Herblifepro

07/05/2022

Even though it is prepared throughout southern Italy, the flavorful caponata is a typical Sicilian vegetable dish whose origins date back to the early 18th century. Today, there are over 30 different recipes for caponata, all of which make an amazing use of the rich late summer harvest of eggplants and tomatoes.

Capers, olives, onions, and celery lend an invigorating bite to this delicately piquant dish, and with other ingredients such as pine nuts, raisins, almonds, and friggitello peppers, the colorful caponata easily becomes a wonderful embodiment of the true essence of Sicily.

07/05/2022

These tiny, delicate sweets are one of the most famous French delicacies. The name refers to any miniature, bite-sized baked items with a sophisticated and elegant appearance. They come in an endless variety of flavors, forms, and decorations. The most general division is made between petit fours glacés, the glazed variety, and petit fours sec, which include dry varieties such as meringues, cookies and puff pastries.

Although not nearly as popular as the dessert kind, savory petit fours salés are also prepared and served as appetizers. Invented in 18th century France, they were primarily served during traditional afternoon tea ceremonies. Today, both savory and sweet petit fours are often served at formal gatherings and celebrations as appetizers or as a part of buffet meals.

07/05/2022

Croquetas de bacalao are Spanish fritters made with cod. Although Spanish croquetas are mainly made with a béchamel base, this popular salt cod variety occasionally replaces béchamel with mashed potatoes. Both options are well-seasoned and mixed with cooked and flaked salt cod before the dough is shaped into desired forms.

Each piece is coated in breadcrumbs and finally fried until golden and crispy. The cod version is one of the most common types of croquetas found in Spain, and like other varieties, it is a staple tapas dish enjoyed throughout the country.

07/05/2022

Bruschetta al pomodoro is a popular Italian appetizer consisting of sliced, toasted bread that is rubbed with garlic and topped with finely chopped tomatoes. Although there are numerous variations, the appetizer is usually finished with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt, and fresh basil leaves.

The final result is a simple, elegant, yet flavorful finger food that is especially popular at celebrations, festivities, and parties.

07/05/2022

Saganaki is a highly popular Greek appetizer where various vegetables, meats, or seafood such as shrimp or mussels are wrapped in cheese, then pan-fried or seared. The cheese can also be prepared on its own, without any accompaniments. It is then pan-seared until it develops its distinctive golden crust, and served in the so-called sagani, a small, two-handled pan in which it was fried.

In the past, the word saganaki referred to a method of spicing up the local cheese by Greek peasants, who would pan-fry different varieties of cheese such as feta, kashkaval or manori. While regional variations of the dish include the use of formaela cheese in Arachova and halloumi in Cyprus, the cheese used in a typical Greek saganaki is usually graviera, kefalograviera, kasseri, kefalotyri, sheep's milk feta or any other firm cheese that melts well without losing its shape.

06/05/2022

Apáki is a Cretan delicacy that is typically prepared with cured pork loin which is smoked using a combination of wood and various herbs such as oregano, marjoram, thyme, or sage. It is believed that this way of preparation hails from Byzantine times, when people used it in order to preserve meat for longer periods.

Though it is commonly enjoyed as a meze dish when it is sliced into thin strips, apáki is easily incorporated into omelets or salads, and it can also be shortly cooked and paired with pasta or rice.

06/05/2022

Bramboráky are savory potato pancakes, considered to be one of the most famous Czech dishes. They consist of grated potatoes mixed with eggs, finely grated garlic, and traditional spices such as marjoram and pepper. The mixture is pan-fried until crispy, and the shape usually depends on personal preferences.

These potato clusters can be made in two ways—thin and crispy, or thick and chewy. Occasionally, pieces of fried bacon or sliced smoked meat can be added to the combination. Bramboráky are usually served plain, with mustard or ketchup served on the side.

06/05/2022