This was a very simple dish that was surprisingly good because of that simplicity. It had an earthy flavor that I really enjoyed, and it tastes good served hot or cold. My family loved this, but I thought it was just okay. I used a hand blender instead of actually putting it into the blender (I was trying to skip some clean-up) but it would have been a better consistency had I followed the recipe. I think that my eggplants were too large, because the soup was really eggplanty, overly so, it seemed to me. To top it all off, this diet offers some major health perks. “I use it quite often with my older patients since it can help lower the risk of cognitive decline and depression, common in the elderly. Besides, this diet may also help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says Eva De Angelis, RD. This recipe was easy to make and I'm happy with how it turned out. I made it twice, with regular couscous one time and pearl couscous another, and both turned out good. The pearl couscous just needs a bit longer to cook. But they care enough about authenticity to leave salmon entirely out of the book because it's not a Mediterranean fish. OK....

PS This lifestyle let's you have red wine and dark chocolate. Honestly, that's the only reason I'm trying it!If you are a fan of PBS and have been able to view even one episode of America’s Test Kitchen, you probably realize how seriously the chefs and staff take the preparation of a recipe to produce a satisfying result... The new addition to their award-winning books is “The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook” and is comprehensive in the selection of 500 recipes in categories ranging from Tapas and Small Plates to the Fruits and Sweets at the end of the meal—a total of 12 chapters to enjoy.If you are thinking of adding a cookbook to your kitchen shelf, ”The Mediterranean Cookbook” may be the one for you. The colorful cover of this book can make your mouth water, but a test of one of the recipes could produce an amazing meal for you and others to enjoy!" — Westmont Publich Library These were great! I ate it in a pita wrap just like the picture, and it was delicious. However, I once again made the mistake of overmixing and it became too wet, just like the zucchini fritters. After making this mistake 3 times, hopefully I've learned my lesson.

I'm a big fan of America's Test Kitchen. You can actually teach someone to cook using their books because they're loaded with interesting tips and advice about why certain ingredients were chosen in "Why This Recipe Works" paragraphs for each recipe. There are also a variety of other tidbits spread throughout the book, including advice on zesting, dried beans, how to prepare fava beans, salad greens, and using parchment. This dish is essentially a vegetable stew, and it turned out quite good. I didn't add enough salt at the end, and I didn't add the extra basil at the end either, both of which I think it could have used. There are two wonderful ways to try Mediterranean foods. One is to find local Mediterranean restaurants in your area–the more authentic, the better. It’s a great way to try new flavors and cuisine without making a huge commitment. If you know you like the taste of Mediterranean foods, the next step is finding a good cookbook to make Mediterranean dishes at home. Remember, the Mediterranean is home to a range of different cuisines, including (but not necessarily limited to) France, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Libia, Algeria, and Bosnia. Beyond Greece & Italy:You’ll find a deeper variety of dishes from countries all around the Mediterranean Sea, including Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, and Morocco This is amazing! It tasted so much better than I expected, and I had to stop myself from continuing to eat it. I definitely recommend using fresh swordfish, as well as a good quality can of whole peeled tomatoes.

Lot of faffing. ATK just loves to go over the top with the extra steps. No, I don't want to SOAK LENTILS you numbats. I do not have time for that. Gitter, and Katherine Perry ASSISTANT EDITOR: Samantha Ronan EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Alyssa Langer ART Given that the Mediterranean diet is named after the sea the region surrounds, it should come as no surprise that seafood is a main staple. That said, there are a number of other foods that are commonly found in Mediterranean diets, including: