Mediterranean cuisine comes from a unique blend of cultures all tied together by one simple similarity; they all lay on the fertile coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. For this reason, while types of dishes vary greatly among Mediterranean cultures, many of the core ingredients among them are the same.
The more you explore Mediterranean cultures and cuisines, the more you’ll be able to identify the unique flair each culture puts on its cuisine, even though each region uses many of the same ingredients. After all, the climate of the Mediterranean Sea makes it perfect for growing the ingredients that are core to the diet, like olives and chickpeas.
One constant you’ll see in cuisine worldwide is street food, which typically takes historical inspiration based on the foods accessible in the area and the flavors and seasonings that were popular. One modern twist using classic flavors would be street fries, and today we want to talk specifically about Mediterranean street fries.
What do you think of when you consider loaded Mediterranean street fries? We conjure up classic Mediterranean flavors from sauces like creamy tzatziki or spicy Schug, warm toppings like shaved gyro meat or shredded chicken, and fresh garnishes like cilantro and fresh onion. The fun thing about loaded Mediterranean street fries is that the opportunities are endless when it comes to ingredient additions and toppings.
Today, though, we want to talk about our favorite recipe for loaded Mediterranean street fries. We also want to discuss some of our favorite tips and tricks for tweaking your recipe to suit your tastes.
How Do I Make Mediterranean Fries at Home?
While cooking at home is always a fun event, that doesn’t mean everything has to be made fresh from scratch in your kitchen. If you ever run into Mediterranean ingredients you would rather buy fresh from your local Mediterranean grill, you always can!
Ingredients for Loaded Mediterranean Fries
French Fries
Of course, it wouldn’t be loaded fries without the fries themselves! You can make your fries or buy them freshly cooked from your local Mediterranean grill or frozen at your local grocer.
If you decide to make your fries from scratch, you can easily do this by chopping a few russet potatoes and drizzling them with olive oil and salt, then airfrying or oven frying until crispy.
Tzatziki
No loaded Mediterranean street fries would be complete without this classic creamy Mediterranean sauce. Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt-based sauce made with fresh ingredients like cucumbers, dill, mint, lemon juice, garlic, and the Mediterranean staple: olive oil.
You can make your own or pick up some tzatziki from your local Luna Grill, as it will last you a while in your fridge (unless your family gets to it first!).
Schug
If you’re unfamiliar with Schug, you’ll want to sit back and learn about the spicy sauce you didn’t know you needed! This savory sauce is comparable to its South American cousin, Argentinian chimichurri.
Made with olive oil, cilantro, lemon, garlic, parsley, and spices, this little sauce packs some mean flavor. If you’ve got a low heat tolerance, we recommend little to no Schug in your loaded street fries.
Persian Cucumbers
While any cucumbers will do, we recommend Persian cucumbers for the extra crunch and freshness they bring to your loaded street fries. You’ll want to dice your cucumbers into small quarter-inch pieces to prep them for your Mediterranean street fries.
Sliced Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
Tomatoes add a subtle sweetness to Mediterranean dishes, and this is no different when it comes to loaded street fries. Slice up some grape or cherry tomatoes for a little burst of slightly citrus, slightly sweet flavor in your loaded fries.
Feta Cheese
The cheese of the Mediterranean is, of course, going to be the perfect topping for Mediterranean street fries. Feta is a healthy cheese made from sheep’s milk, a popular livestock for the cultures of the Mediterranean Sea. Feta has a sharp, tangy, yet creamy flavor and texture that pairs well with the other ingredients in loaded street fries.
Sliced Peperoncini
Stemming from the Italian portion of the Mediterranean Sea, pickled peperoncini peppers make a great topping for salads, bowls, wraps, and even loaded Mediterranean fries. They have a slightly spicy, slightly sour flavor that complements the creamy flavors of the feta and tzatziki.
Parsley
No dish is complete without a garnish, and the fresh and earthy flavors of parsley are perfect for loaded street fries. Finely chopped, this is the perfect garnish for many Mediterranean dishes, and street fries aren’t any different.
Pickled Red Onion
Much like the tangy flavor that comes from pickled pepperoncini, pickled red onion offers a similar flavor but with a different depth of flavor that compliments the spice of the pepperoncini well and pairs perfectly with the creamy elements at play, like tzatziki and feta cheese.
Optional Toppings
There’s no perfect recipe to follow for street food, especially if you’re cooking for yourself and catering the recipe to your preferences. With that being said, we do have some optional toppings that might spark your interest.
If you’d like to add some protein to your loaded Mediterranean street fries, you absolutely can, and it will only up the flavor. We recommend some authentic shaved gyro meat to really follow the Mediterranean theme.
In fact, you can always get some gyro meat from your local Luna Grill and easily reheat it in an air fryer or a pan. Chicken is another fantastic protein to top your loaded fries with; we recommend chicken kabobs.
How To Prepare Loaded Mediterranean Street Fries
First, you want to ensure you gather all your ingredients together and get them prepped. The fresher the ingredients, the better, so we recommend cutting up your veggies right before you’re ready to plate them up.
Ingredients:
- Approximately 3 cups of French Fries
- 2 – 3 Tablespoons of Tzatziki
- 2 – 3 Tablespoons Schug
- 1/4 cup Chopped Persian Cucumber
- 1/4 cup Sliced Grape or cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Tablespoon Crumbled Feta
- 2 Tablespoons Sliced Pepperoncini
- 1-2 tsp Chopped Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley
- 4-6 tsp Sliced Pickled Red Onions
If you want your loaded fries to be more or less spicy, adjust the amount of Schug you include. You can substitute Schug for a milder hot sauce if you want minimal heat.
Assembly
To assemble your Mediterranean fries, you only have to follow a few easy steps, and voila!
Step 1: Place your crisp french fries onto a large platter.
Step 2: Drizzle with your tzatziki and your Schug (adjusting the Schug based on your spice preference).
Step 3: Top with chopped cucumber and tomato, crumbled feta, sliced pepperoncini, and chopped parsley.
Step 4: Add a dollop of your pickled red onions to the center of your dish.
And you’re done! Now you can enjoy some classic Mediterranean flavors with a modern, street vendor twist.
Optional: If you’d like to add additional ingredients, feel free to! It can only add to the savory flavor profile. We highly recommend adding protein through traditional savory dishes like gyro meat, chicken kabobs, or Persian koobideh kabobs.
A Modern Twist on Classic Tastes
Mediterranean cuisine has many variations, which makes sense considering how many cultures border the Mediterranean Sea. But although regions change, the staple ingredients stay the same. Olives, chickpeas, cucumber, and tomatoes are all integral to the Mediterranean diet, regardless of which region you’re in.
At Luna Grill, we pride ourselves on keeping the soul of Mediterranean food alive through dishes inspired by generations-old recipes. We use the classic tried-and-true dishes of the Mediterranean Sea, but sometimes, it’s fun to add a modern twist.
Like with many street foods, loaded Mediterranean street fries combine classic Mediterranean ingredients with modern foods like french fries. To make our loaded french fries, you just need to have the basics; the french fries to serve as the base and your toppings.
Some of our favorite sauce toppings are creamy tzatziki and spicy Schug. We love a crunchy and crispy Mediterranean veggie topping, like Persian cucumber and tomatoes. And we can’t forget the pickled flavors that come from pepperoncini and pickled red onion.
We hope this recipe leaves you feeling adventurous about trying new takes on classic foods or perhaps even trying out a dish you’ve never had before! Always remember, trying new things is exciting! It helps you know your own personal tastes and preferences moving forward. The more you try new things, the better your experience as a cook.
Sources:
Mediterranean farming systems | FIBL.org
