Hero Ingredients for Healthy Cooking (Mediterranean-Inspired)

Today I’m opening my kitchen cupboards… and honestly, this is where healthy cooking really begins. Not with complicated recipes, but with a few well-chosen, everyday ingredients—my hero ingredients.

These are simple, everyday staples that bring both flavor and nutrition, that I use all the time, and they are at the heart of Mediterranean cooking. You’ll find them in many recipes on my blog and throughout my book Vivian is Cooking GREEK, available worldwide on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover.

Here are my heroes:

Yummy focaccia (with greek feta and oregano)

My favorite 3 ingredients (dough, feta and oregano) all in one recipe! And who can resist in a good focaccia in any case? If you share the same values ;) go for it! Of course, we are open minded here, feel free to adapt to your own favorites! 

Greek Sausage and Pepper Stew (Spetzofai)

[Updated 26/02/2025]

Spetzofai is a rustic Greek dish made with country-style sausage, peppers, eggplants and tomatoes, simmered together in olive oil. 

This one-pot meal is perfect for cooler weather, offering a balance of savory, spicy, and tangy flavors. 

A recipe coming from the mountain of the Centaurus, Mt. Pelion (famous in Greek mythology for its half-men, half-horses), it can be enjoyed as a main dish or as a starter.

Greek Spinach Rice (Spanakoryzo)

[Updated 26/02/2025]

Spanakoryzo is a simple yet nutritious Greek dish made with spinach, rice, and olive oil, gently simmered with aromatic dill and lemon juice. 

This humble one-pot meal is a staple of Greek home cooking, offering a delicious balance of greens and grains. Traditionally served with feta cheese and crusty bread, it’s a comforting vegetarian dish packed with flavor. 

It's easy to make it and so tasty :) Here is how...