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If you love Mediterranean cuisine but want to try something different from the classic couscous, tagines, or pizzas, no problem! I invite you to discover some typical dishes from the northern Mediterranean that will make you travel and tantalize your taste buds. If you enjoy meat, you’ll adore these typical dishes from Madagascar and France.
France
In France, the southwest is renowned for its magret de canard, a fatty duck breast that comes from the force-feeding of geese and ducks for foie gras. The magret is cooked in a pan or in the oven and is served pink, with a wine, honey, or fruit sauce. It pairs beautifully with pommes sarladaises, potatoes cooked in duck fat with garlic and parsley, or with a green bean and walnut salad.In Madagascar, zebu meat is highly appreciated and consumed in various forms. Zebu entrecote is a tender and flavorful cut. It can be grilled or cooked in a sauce with vegetables. Zebu carpaccio is one of our specialties, consisting of thinly sliced meat seasoned with lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper. It is a fresh and light dish served as an appetizer or main course with a green salad. Zebu is the most consumed meat and can be found in various forms. Zebu entrecote is cooked in a pan or on the grill and is enjoyed with a sauce of choice: pepper, tomato, or ibiza (a spicy sauce made with chili peppers). It is often accompanied by pickled vegetables (carrots, cabbage, cucumbers), rice, fries, potatoes, vegetables, or pasta. Another Malagasy specialty is masikita, zebu skewers marinated in a mixture of garlic, ginger, soy sauce, tomato paste, oil, and fruit juice or rum. They are grilled over charcoal and served with a voanjo sauce, a peanut sauce prepared with tomatoes, onions, ginger, and chili.The unmissable Belgian-style steak frites is a classic that pleases everyone. Simply cook the steak to your liking (rare, medium, or well-done) and serve it with crispy and golden fries, prepared by cutting potatoes into batons and frying them twice in hot oil. Whether it’s magret de canard or zebu skewers, these dishes are a delight for the taste buds and guarantee a culinary journey.
Spain
Spain has many culinary surprises, such as its famous paella. This delicious dish comes from Valencia and combines rice, saffron, chicken, rabbit, seafood, vegetables, and sometimes chorizo. It is prepared in a large pan called a paellera, over a wood fire or gas. Paella is a warm and colorful dish that is enjoyed with family or friends.
Greece
Next, we head to Greece and its delicious moussaka. It is a gratin made with eggplants, minced lamb or beef, tomatoes, onions, and béchamel sauce. Moussaka is prepared in advance and reheated in the oven before serving. It is enjoyed with a green salad or a yogurt sauce.
Italy
Finally, let’s conclude our culinary tour with Italy and its famous spaghetti Bolognese. This popular dish consists of long, thin pasta noodles topped with a sauce made from minced beef or pork, tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, and aromatic herbs. Spaghetti Bolognese is generously sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese and savored with a glass of red wine.
I hope you enjoyed this text and that it has made you eager to taste these northern Mediterranean dishes. Bon appétit!
