Ladera facts for kids
Ladera (pronounced lah-deh-RAH) is a special group of vegetable dishes cooked with olive oil. You'll find these tasty meals in countries that were once part of the Ottoman Empire, like Greece, Turkey, and Arab countries. The name "Ladera" actually means "with oil" in these languages!
What are Ladera Dishes?
Ladera dishes are mostly made from vegetables. They can be plain or stuffed with other yummy ingredients. These veggies are cooked in a sauce that usually has tomatoes, onions, garlic, and, of course, lots of olive oil.
Cooking Ladera
These dishes usually do not have any meat. Long ago, if fresh tomatoes weren't available, people would use lemon juice instead. Ladera can be cooked in a pot on the stove or baked in an oven.
How Ladera is Served
You can enjoy Ladera dishes all by themselves, often with feta cheese and bread. They also taste great with potatoes, bulgur (a type of cracked wheat), or pasta. Sometimes, they are served as a side dish next to fish or meat.
Ladera is often eaten warm or at room temperature, making it a popular choice, especially in the summer. Many people also eat these dishes during times of fasting, as they are meat-free.
Examples of Ladera Dishes
Here are some common vegetables used in Ladera dishes:
- Green beans, zucchini, okra, leeks, and eggplant.
- Dishes with lemon, peas, artichokes, fava beans, carrots, and zucchini.
- A mix of different vegetables, which is called tourlou in Greek or türlü in Turkish.
- İmam bayıldı (a stuffed eggplant dish).
- Many kinds of leaves rolled around fillings, known as sarma.
- Many kinds of stuffed vegetables, called dolma.
