Summer is rapidly approaching and lighter eating keeps your energy level high and your weight low. One of the ways to eat lighter is with the Mediterranean diet which is full of fish, vegetables and nuts. To bring attention to the Mediterranean diet, May is Mediterranean Diet Month and Fresko Mediterranean Kitchen offers a Greek Salad recipe for home preparation.
A Mediterranean diet has health benefits such as reduced incidents of cancer, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and more. Plus you don’t have to turn on your oven as the summer heat starts to head over 100 degrees.
Kody Harris of Fresko Mediterranean Kitchen
Corporate chef turned restaurant owner Kody Harris grew up in a Greek family with both her mother and fathers family coming from the old country. When she was young Kody learned the ins and outs of Greek cooking and prepares food that is fresh and full of flavor from tried and true family recipes at Fresko.
The Greek Salad recipe
This delicious salad recipe yields 1 salad and is a good way to include olive oil, vegetables and spices in to your diet.
Ingredients:
2 oz. romaine lettuce, cut
5 oz. cucumbers, cut into ½ inch chunks
4 oz. Roma tomatoes, cut into ½ inch chunks
.5 oz. red onion, thinly sliced
.5 oz. green peppers, thinly sliced
2 oz. feta cheese, cut into ½ inch chunks
8 Kalamata olives
2 ½ tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 ½ tsp. red wine vinegar
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 tsp. oregano
Pita chips for serving
Instructions: Place romaine in mixing bowl and add ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and ½ teaspoon red wine vinegar. Mix to coat and place in center of a bowl. Place remaining ingredients in mixing bowl and toss to coat. Mound ingredients on top of romaine. Garnish with pita chips.
If you’d prefer to leave the cooking to Cody you can visit Fresko Mediterranean Kitchen at 5033 E. Elliot Rd. Phoenix (Ahwatukee) 85044 http://www.freskokitchen.com/
