Green Beans in Tomato Sauce - Greece

5 oz Jar - Greece

All over the Mediterranean, small, savory plates of food, enjoyed in a convivial atmosphere, make for one of the region's basic dining experiences. Spain has its tapas, Italy its antipasti, and Greece has its mezedes - meze in the singular. These tidbits and their enjoyment span the numerous cultures of the Mediterranean - sharing food and drink with friends in an unrushed, unhurried atmosphere.

This delightful meze utilizes a Greek favorite - wide, flat fresh green beans - what the Italians call Romano beans. They are cooked in a savory tomato sauce and still have a bit of a crunch. It's a perfect meze to share over a glass of good red wine.

The Tradition of Mezedes:

In Greece, meze is a deeply-rooted tradition that expresses something Greeks hold dear - socializing over a few plates of simple, tasty foods, letting the wine or spirits flow, and savoring the liberating, gratifying effects of the two together. The word itself means "middle," as in middle of the day, or between meals, because the meze table is not and should not be a full meal. Rather it is something that falls in the middle of the day or before dinner.

The meze is one of the most delicious and accessible traditions in the whole repertoire of foods that make up Greece's robust cuisine. Variety is a key element in mezedes; there is always a potpourri of flavors, textures, and temperatures. The whole point is to excite the palate in small bites that burst with flavor. Eis Iyian - to your health!