Tirokafteri is a Greek dip made with feta and chilli peppers. The dish is commonly eaten as a part of mezze platter (a selection of small dishes served as appetizers) or by itself.

Ingredients:

  • 500 g feta
  • 1 sweet red pepper
  • 100 g Greek yogurt
  • 50 ml olive oil
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 red or green chilli pepper
  • 1 tsp dried red chilli flakes

Directions:

  • Bake 1 sweet red pepper for 15-20 minutes
  • After it’s cooled down, remove skin from the pepper
  • Put all ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth and creamy
  • Sprinkle with olive oil and dried red pepper flakes
  • Keep in a refrigerator for up to 5 days

There are four amazingly delicious Greek dips and spreads – Melitzanosalata, Tzatziki, Taramosalata, Skorthalia. These traditional Greek classics are easy to make, with only few ingredients.

The list of ingredients to make Greek Eggplant Dip, or Melitzanosalata (Greek: μελιτζανοσαλάτα), is short and simple – eggplants, garlic, onions, virgin olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, fresh parsley, salt and pepper.

Garlic Spread, also known as Skorthalia (Greek: σκορδαλιά), is made with boiled potatoes, garlic, virgin olive oil, red or white wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

To make Fish Roe Dip, or Taramosalata (Greek: ταραμοσαλάτα), you will need the following ingredients: white bread, Tarama (carp roe caviar), onions, olive oil and lemon juice.

Famous Yogurt, Cucumber & Garlic dip, also known as Tzatziki (Greek: τζατζίκι), is made with Greek yogurt, sour cream, cucumbers, fresh dill, olive oil, garlic, white vinegar, salt and white pepper.

It’s not definitely known if the margarita, the most famous “Mexican” cocktail, is actually Mexican. There are various stories about the invention of the cocktail, and only some of them actually take place in Mexico.

Carlos “Danny” Herrera, owner of Tijuana restaurant Rancho La Gloria, said that he was the one who invented the drink in 1938 for Marjorie King, who was allergic to all spirits except tequila, but didn’t like to drink the spirit straight.

Meanwhile, Dallas socialite Margarita Sames insisted that she invented the drink for her friends while being on a vacation in Acapulco in 1948. However, by 1945, tequila brand Jose Cuervo had already been running an ad campaign, stating: “Margarita: It’s more than a girl’s name.” So it seems unlikely that Margarita Sames is the one who invented the drink.

At around the same time, in 1941, bartender Don Carlos Orozco was working in Ensenada, Mexico. When Margarita Henkel, daughter of a German ambassador, walked into his bar, he made a cocktail for her and named the drink in her honor.

However it’s possible that the margarita is just a variation of another cocktail that was popular during Prohibition: the Daisy, which was made with brandy, not with tequila. In fact, margarita means “daisy” in Spanish.

No matter how contested the history of the margarita is, the outcome is the same: the three ingredient cocktail – tequila, Cointreau/triple sec, and lime – is a perfect drink.

Tom yum kung is a classic Thai soup. It’s not only flavourful, but also nutritious. This soup is often used to boost the immune system, also it’s a perfect remedy for a cold or flu. Moreover, its ingredients are known to be anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory.

Ingredients:
• 10-12 raw shrimps
• 6 cups chicken stock
• Lemongrass, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons onions, minced
• 6 teaspoons ginger
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups shiitake mushrooms
• 1 small zucchini, sliced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 1 teaspoon chilli oil
• 1/3 cup fresh coriander
• Brown sugar and chilli pepper flakes to taste

Directions:
Pour chicken stock into a deep cooking pot, add lemongrass and boil on medium heat for 5 minutes.
Add garlic, onion, ginger, bay leaves, lime or lemon juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, and carrots. Boil for 5 minutes and then add mushrooms and zucchini. Continue boiling another 5 minutes.
Add shrimps and sliced in half cherry tomatoes. Cook until shrimps are pink.
Turn down the heat to low and add coconut milk.
If desired, add more fish sauce, brown sugar and crushed chilli pepper flakes to taste.