Food truck industry growth is at an all-time high and shows no sign of abating anytime soon. Numerous mobile kitchens specialize in specific cuisines; Greek is among the most beloved choices among these mobile kitchens.
Mediterranean cuisine comprises three essential ingredients: olives, wheat, grapes, numerous herbs and spices, and their combinations.
Gyro
Gyro is a traditional Greek dish in restaurants across Greece and Cyprus. The plate features meat and vegetables wrapped in pita bread for easy consumption. Gyros can include lamb, beef, or even combinations roasted vertically to give an aromatic crunchiness, while onions or Tzatziki sauce adds further flavors and color.
Gyros are delicious but, unfortunately, not very healthy. Store-bought and restaurant gyro meat often contains fillers and binders, which should be avoided whenever possible; to get around this problem, it would be much wiser to make your own at home!
Gyro meat can be prepared quickly and easily by following this straightforward recipe. Begin by bringing your heart for 18-24 hours in a 6% solution of salt and water (120 g / 4.2 oz salt in 2 lt / 0.5 gal of water), then remove from brine and rub with garlic, oregano, rosemary, and thyme before refrigerating before proceeding to step 4.
Falafel
Are You Hungry for Gyros or Falafel? Mediterranean Food Trucks Have It All
To make falafel, combine 2 cups of soaked and raw chickpeas with onion, garlic, cilantro, parsley, jalapeno peppers, salt pepper, and baking powder in a food processor until coarse like sand (make sure that the lid is off so the mixture can escape) before refrigerating for approximately an hour before forming into small balls or patties using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop; if they don’t stay together well add more pulses in your food processor!
Shawarma
Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish composed of seasoned meat such as lamb, beef, or chicken topped with hummus, toum (Lebanese garlic sauce), tahini sauce, and various pickled vegetables and onions wrapped into a pita bread or flatbread sandwich and devoured on the go. Shawarma has become increasingly popular as an affordable street food option and can quickly be eaten on the go.
Homemade shawarma is typically prepared by roasting it on large vertical cone-shaped rotisserie spits that rotate slowly, coated in an assortment of fat and lean meat slices, and then spiced up with traditional Middle Eastern seasonings such as cinnamon, paprika, cloves, turmeric, cardamom cumin.
Create homemade shawarma at home using a grill or George Foreman sandwich maker and marinade made of oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, ground cumin, coriander seeds, garlic cloves, oregano, and cardamom. This marinade can also be used with beef and pork cuts like flank steak and sirloin steak.
Hummus
Hummus is a classic Middle Eastern dip made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon, popular in Turkish, Lebanese, and Syrian cuisine but now enjoyed worldwide. Perfect as a spread or dip with pita bread or crackers; also ideal for dipping vegetables or meat!
Homemade hummus recipes should use the highest quality ingredients for the best results. Achieve creamy texture is easy with high-grade tahini (made from ground sesame seeds) and olive oil; extra-virgin olive oil has less linoleic acid content and anti-inflammatory benefits, so choose wisely!
To make hummus, begin with cooked and drained garbanzo beans combined with tahini, lemon juice, sea salt, and paprika in a food processor or blender. Slowly drizzle more oil until your desired consistency is reached before chilling it before serving to preserve its texture and flavor.
Tabbouleh
Tabbouleh is an easy and delicious Middle Eastern salad with fresh parsley, mint, and vegetables. It accompanies mezze platters such as those featuring hummus, Baba Ganoush, or pita bread, and is great for summer cookouts!
The traditional Lebanese salad of bulgur wheat, tomato, cucumber, onion, mint, parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil inspires this recipe. This dish is a popular Mediterranean staple in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt, as it typically has an elevated parsley-to-bulgur ratio.
Tabbouleh relies heavily on mint. Spearmint provides a more intense flavor kick than regular mint and adds freshness. Furthermore, finely chopping parsley will prevent it from tasting bitter in your dish.
Baklava
Baklava is a decadent, sweet pastry dessert with filo dough basted with butter and layered between cinnamon-flavored nuts. Famous throughout Turkish, Greek, and Middle Eastern cuisine since 13th-century Ottoman times, its popularity remains timeless.
Baklava typically uses walnuts, pistachios, and almonds; you may combine any combination if the nuts are chopped finely. The syrup, typically made of sugar mixed with water and either lemon juice or orange peel, must first cool before drizzling over the baklava.
Your nut filling, ghee, and syrup ingredients can be prepared up to 4 days ahead, kept covered, and refrigerated until ready for baking. Your phyllo dough may also be prepared up to one week in advance and then defrosted at room temperature before baking – perfect for serving on special occasions like New Year’s or Ramadan! This makes an impressive dessert perfect for special events like New Year’s or Ramadan!
