dolmades is one of the popular vegetarian greek dishes. Dolmades is prepared using grape or cabbage leaves stuffed with onions, parsley, mint, dill and rice. Dolmadakia is also very popular in the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East. They can be served with or without a dip or sauce. Dolmades are shaped like cigars and are boiled until the leaves get tender.


Saganaki

Saganaki is a frying pan used in Greece to prepare dishes. Several dishes in Greece are named Saganaki as they are prepared using this pan. Saganaki is prepared using a variety of cheese like halloumi, graviera and kefalograviera. The cheese is melted in the pan and is served with a sprinkle of lemon, pepper and some bread.

traditional greek salad

Greek Salad

That’s enough cheese! Think of something healthy now. Have your salad with a new Greek twist. Greek salad is very famous among fitness freaks. The salad is served using tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, capers and kalamata olives. Greek salad is topped with feta cheese, dressed with olives, salt, pepper and oregano. Enjoy your tasty, mouth-watering salad!

Craving for Dolmadakia and Saganaki? Explore Greece with us.


Let’s Dig in Turkish Food Delights

Turkey is very famous for its kebabs, but there are so many more dishes preserving the real taste of the country. Europe has a tsunami of flavours - all thanks to the landscape. Turkish cuisine is famous for its olive-oil-based dishes from the Mediterranean Coast, pastries and subtle spicy flavours. Turkish recipes do not rely much on seasonings, but they find out the best ingredient to fit with your meal and let it shine through. Hadi kazalim!

traditional turkish lentil meatballs mercimek koftesi

Marcinek Kofte

Marcinek kofte is a vegetarian delight. The dish is also known as Belluh to the locals. Marcinek is prepared using lentils, fine bulgur, onions, scallions and tomatoes. Just pop one of these nuggets of flavour onto a lettuce leaf. Squeeze a lemon on top and munch away. Sorry! But I am not comfortable sharing my Kofte. Suit yourself with another plate!


Cag Kebab

The people of Erzurum take their meat very seriously. The delicious kebab is smeared with onions, salt and black pepper mix. Then the heart is left to marinate for at least half a day. After this long wait, the divine Cag Kebabs are served with slices of bread, tomato, white onion and sivri (green peppers).


Gozleme

‘Goz’, meaning ‘eye’, is believed to come from dark spots forming pastry cooks, absorbing the oil on the sac, making it look like ‘eyes’. Gozleme is popularly known as sac boregi, a pastry cooked on a sac, a hot metal plate. This plate is filled with cheese, spinach and minced beef. Gozleme is considered a village food and needs expert handling to roll out paper - thin dough.

Get on a plane NOW!

At the start of the blog, we promised you a bucketful of dishes to suit the Mediterranean food lover. In order to truly explore Mediterranean cuisine, you need to head out in person and experience these marvels for yourself. Luckily, we have curated packages ready for you, adding an adventurous flavour to your Mediterranean destination!


Contact us if you do not want to miss out on travelling to countries like Spain, Greece, Turkey and Portugal and experiencing their culinary phenomena in person!

Adios!, Antio!, Bye! and Tchau! We will be back with some new blogs to entice you with an international vacation.