Mediterranean foods tend to be cooked with olive oil instead of less healthy oils and consist of legumes, fish, cheese, potatoes, bread and spices. The bistro setting is a perfect way to enjoy these decadent, yet generally healthy dishes, and we have a few of the top ones to share with you.
Greek Salad
Start with Romaine lettuce as the base and then add feta cheese, cucumbers, olives, tomatoes and some oregano. Top it all off with some bistro dressing for a flavorful dish that is easy on your waistline. This should be a mainstay of any bistro setting as it fits the bistro modus operandi of making food affordable and packed with flavor.
Lentil Soup
Legumes are one of the stalwarts of Mediterranean cuisines, and this comforting dish is served with golden red lentils and onions, then spiced with basil oregano and other seasonings to give it a rich flavor. You can really make this dish your own with some added garnish, vegetables and spices. The simple base gives you lots of ways to turn it into something truly special. It doesn’t have to be a boring menu filler.
Seafood Paella
Two staples of Mediterranean dining come together in this decadent dish. Paella is made from rice, green beans, beans, meat and seasoning. Making yours with shrimp and lobster can bring that rich, coastal flavor of Valencia to your bistro. There are so many different versions of paella these days, since it was basically created as a way to make various leftovers work as a single dish. This means that you can make this dish unique by adding foods or flavors that aren’t commonly included.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
This is one of the best comfort dishes you can make for your bistro. Take pan-roasted chicken and let it marinate in a bath of lime juice. Then season it with cilantro and other herbs and spices to give it a robust flavor. It’s the kind of mouthwatering dish that most people can’t get enough of, combining savory and tart in an incredible way.
Roasted Greek Potatoes
You’ll want some simpler dishes on your menu as well, such as these traditional potatoes. You bake the potatoes in lemon juice and olive oil, then garnish them with some cilantro or parsley. Some people add grated cheese or a little black pepper to give them some added character.
Conclusion
To make your bistro really shine, you’ll have to perfect some of these traditional, in-demand dishes. You may not have time to do the cleaning that you want in your restaurant on a weekly or monthly basis. Your staff may be able to handle the daily cleaning, but the more involved tasks may require a cleaning service to ensure that your staff has time for their food preparation each day.
Try experimenting with some of these dishes to give them your unique spin and make your bistro a place where people can try conventional foods that aren’t the same as what they can get elsewhere.