Until March 23, Mediterranean Days are taking place at Maxima Latvija — a great reason to add more sunshine, flavor, and lightness to your everyday menu. On the shelves are all the things we love from the cuisines of southern countries: seafood, pasta, olive oil, sauces, spices, fish, fresh vegetables and fruits, and meat delicacies.
The seafood display deserves special attention: here are firm, fresh squid (also with a 30% discount), mussels with a similar benefit, and other seafood delicacies. For example, fresh Premium Well Done oysters (6 pieces per pack) can now be purchased for €6.99 — with a 50% discount.
Mediterranean cuisine is not just a collection of recipes, but a whole cultural tradition that incorporates French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Balkan, and Arab culinary influences. It has developed over centuries and is now included in UNESCO's list of intangible heritage. Its main principles are simplicity, freshness of ingredients, and respect for natural flavors.
Spring is the best time to be inspired by this gastronomy. Light fish dishes, citrus notes, fragrant herbs, and good olive oil — all of this can be easily recreated at home.
The idea for such a dinner is shared by chef Lauris Aleksejevs:
"Mediterranean cuisine is a great inspiration for a spring menu: it features fresh fish, citrus, olive oil, and aromatic herbs. This makes the dishes light yet expressive in flavor. Now is the perfect time to try these combinations at home — at Maxima Latvija, the Mediterranean Days are taking place until March 23, offering a wide range of products from this region."
The renowned chef and gastronomic ambassador of Maxima Latvija suggests preparing tuna fillet with a caramelized orange vinaigrette and green beans — a dish that combines freshness, light sweetness, and richness.
Tuna Fillet with Orange Vinaigrette and Green Beans
For 2 servings: 250–300 g fresh tuna fillet
For the sauce: – half an orange; – 1 tsp grain mustard; – 1 tbsp white wine vinegar; – 1 tsp sugar; – 60 ml olive oil; – salt and black pepper to taste.
For the garnish: – 200 g green beans; – 2 cloves of garlic; – 50 g butter; – 6 fillets of anchovies; – 2 sprigs of basil; – juice of a quarter lemon.
How to Cook
Slice the orange and sauté it in a dry skillet until lightly browned. Add sugar and let it caramelize slightly. Then blend the orange with olive oil, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper until a smooth sauce is achieved.
Quickly blanch the beans — just one minute in boiling water is enough. Then heat them in a skillet with butter, garlic, and anchovies: the latter will dissolve and give the dish a rich flavor, so no additional salt is needed. Finally, add a little lemon juice and basil leaves.
Sear the tuna in a very hot skillet — literally for 20 seconds on each side. It should remain juicy inside. Serve generously drizzled with the orange vinaigrette.
How to Properly Cook Squid
There is a simple culinary principle: it is better to undercook squid than to overcook it. Prolonged heat treatment makes their meat tough.
The most reliable method is to bring the squid to a boil and immediately remove from heat, then drain in a colander. It is important not to miss the moment.
There is also a more "Italian" approach: a few short blanchings in boiling water — first for 10 seconds, then for 45 seconds, and finally for 1 minute. This method helps to preserve the tender texture.
Tip. Mediterranean Days are an opportunity to effortlessly diversify your home cooking and try new flavor combinations. Especially since you can do this now with significant benefits.
Don’t forget to take your Paldies loyalty card with you — it will allow you to take advantage of all current offers. Also, check the safety rules and card updates at https://www.maxima.lv/datu-drosiba.
You can familiarize yourself with the assortment directly in the Maxima Latvija stores, as well as in the company's magazine and on the website maxima.lv
