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31 Mediterranean Diet Recipes That Will Convince You To Join The Club

A diet with hummus and cheese on it? We are here. For. It.

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PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Any time a diet encourages us to eat all of our favorite foods (i.e., hummus, salmon, and plenty of feta), we're absolutely in support of it. So it's no surprise that the Mediterranean diet is a wildly popular (and delicious) way of living and we've got the recipes to get you started. Another bonus? A glass of red wine or two a day is encouraged(!). So let's just say, these 31 Mediterranean Diet-approved recipes will be very easy to follow. 😉

The #1 diet in 2023 per the U.S. News and World Report, the Mediterranean diet takes its cues from the eating habits and lifestyles of people who live along the Mediterranean coast, who, as researchers have found, tend to live longer and have fewer incidences of cancer and heart problems. While there's not an exact regimen to follow, this diet involves a few relatively easy guidelines: eating more seafood and poultry (and less red meat), consuming lots of fresh produce (like tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini), and swapping butter for olive oil and whole grains for processed carbs.

So many of these recipes are basically the poster children for trying the Mediterranean diet, without seeming like the "bird food" diet you might be thinking of. Our feta, tomato, and spinach-stuffed salmon is not only beautiful and healthy, but a true weeknight winner. The same is 100% the case for our garlicky Greek chicken, which is packed with bright lemon, fresh zucchini, and asparagus that'll have you eating very well and make you feel like like you're in Mykonos. On a time crunch but want to make something delicious and feel-good? Our one-pan salmon and orzo is just the thing.

1

Homemade Hummus

hummus drizzled with olive oil and paprika served with pita
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Hummus is one of our favorite dips, made even better by how simple it is to make. Made from blending chickpeas, tahini, and a few other simple ingredients in a food processor, it’s the easiest last-minute appetizer or satisfying snack to throw together. After multiple rounds of testing, we found our favorite hack for making a creamy and smooth hummus with a rich and nutty sesame flavor from scratch—no chickpea soaking required!

Get the Homemade Hummus recipe.

2

Best Greek Salad

greek salad with cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and feta
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING BARRETT WASHBURNE

Filled with fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a simple dressing made of ingredients you might already have in your fridge, this bright salad is one you’ll turn to all spring and summer long. Best part? This Mediterranean recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare, making it a perfect last-minute addition to bring to a potluck.

Get the Best Greek Salad recipe.

3

Mediterranean Chicken

mediterranean chicken
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

This one-pot recipe is the perfect way to spruce up chicken breasts with bright Mediterranean flavors without dirtying all the pots and pans in your kitchen. Serve it over some couscous for the perfect bright (and cozy!) spring meal.

Get the Mediterranean Chicken recipe.

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4

Grilled Artichoke

grilled artichokes topped with avocado, pistachos, and sesame seeds
PARKER FEIERBACH

Artichokes are the roses of the vegetable kingdom, and their beautiful look and subtle flavors are well worth the work, especially if you're cooking to impress. Here, we're pairing them with smoky flavors from the grill, a cool, green pistachio-yogurt cream, fried garlic chips, and a pistachio-sesame topping. 😍

Get the Grilled Artichoke recipe.

5

Watermelon Quinoa Salad

watermelon quinoa salad garnished with feta and mint
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

We love to snack on bites of watermelon all summer long, but one of our favorite ways to enjoy the juicy, sweet fruit is in a refreshing salad. With mint, feta, red onion, cucumber, and a balsamic glaze, this one's got everything you love about traditional watermelon salad, but with an additional protein boost from one of our favorite grains, fluffy and nutritious quinoa.

Get the Watermelon Quinoa Salad recipe.

6

Feta, Spinach & Tomato Stuffed Salmon

roasted salmon fillet stuffed with feta, spinach, and tomato and topped with crushed red pepper and scallions
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Oven-roasted salmon is already delicious on its own, but adding a filling made of briny feta cheese, earthy cooked spinach, and savory-sweet cherry tomatoes will take your favorite fish up a few notches. To finish it off, the salmon gets topped with a mix of scallions, crushed red pepper, and yep—extra feta. Make this a full meal with a side of crispy roasted potatoes or wild rice!

Get the Feta, Spinach & Tomato Stuffed Salmon recipe.

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7

Roasted Tomatoes

roasted tomatoes on a sheet tray with flaky sea salt and black pepper
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

These ultra-juicy roasted cherry tomatoes create their own sauce as they roast, an irresistible mixture of tomato juice and olive oil that’s every bit as good as the *actual* tomatoes. Don’t waste a drop–toss the entire tray into some freshly boiled pasta, spoon them over ricotta toasts for an A+ appetizer, or eat them straight up because they’re sweet and delicious. 😋

Get the Roasted Tomatoes recipe.

8

Watermelon Gazpacho

watermelon gazpacho
PHOTO: ANDREA MONZO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Though we'll always love a classic, tomato-based gazpacho, the addition of watermelon gives the soup a delicious subtle sweetness we can't get enough of. Full of juicy, bright fruits and veggies, this no-cook soup is equal parts satisfying and refreshing.

Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.

9

Greek Chicken

garlicky greek chicken
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

If you're looking for a simple—but super-satisfying—way to switch up your weeknight chicken dinner rotation, this is it. All it takes is a few basic ingredients (that you most likely already have on hand) to transform chicken thighs into an herby, garlicky dream.

Get the Greek Chicken recipe.

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10

Burrata Salad

burrata salad

Think of burrata salad as Caprese salad's fancy cousin. Peak-summer tomatoes are topped with luscious burrata (think a shell of mozzarella filled with a soft, creamy filling) and garnished with a shower of peppery basil leaves and savory chives. 😍

Get the Burrata Salad recipe.

11

One-Pan Tuna Pasta

one pan tuna pasta
ANDREW BUI

Using canned or jarred tuna in pasta is a cheap and delicious way to add some protein to a meal. Italians do it with pasta al tonno, and Americans do it (in our own way) with tuna noodle casserole. This recipe is a bit of a riff on pasta puttanesca, using familiar ingredients such as capers, anchovies, and olives.

Get the One-Pan Tuna Pasta recipe.

12

One-Pan Salmon and Orzo

one pan salmon and orzo
Erik bernstein

Not all great dinners need to be complicated to make. This one-pot meal makes cleanup a breeze, but its real victory is how simple everything is from start to finish. Simple ingredients come together to make a flavorful salmon dinner in less than an hour.

Get the One-Pan Salmon and Orzo recipe.

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13

Zucchini Soup

zucchini soup
PHOTO: ANDREA MONZO; FOOD STYLIST: SPENCER RICHARDS

Traditionally zucchini soup has been made one of two ways: either cooked to death or pureed raw. This recipe combines the best of both approaches, starting with sautéing garlic, then adding in raw zucchini, which blends into a velvety soup.

Get the Zucchini Soup recipe.

14

Caprese Asparagus

caprese asparagus with mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and balsamic
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

From our Caprese chicken to our Caprese bites and chicken-avocado Caprese salad, we can't get enough of the refreshing burst of flavors when you combine sweet tomatoes, cheesy mozzarella, and fresh basil. When searching for our go-to summer side, we decided to give classic asparagus the same treatment. This easy, extra-cheesy side comes together in 30 minutes, making it the perfect last-minute addition to your pasta or chicken dinner.

Get the Caprese Asparagus recipe.

15

Lemony Chicken & Potatoes With Feta

sheetpan roasted lemony chicken and potatoes with olivealmond sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Freshen up a classic dish, lemon chicken and potatoes, by spooning the most flavorful olive, almond, and parsley sauce over top. Prepared from the pan drippings, the sauce is so simple to make without getting out an extra pot. The best part? This entire recipe is made in just one dish, making dinner (and cleanup) easier than ever.

Get the Lemony Chicken & Potatoes With Feta recipe.

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16

Niçoise Salad

nicoise salad
Parker feierbach

According to food historians, the first Niçoise salad (from Nice, on France’s southeastern coast) contained only tomatoes, olive oil, and anchovies. Over the years, ingredients have been added and subtracted, so we figured we’d follow our stomachs and gather some of our favorites: crunchy cucumbers, tender boiled potatoes and green beans, briny black olives and capers, jammy boiled eggs, tuna, and a punch of salty umami thanks to anchovy fillets.

Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.

17

Blueberry Peach Feta Salad

blueberry peach feta and cucumber salad with basil shallot white balsamic dressing
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Blueberries, peaches, cucumbers, AND feta? You’ll be amazed by how well this combination comes together in salad form. This might become the most vibrant, elegant salad to bring to your next potluck picnic in the park or summer BBQ dinner.

Get the Blueberry Peach Feta Salad recipe.

18

Feta & Herb Crusted Salmon

feta and herb crusted salmon with lemons
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

For this Mediterranean-inspired salmon, you just arrange your fish on a sheet tray (lined with aluminum foil for the easiest cleanup), sprinkle on the toppings, and bake it for 25 minutes. No flipping, no sticking, and no mess!

Get the Feta & Herb Crusted Salmon recipe.

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19

Cucumber Salad

a salad bowl filled with sliced cucumber rounds and thinly sliced raw red onion tossed in a dressing made with whole mustard seeds and chopped fresh dill and chives
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Cucumber salad is a spring and summer picnic staple, and for good reason: When tossed in a bright vinegar-based dressing and packed with thinly sliced onions, cukes can withstand warm temperatures and sit out at a sunny outdoor gathering for hours.

Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.

20

Farro and White Bean Salad

farro and white bean salad
Joel goldberg

We love a giant grain salad that is full of so many beautiful things! This farro and white bean salad has roasted veggies along with crunchy veggies like bell pepper and radicchio. It's all tossed in a bright lemony dressing and finished with some goat cheese to add the creamy tanginess. It's as flavorful as it is beautiful and we can't get enough of it.

Get the Farro and White Bean Salad recipe.

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