Daen Lia learned to cook from her Spanish and Italian mother and grandmother. With the smell of garlic and roasted tomatoes wafting through the kitchen, Daen discovered the alchemy of a few simple ingredients: garlic, olive oil, and whatever is fresh, whether a vegetable or protein—or both. In Garlic, Olive Oil + Everything Mediterranean, Daen brings together modern Mediterranean recipes that any home cook, regardless of skill level can make, any day of the week.
With high-quality extra virgin olive oil, a little bit of butter, fresh herbs, and no-fuss techniques, such as pan-roasting, Daen shares the building blocks that enable you to make delicious meals, most of which can be ready in way less than an hour. Use a batch of silky Garlic Confit (just garlic melted into olive oil) to turn a basic meat sauce into the standout Confit Ragu Bolognese; or just add the delectable garlic onto Daen’s classic Focaccia. Here, too, you will find Peach, Tomato, and Burrata Salad drizzled with Basil Olive Oil; One-Pan Roasted Fish Puttanesca with burst cherry tomatoes, and a Spinach, Feta, and Pine Nut Quiche with a crispy puff pastry crust.
Other recipes include:
- Cheesy Roasted Garlic Bread (of course!)
- Popcorn Eggplant (an ode to KFC popcorn chicken)
- Crispy Breaded Chicken
- Tomato & Garlic Confit Soup with Grilled Cheese
- Pan-Fried Steak with Aglio e Olio Sauce
- Baked Pasta with Crispy Eggplant and Ricotta
- Pan-Fried Salmon with Cherry Tomato Confit
With versatile recipes that you can make once and use all throughout the week and stunning four-color photography, Daen Lia is just the ambassador of Mediterranean food we all need right now.