The History of Food: Mediterranean Cuisine

The Mediterranean region was one of the first regions to have been written and studied in history books all over the world. Some may even claim that they were the first civilization known to society and are notably famous for their efficient systems of living and their research in medicine. Mediterranean cuisine has been widely influenced by various different cultures and regions. The most popular mediterranean dishes include hummus, olive oil, cilantro lime chicken. Specific to this cuisine, chefs like to include yogurt in many of their recipes and creates a creamy texture of their dishes. Personally, I have not tried mediterranean food, but many of my friends and colleagues have expressed their love for this cuisine. Mediterranean food dates back to the time of Ancient Egypt during the 3rd and 4th century A.D., but mediterranean food has branched out to other parts of the world only recently in the 1950s. The history of Egypt illustrates the region as the center for trade with people coming from Asia, Africa, and Europe. The trading system included various spices and goods that helped shape the abundant options of ingredients that mediterranean people can implement in their cooking. The different cultures that have influenced this cuisine includes: Greek, Italian, Spanish, and French. As you may remember, the mediterranean region experienced an array of changes in government and control of the states. With different eras of rulers, different cultures and traditions were brought into the region and was established into daily life of their civilization. Additionally, this region has been known to have rich soil and an efficient agriculture system that harvesting various plants and vegetables allowed for healthy and delicious tasting foods. Olives are quite prominent in mediterranean dishes. Olive trees are populated everywhere in their civilization. People like to preserve their olives such as how Americans preserve their cucumbers to make pickles. This preservation process creates what we know as olive oil. Olive oil is rich in nutrients and enhances the taste of their dishes. Wine is also very popular in their culture. Wine is loved all over the world, but wine created in the mediterraneans are quite unique and special. The Greek God Dionysus was beloved amongst the Greeks and have had a huge impact in Mediterranean cuisine as it is often paired with most of their dishes. Wine may even be used as an ingredient in their cooking while also be used as a drink to cleanse one's palette. Similar to Italian foods, the use of herbs are popular amongst mediterranean people. Some of these herbs include: rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, and parsley. The Mediterranean Sea is vast and brings about many different types of oceanic protein to the region. Seafood is a prominent choice of protein in many dishes because meat is quite expensive and you may not find much in the region. Goats, chickens, sheep, and pigs are the only choices of protein farmed by the people. Many of their dishes include an abundance of different types of vegetables, sauce, and some meat or seafood.