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1000 Mediterranean Meals

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Member Reviews

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

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This is a pretty diverse and phenomenal cookbook. Not only is it delicious it is also nutritious. Featuring recipes from Spain to Morocco and everywhere in between.

Mediterranean cuisine is unique in that it focuses on eating balanced meals that include all the key food groups. There is also a focus on including vegetables and legumes, which are so beneficial for keeping our bodies healthy.

As always, thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review

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I tried almost every dish mentioned in this book .I absolutely enjoyed them! Instructions are easy to follow and the food is delightful.

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When they said 1000 meals, they meant it! I love Greek food and love to try easy recipes for being a person who is always on the go. I didn't know eating this was could be so healthy! Highly recommend for those who want to change their lifestyle or are looking for a easy diet.

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Mediterranean food is one of my biggest favorites. I found tons of mediterranean recipes that are delicious with easy to followinstructions. The photos are glorious and made me want to try everything. Totally had to buy it this is definitely one to recommend!

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Mediterranean food has a reputation for being not only delicious, but healthy. The diet is rich in fruits and vegetables as well as healthy oils and lean meats and fish. There are dozens, maybe hundreds of good Mediterranean cookbooks out there, and one that is excellent and includes a huge number of recipes for variety is 1000 Mediterranean Meals: Every Recipe You Need for the Healthiest Way to Eat by Valentina Harris. This cookbook has everything: appetizers, side dishes, soups, salads, mains with or without meat and even desserts. Although they are touted as healthier dishes, they are still mouthwatering, and no one will suspect that eating them will contribute to better health.

Almost all of the recipes include a photograph, which makes the book appealing. Most cooks want to know what the dish should look like. The recipes are written in the classic style with a list of ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions that cooks at all levels can successfully make them.

The variety of the dishes is vast, and there is something for every taste. Most of the recipes include several variations to that everyone can individualize them to their personal tastes. The recipes come from several of the twenty-one countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. Popular classics are included, such as Hummus and Tzatziki, as well as some unique dishes like Huevos Revueltos and Egyptian Sweet Couscous.

Anyone who likes Mediterranean food will love reading and cooking from this excellent cookbook. There will be dozens of recipes that appeal to almost every cook.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

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Mediterranean food is quite honestly some of the best food and yet it has always intimidated me when I've considered properly attempting it myself. In this cookbook I found all kinds of mediterranean recipes explained in straightforward steps and without the super-intimidating list of ingredients you sometimes find elsewhere. With stunning photos and clear directions, this is definitely one to recommend!

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Some really great Mediterranean recipes. Making them during winter made me feel like it was summertime!

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Excellent! Love the Recipes and Mediterranean food is just fantastic. The ingredients are easy to obtain and I definitely can cook the recipes for everyday. This makes a big difference. Love pictures, that always helps being a cookbook to life.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.

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I find Mediterranean food difficult for me. I have a few favourite items, but I rarely find cooking it myself accessible.

I found this to be the most accessible Mediterranean cookbook I have read to date. I have made several of the recipes in it. My favourite recipe and the one I have made the most is the Tzatziki. I make it 2-3 times a week. So delicious.

This is the first Mediterranean cookbook I have considered buying.. If you are looking for a place to start with Mediterranean cooking, I would highly recommend this book, for it's ease of use.

I wish there were more photos, but the ones in the book are very appetizing,

I received an eARC from Quarto Publishing and Chartwell Books. All opinions are 100% my own.

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A comprehensive look at Mediterranean food, this book has a wide range of recipes. The book is direct and avoids giving the history of food etc, and the recipes are easy to follow. Great for a novice cook

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I always thought "Mediterranean" equaled Greece (please pardon my ignorance). I enjoyed learning the cuisines from each of the Mediterranean nations. I look forward to trying these delectable recipes which were showcased by the ultra vibrant food pictures.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quatro Publishing Group - Chartwell Books for this ARC. This review is posted of my own accord, with no compensation from the owners of this advanced reader's copy.

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Wow! 1000 meals - this book is a really rich resource. I live in Italy most of the year so I'm no stranger to the Mediterranean diet, although I struggle a little in the winter and often make the same bean soups and things which are great but at times I feel like I don't have much in my kitchen repertoire. This book has given me a burst of inspiration for switching things up! I'm a 95% vegetarian, in that I was fully veggie for 9 years, was never a big meat eater before that, and have never been since, but I do eat the occasional bit of meat or fish now. When it comes to cooking though, I am in the habit of cooking vegetarian meals or even vegan, as I prefer it, find it healthier and I feel a lot of guilt around meat! Luckily there are plenty of plant-based and fish recipes in the book, and many of the meat ones could easily be adapted to be veggie friendly, and there is no shortage of ideas here to please anyone.
I love the focus on seasonal ingredients and recipes that can be adapted to make use of the produce that is in season and in abundance. I am looking forward to trying some of these dishes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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4☆ A Delicious Cookbook, Something For Everyone!

1000 Mediterranean Meals is a delicious cook book that offers a huge variety of recipes.

The Book Is Made up of Eight Main Chapters
1) Antipasti, Meze & Tapas
2) Soups & Salads
3) Breads & Pizzas
4) Vegetables & Vegetarian
5) Pasta & Rice
6) Meat & Poultry
7) Fish & Seafood
8) Desserts & Fruit

Each recipe is measured in Cups, lbs, oz and spoons, however in brackets there are equivalent measures in kg, g, and ml to make things simple for conversions.

There is also alternative options for the recipes ie alternative ingredients
For example middle Eastern Fritters has options to add lentils, cranberry beans or chilli peppers.
OR another example
Patatas Bravas options to add Aïoli, Chorizo,  Piquillo Peppers or Blood Sausage. So you can see the recipes are very adaptable.

Some examples of recipes
* Spanish Squash & Apple Soup
* Moroccan Chickpea Soup
* Lebanese Fatoush Salad
* Focacci
* Black Olive Bread
* Sausage, Pepper & Mushroom Pizza
* Gluten free Flatbread
* Pizette
* Calzone
* Gluten free Spinach, Basil & Mozzarella Pizza
* Italian Vegetable Stew
* Classic Spanish Tortilla
* Vegetable Lasagne
* Tagine of Artichokes with Lemon, Mint & Garlic
* Arancini
* Venetian Chicken Risotto
* Four Cheese Gnocchi
* Middle Eastern Spaghetti
* Empanadas
* Lamb Moussaka
* Succulent Lamb with Harissa & Sweet Potato
* Polenta Casserole with Italian Sausage
* Lemon Granite
* Almond Ice Cream
* White Chocolate & Raspberry Semifreddo
* Panna Cotta
* Classic Coffee & Chocolate Tiramisu


So as you can see a real variety of yummy recipes to get your tummy rumbling! Something for everyone!
I also want to add that the illustrations/ photographs just make these recipes even more tempting to try. I do adore cookbooks that feature photographs. So a big plus from me!
This book would make a great present or simply a welcomed addition to your cookbook collection.

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Even I, the self-confessed worst cook in the world, have been able to tackle these gems. Fully explained, easy to follow and colourful photos to help guide. (even though mine rarely turns out looking that food LOL)

In this year of restricted travel what a great way to revisit my favourite places in the Mediterranean.
Bringing some sunshine to wet, windy and freezing Scotland. There are even alternatives given in case you can't eat/find a particular ingredient (I'm a veggie who can't eat spicy food and doesn't like taste of alcohol).

Linguine with Pesto was my absolute fave! That is going into my roster of "I made this but it is edible" repertoire!

Superb!

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I enjoyed this cookbook; it has lots of delicious-looking recipes that seem to be easy to follow. I also liked that each recipe had a picture to go with it.

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1000 recipes is a lot which means there is going to be something for everyone. If you don't like seafood there are meat based recipes or if you are vegetarian then there are items for you and if you just cannot give up carbs then go to the bread & pizza section. You see a lot now when researching diets for specific illnesses that the Mediterranean diet is one to go for with the whole foods, good fat approach to eating it seems to have benefits for the heart and liver. So where other to start looking for recipes in a book that has 1000. And because there are so many recipes (all or almost all with pictures) there is not a lot of other stuff in the book. You get a one page summary of what the diet is (easy enough right) and then 8 categories of recipes. The book covers antipasti/tapas, soup & salad, bread, vegetarian, pasta, meat, seafood, & dessert/fruit (like I said something for anyone). The other great thing is that normally we think Italy & Greece when we think Mediterranean, or maybe that is just me, but this book includes recipes from Spain, Portugal, France, Morocco, Lebanon, Turkey, etc.
If you want a comprehensive cookbook this for the Mediterranean diet then I would look through this one.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I’m sure we’ve all heard this before, but the Mediterranean diet isn’t really a diet, just a healthier way to eat. There are 21 countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea and while there are cultural, ethnic, religious, economic and agricultural differences, the area has low occurrences of heart disease and obesity. Their eating habits these traits:

Food is fresh, unprocessed, unrefined and usually low in saturated and trans fats.
High consumption of fruits, vegetables, bread and other whole grains, potatoes, beans, nuts and seeds.
High consumption (by U. S. standards) of eggs, which are consumed up to 4 times a week.
Low to moderate consumption of dairy products and poultry.
Low to moderate consumption of alcohol.
Low consumption of red meat.
Preference for olive oil.

The food is beautiful as well as delicious, so perhaps making some dietary changes are easier. This cookbook is a definite place to start. The recipes are easy to prepare and traditional, and almost every one includes a few alternative ingredients to add variety to your table. My review of this book will touch on some of the traditional recipes, and the ones that were new, unusual or downright exotic.

Antipasti, meze and tapas are the small plates of food that begin a meal and are instrumental to the Mediterranean culture of eating slowly and sharing food, not to mention savoring the experience and companionship. While many similar ingredients are used, there are regional variations to old favorites such as hummus, tzatziki, eggplant dip, marinated olives and falafel. Recipes to help diversify your menu include asparagus wrapped in jamon, patatas bravas, manchego with peppers, artichoke and manchego rice cakes, Gibraltarian Swiss chard pie, deep-fried stuffed olives and cataplana (a stew of pork and clams).

Soups and salads are versatile and can be added to an entree, served with a small plate, or become a meal with the addition of some crusty bread. And if we think outside the box, they are also a healthy snack. The recipes include gazpacho, avgolemono, pipiranna, Nicoise salad, fatoush salad (with peaches, melon or potatoes), escalibada (grilled vegetables), tomatoes and herbes de Provence, spanish squash and apple, and looz shorba with onions, almonds and cream.

Breads and pizzas look so tempting! There is homemade pita bread, focaccia bread and pizzas of every combination including gluten-free (using polenta as the crust) and yeast-free. My favorite recipe from this section is pesto focaccia with a caprese salad on top.

Vegetable dishes use ingredients in atypical ways such as zucchini cake, classic Spanish tortilla, zucchini frittata, vegetable lasagna, vegetable ragu with a twist (addition of lentils), and tagines such as artichokes with lemon and mint, chickpea with currant couscous, or sweet potato and pomegranate.

Pasta and rice dishes include various risottos (basic butter or with the addition of scallops, chicken, sausage or parmesan), light and fluffy gnocchi, paella, and polenta with mushrooms. There is a Middle Eastern spaghetti dish (koazy al-macarona) of chicken with cinnamon-y spices and fresh tomatoes, which is then served with hard-boiled egg wedges.

Entrees of meat, poultry, fish and seafood sound mouthwatering. There are enough different types of dishes and variations to get you out of your cooking rut. There are empanadas, tagines, moussaka, cassoulet, kebabs, lasagne, ragus and, for all you fellow walnut lovers there is a nutty Circassian chicken. Fish and seafood recipes are plentiful and there is something for everyone’s taste: shrimp, lobster, mussels, a wonderful looking sea bass in salt crust, clams, squid monkfish, calamari, octopus and crab.

And finally, dessert! Satisfy your sweet tooth with semifreddo (which sounds lusciously creamy as it is semi-frozen ice cream), zabaglione, ricotta pudding, poached pears, baked peaches, Catalan cream, panna cotta, jam tarts, cakes and churros. I received an introduction to natas (Portugese custard tarts), Tuscan rice cake and Egyptian sweet couscous, which sounds divine. There is also a recipe for turron, which I have never thought of making at home.

These recipes start with the classics, and none are overly complicated. There are so many variations of each recipe that it will help to keep your menu fresh, delicious and interesting.

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This is a very well thought out book and has some delicious appearing recipes, specifically for those who enjoy fish and tomatoes. Some recipes are for more adventurous eaters who appreciate pate and chicken livers and the like. Some of the recipes that appeal most to me however were linguini with creamy shrimp sauce, pumpkin gnocchi with butter sage, pesto and sundried tomato loaf and pesto focaccia with mozzarella. There are several things in here that I would thoroughly enjoy but because it's pretty fish heavy I personally don't find it to my personal tastes, hence the 4 stars. Overall though I think it's a beautiful well thought out book.

Thank you #netgalley for allowing me to review this beautiful book.

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1000 Mediterranean Meals by Valentina Harris
Every Recipe You Need for the Healthiest Way to Eat

With recipes from many countries and variations on each recipe this book provides many options and wide variety for the basic and more talented cook. I have to say that the recipes I have learned to make in Lebanon are not always the same as the ones in this book (hummus here Is not made with broth) but it was intriguing to see the changes in some old favorites and contemplate how those changes might make a dish I know well taste if changed according to the recipes I read.

The book begins with an introduction that includes what a Mediterranean diet is and why it is considered healthy then goes on to discuss equipment needed. The book’s sections include:
* Antipasti, Meze and Tapas (small dishes
* Soups and Salads
* Breads and Pizzas
* Vegetables and Vegetarian
* Pasta and Rice
* Meat and Poultry
* Fish and Seafood
* Desserts and Fruits
* Comprehensive index

I like the fact that since the recipes use whole foods that are commonly found in the Mediterranean it will make it easier to find the required ingredients and then create most of the recipes easily. Now, to find the book locally…hmm…

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I consider giving it as a gift or buying it myself? I believe I would

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing-Chartwell Books for the ARC – This is my honest review

5 Stars

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