That required the Mediterranean to be a recognizable cooking style. More or less the purpose of the Cal-Med was to assimilate. Middle Eastern food and Mediterranean cuisine fall into the same category, since both use olive oil, have a similar palette of spices, use a lot of fruits and vegetables in food preparation, and have some similar dietary preferences. The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions are geographically close, which has cultivated similarities in their cuisines throughout of 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. Middle Eastern food tends to be quite similar across its region, in line with generally similar cultures. The food is much more varied: from southern Spain and Morocco in the west, to Cyprus in the east. Foods are varied and so are cultures.
Mediterranean cuisine is the food and preparation methods used by the peoples of the Mediterranean basin. The idea of Mediterranean cuisine originated in A Book of Mediterranean Food (1950), by culinary writer Elizabeth David, and was amplified by other writers who worked in English. Mediterranean cuisine focuses on fresh vegetables, olive oil and seafood. Middle Eastern food is rich in spices, lamb, cereals and legumes.
Both kitchens emphasize the importance of communal and shared meals. When it comes to cuisine, there are few regions in the world with as much diversity and flavor as the Middle East and the Mediterranean. These two culinary powerhouses are renowned for their use of fresh ingredients, bold spices and delicious dishes that seduce the taste buds. But what is better? While it's a difficult decision, there are some key differences between the two that could make one better suited to your taste buds. For example, Middle Eastern dishes tend to be more spicy and salty, while Mediterranean cuisine is known for having a lighter touch and for focusing on seafood and fresh vegetables.
Ultimately, the choice is yours, but one thing is certain: no matter which one you choose, a delicious and tasty meal awaits you. Since David wrote about Mediterranean food in 1950 and, in fact, since dietary researchers demonstrated in the 1950s that people from the Mediterranean had less coronary heart disease than people from Northern Europe, traditional Mediterranean ways of living and eating have changed. These dishes, shaped by cultural exchanges, show the flavors that connect Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines. While Middle Eastern cuisine usually includes kebabs, falafel and shawarma, and Mediterranean food usually consists of pizzas, types of pasta and gyroscopes, there are some similarities in the gastronomic palette of both.
Other popular seafood dishes include baked fish, Nicoise salad, fried calamari, shrimp soup, and grilled scallops. Fwiw, restaurants that call themselves “Mediterranean” in New York tend to be pan-European or Middle Eastern and want to “label” themselves with different way. Many writers define the three central elements of cooking as olives, wheat and grapes, which produce olive oil, bread and pasta, and wine; other writers deny that the diverse foods of the Mediterranean basin constitute a cuisine at all. The rules for the preparation and consumption of food are common in the lands bordering the Mediterranean.
In addition to offering a delicious dining experience, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine has gained popularity around the world over the years. Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines offer a captivating culinary journey through a wide range of flavors, ingredients and traditions. The food of your Kurdish people will be very similar to that of Kurdish communities in Syria, Iraq and Iran. The closer we get to that common core, the less visible it will be, until Umbrian food seems completely different from that of Tuscany, and comparing it to food from Greece would be absurd.
If Mediterranean cuisine is a serene dance under the sun, Middle Eastern food is a tapestry woven with bold flavors and a rich history. Mediterranean food also focuses primarily on including vegetables, fish, portion control, and walking after eat. When it comes to cuisines and food categories, specific food cuisines are sometimes referred to interchangeably. The cuisine of the area should not be confused with the Mediterranean diet, which became popular due to the apparent health benefits of a diet rich in olive oil, wheat and other grains, fruits, vegetables and a certain amount of seafood, but low in meat and dairy products.
