Whether you want to follow the Mediterranean Diet or you simply love the bright flavors of Mediterranean food, there is something for everyone on this list of Mediterranean recipes—from protein-rich breakfasts to delicious Mediterranean dinners, soups, salads, breads, and even a little dessert! This list is just the beginning, we have an entire collection of Mediterranean Diet Recipes you’ll love!
What is Mediterranean Food?
Food from the Mediterranean is dynamic and diverse, spanning flavors from many cultures and countries from southern Europe to North Africa and the Middle East. The Mediterranean diet is a delicious, exciting way to eat! There is so much to love about eating the Mediterranean way, and thankfully it is both balanced and healthy. Year after year, it’s been consistently named the best, healthiest diet by US News and World Report.
Whether you’re new here or you’ve been a longtime reader of The Mediterranean Dish, you’ll find a large collection of modern Mediterranean recipes that celebrate the many flavors of the sunny region where I was born and raised.
A ritual I look forward to every December is updating this list with the BEST Mediterranean recipes of the year! It’s a combination of reader favorites, new favorites, personal go-tos, and the time-honored classics people turn to over and over again. I love digging into which recipes everyone tried and enjoyed the most this year. There are always Mediterranean food classics like shawarma, falafel, the tomato cucumber salad that goes with everything, and the simple but delicious Greek salad, but there are also many brand-new recipes with exciting modern twists that have quickly become beloved recipes on the site.
Whether you’ve stopped by to learn more about following the Mediterranean diet or just want healthier dinners with big, bright flavors, there is something for you on this list of top 30+ Mediterranean recipes to try this year.
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What is the Mediterranean Diet?
Eating the Mediterranean diet is about emphasizing vegetables and fruits, legumes and whole grains, lean proteins including fish and poultry, and healthy fats like quality extra virgin olive oil.
You won’t find a list of dos and don’ts when eating the Mediterranean way, and yes, you can have a little dessert and a Negroni from time to time! It’s as much about food as it is about living joyfully — happiness is also important to your health. To understand this way of eating better you can read more about in our article, “What is the Mediterranean diet and how to follow it.”
But, the majority of the recipes in this roundup follow the Mediterranean way of eating and are a great place to start! (And here is a handy shopping list to stock your pantry for Mediterranean cooking). Now let’s get to the best Mediterranean food recipes of the year!
Mediterranean Breakfast Recipes
Breakfast can be fast and flavorful. Here are some favorites from the past year, but trust me there are more where that came from. If you need even more Mediterranean Breakfast ideas we have you covered.
These egg muffins are inspired by the savory Greek phyllo pie spanakopita–with spinach, feta, parsley, and mint. Gluten-free and vegetarian they’re a delicious make-ahead breakfast or high-protein snack on the go.
A classic North African dish hailing from Tunisia, shakshuka is simply sunny-side-up eggs braised in a chunky tomato sauce with bell peppers and onions. Use fresh tomatoes when in season, but feel free to make it with canned chopped tomatoes during the winter months. I also like a version with white beans for extra nutrition and protein, or a Green Shakshuka twist!
This is not your typical diner hash! My twist on the American classic loads sweet potatoes with so much flavor thanks to aromatic za’atar and warming Mediterranean spices, along with chickpeas and bell pepper for added texture and flavor. And no Mediterranean breakfast is complete without black tea—I’m particularly partial to my freshly brewed Arabic tea with mint with these crispy potatoes.
The easiest way to make eggs! Simply bake them in the oven with fresh herbs and tangy feta cheese. This recipe is handy for fuss-free entertaining and busy weekday mornings alike, with focaccia for dunking and a fresh fruit salad on the side.
Mediterranean Dinner Recipes
What’s for dinner? A question that’s on everyone’s mind, but can be difficult to answer. Not to worry! I have you covered with a handful of easy and delicious ideas—some traditional and some modern, but all with bold Mediterranean flavors!
This one-skillet meal is juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor from a tangy marinade of Dijon mustard, garlic, honey, and fresh parsley. With only a few simple ingredients—all of which are pantry staples for me—it makes a quick dinner you can prep in minutes. I like to serve it with Italian Roasted Vegetables.
This easy 15-minute shrimp recipe is such a sure-fire hit! Particularly with crusty bread or couscous to capture the lemony, garlicky sauce. As Dianne so kindly put it in the comments, “This Shrimp scampi recipe was a thousand times better than any other shrimp scampi recipe that I’ve made or been served in a restaurant … It was one of the best meals that I’ve had all year!” You’ll have to try it to see for yourself.
Stuffed Salmon with Spinach, Capers, and Greek Yogurt
This stuffed salmon recipe has everything you love about Mediterranean flavors packed into a meal! Tender salmon fillets are filled with a mixture of roasted red peppers, briny capers, and preserved lemon for a burst of bright, savory goodness in every bite. A little Greek yogurt is the key ingredient to the creamy, tangy filling. It’s wholesome, elegant enough to serve for guests, and easy enough to make on a weeknight.
This sheet pan dinner puts a delicious and nutritious meal on your table with just about 10 minutes of hands-on time. As a bonus, the marinade doubles as a lemony salad dressing! Make yourself extra to toss with a simple arugula avocado salad while the chicken roasts.
Perfect whole roasted fish you can make in just 20 minutes! It’s even better finished Greek-style with my lemony, garlicky ladolemono sauce.
This easy recipe shows you how to make fall-apart-tender Greek lamb roast to feed a crowd. The key is in cooking the lamb with the vegetables in parchment paper, which traps the heat and allows the lamb to cook perfectly so it is succulent and extra tender.
A bold blend of warming Middle Eastern spices loads these chicken thighs with so much flavor! And they’re simply baked in the oven until perfectly juicy and tender. This recipe is consistently loved by The Mediterranean Dish community and my friends and family. Make a shawarma feast and serve with pita bread, tahini sauce or tzatziki sauce, and cucumber tomato salad. To take it to the next level, try deliciously smoky spit-roasted Grilled Chicken Shawarma. For a vegan option, try my spicy cauliflower shawarma!
Grilled Cod with Pistachio-Herb Salsa
Juicy cod is wonderful with a touch of smoke from the grill, and a quick and easy herb sauce — a Mediterranean twist on salsa fresca — adds the punchy, refreshing flavors of lemon, parsley, mint, and garlic with the tender crunch, and nutty richness of pistachios.
Loaded Mediterranean Falafel Bowls
Dinner bowls can be given the perfect Mediterranean twist. You can make falafel the traditional way, in the air fryer, or baked. Add them to a bowl with your favorite dip (I like hummus) and a salad. And to jazz it up even more, raid your fridge for some pickles and olives too!
Baked Cod with Lemon and Garlic
This baked fish recipe has been a fan favorite for a long time! It’s ready in just over 15 minutes and it’s all about the garlic and lemon sauce. And you can use any white fish fillet you like.
Pesto Gnocchi with Summer Vegetables
This easy pesto recipe combines pan-seared gnocchi with fresh veggies and garlicky basil pesto. Have a day in the kitchen and make Basil Pesto and Potato Gnocchi from scratch, or use store-bought options to make this into a simple weeknight dinner that’s ready in 35 minutes or less.
A famous rice dish from Spain, paella always feels like a party, but this version is easy enough to make on a weeknight. Juicy chicken thighs, chicken stock, smoked paprika, and saffron give short-grain rice incredible flavor. Just remember not to stir it so you get a nice crispy socarrat on the bottom of the pan!
Spinach Pasta with Za’atar, Lemon, and Parsley
There’s even more spinach than there is pasta by weight in this fresh and vibrant recipe! The earthy za’atar, refreshing lemon, and fresh parsley pair beautifully with tender greens and garlicky olive oil sauce, while a hint of red pepper flakes adds just the right amount of heat. Finished with plenty of Parmesan, it’s nutty, tangy, and so satisfying. If you’re unfamiliar with this vibrant spice blend learn more in our article, “What is za’atar?”
Mediterranean Soups and Stews
When it comes to a cozy bowl of comfort look no further than the Mediterranean. You can find everything from plant-based protein powerhouses to seafood and, of course, chicken soup just like mom used to make.
In this easy recipe, I adapted the famous slow-simmered Provençal stew to fit a busy weeknight! I keep all the flavor and veggie-packed goodness but it’s ready in 45 minutes or so. And it just gets better the next day! Serve any which way you like–hot, room temperature, straight from the fridge, with a fried egg on top or on its own.
Mediterranean-Style White Chicken Chili with Chermoula
I was inspired to create this Mediterranean twist on a white chicken chili for my second cookbook The Mediterranean Dish: Simply Dinner. My version has the cannelini beans, chicken, and corn you might expect, but big, bold Mediterranean flavor from Cherrmoula, a lemony North-African herb sauce, drizzled on top.
Nonnas call this chicken noodle soup “Italian penicillin,” and for good reason! Loaded with veggies, tiny pasta, delicate chicken broth, and parmesan cheese, this comforting soup is meant to warm the belly and ward off a winter cold. But it’s just as welcome when you’re feeling good, and loved by adults and children alike. And it takes just one pot and 30 minutes! Homemade chicken stock is a special treat, but a store-bought version works well too. Serve with lemon parmesan lettuce salad or a simple green salad dressed with balsamic vinaigrette.
Cioppino Recipe (Seafood Stew)
Cioppino, pronounced chuh-pee-no, is an intensely satisfying seafood stew containing a wonderful jumble of texture and flavor including clams, mussels, white fish, and shrimp, cooked in a bold tomato-fennel broth. This Italian-American fish stew is a great example of the many ways Mediterranean food has been adapted over the years.
Super-healthy red lentils break down completely as they cook in a tomato-based broth, giving this Greek soup a velvety texture. Onions, garlic, and carrots give the soup a savory foundation while cumin, oregano, and rosemary layer in flavor. This recipe is vegan, as written, finished with a splash of lemon juice and a shower of chopped fresh parsley, but you can add a sprinkle of salty feta, if you like.
Mediterranean Salads and Sides
Probably one of the biggest things about eating the Mediterranean way that I love is the inclusion of big salads and vegetable sides in every meal! Here are just a handful of favorites in this category…
This simple chickpea salad recipe is packed with fresh herbs, juicy grape tomatoes, velvety roasted red peppers, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado. Delicious and satisfying, thanks to the high plant-based protein and fiber content, it’s excellent on its own or alongside Baked Salmon or Grilled Chicken.
Quinoa, a high in protein seed that cooks as fast as rice, serves as the foundation for this lemony chopped vegetable salad. Scallions, peppers, and cucumber give it great crunch, and Greek kalamata olives and feta add wonderful savoriness. It’s a great make-ahead option as the leftovers last for a week in the fridge.
Mediterranean Cucumber and Tomato Salad
The base of this salad is tomatoes and cucumbers, dressed up with parsley and red onion. Finish it with some good extra virgin olive oil (I often use our Greek Early Harvest EVOO), lemon juice, and a dash of salt, pepper, and sumac! Enjoy on its own, serve over fish, tuck it into shawarma add it to your favorite grain bowl.
The quintessential Middle Eastern salad starring parsley, bulgur, and tomatoes. Personally, I like adding cucumbers for some crunch. You’ll need fine bulgur wheat for this recipe, but if you are looking for a gluten-free option, try quinoa or make a cauliflower tabouli.
Greek Salad (Traditional Horiatiki Recipe)
Big hunks of feta cheese make this simple salad such a show-stopper. But it’s what’s hiding beneath them that keeps me coming back for more! Crunchy raw cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, bell peppers, and red onion bring so much vibrant flavor and freshness. This table salad is meant to be versatile, but it goes particularly well with Greek roast meats like pork souvlaki and kleftiko (Greek lamb in parchment)
Another classic salad with bright Mediterranean flavors. Cubes of watermelon and cucumber, tossed in a simple honey and citrus dressing and finished with fresh herbs and feta. Save this for your mid-summer cooking! Everyone will love it.
Mediterranean Mezze, Sauces, Snacks and Extras
Shareable sides and small plates are commonly enjoyed in many Mediterranean countries to round out, start or complete a meal and they include some of my favorite recipes.
Think of hummus as another base recipe in your Mediterranean Diet toolbox. Keep it simple and use it as a dip with pita chips and vegetables or use it to make layered hummus with spiced meat, top it with Middle Eastern meatballs, or use it as a protein-packed spread for wraps or breakfast toast.
Hailing from southern Turkey, Ezme means “crushed” in Turkish, named after the way vegetables are finely chopped to make this versatile spread. Fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers and herbs marry with rich Pepper Paste and tomato paste, and tangy lemon juice. It has a wonderful mixture of fresh, sweet, spicy, and acidic flavors and it is one of my favorite mezzes to serve with Kofta Kebab or Pita Bread.
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Giardiniera (Italian Pickled Vegetables)
These crisp Italian pickles are surprisingly easy to make and so handy to keep at the ready in your fridge! Mix into antipasto salad, add to your cheese board or sandwiches, serve as a refreshing side to roasted meat–the list goes on!
Spaghetti sauce is so easy to make using a few staple ingredients you may already have on hand! Perfectly thick and packed with flavor, you’ll be ditching that store-bought pasta sauce in no time!
Mediterranean Breads
No knead bread has been around for a while now, and once you try it I’m certain homemade bread will be on the weekly rotation. This version yields a tender inside spotted with olives and crispy crust perfect for dipping in olive oil or sopping up the broth from your favorite soup recipes.
Once you master this crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside Italian bread you’ll make it on repeat! This recipe comes with all the tips and tricks you need, plus, you’ll love the big flavors from rosemary and roasted garlic! Use it to make pizza or a vegetarian focaccia sandwich.
If you don’t have a Middle Eastern bakery near you, then you should for sure try making your own perfect, pillowy pita bread! This is an easy recipe that takes a few ingredients you probably already have. And you can make pita bread in the oven or a skillet. Pita freezes well, so you can make a big batch if you like!
Mediterranean Desserts
Everyone enjoys a treat from time to time and desserts are a welcome part of a balanced lifestyle. We lean toward desserts made with olive oil and less sugar, but all of the flavor, color, and beauty you can handle! If all else fails, fruit salad is a wonderful way to end a meal.
A lovely dessert or an indulgent snack paired with a cup of floral green tea, this simple loaf cake made with Greek yogurt and buttery olive oil has just a hint of vanilla flavor. It makes it a great canvas for using up some leftover fruit salad. This recipe also happens to be the base for sweet and nutty Pistachio Cake.
I am forever and always a baklava fan, but it turns out, many of our readers are too! Without fail every year, thousands of people will make this nutty baklava recipe with perfectly honeyed layers of phyllo. Best part? aklava is a great make-ahead dessert because it’s even better the next day. And if you’re looking for a fun, modern take on it, try cheesecake baklava!
Orange Cardamom Olive Oil Cake
Originally published in The Mediterranean Dish Cookbook, this one is the top dessert of the year! There is no cake as moist as an olive oil cake, in my humble opinion. But that’s not all…this cake is laced with a little cardamom and a good bit of orange! Serve it with tea or your favorite hot drink.
Persian love cake is a moist and light cake flavored with citrus, cardamom, cinnamon, and rosewater. Finished with a tart lemon glaze and a final sprinkle of rose petals and crushed pistachios. While technically not in the Mediterranean many Persian recipes share flavors with neighboring Mediterranean countries. The use of rosewater among them.
*This post is updated every year to reflect readers’ choices and top Mediterranean recipes for the given year. Browse all Mediterranean recipes here.
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Love all the recipes! What would suggest using if you arent a fan of feta or olives