From Greek Grilled Chicken Salad and Frittata di Pasta to Spanish-Style Cod With Chorizo and Chickpeas, this collection of simple meals showcases the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean.
Think briny feta, olives, capers, warm spices, bright lemon, tangy yogurt, and plenty of garlic and fruity olive oil. These flavor-packed recipes come together in 30 minutes or less and are guaranteed to transport you to the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast with each bite—no passport required.
01 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: 4-Ingredient Mediterranean Salmon
“Mediterranean is a very broad term, and this recipe only just skims the surface of this wonderfully vast and varied cuisine. Fennel seeds, garlic, and lemon are common ingredients in Italian and Greek cuisines, both of which I’ve pulled quite loosely from with delicious results.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer
02 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sabrina Modelle
Get Recipe: Mediterranean Chickpea Bowls With Tahini Sauce
“While I love all the various flavors and spices found in Mediterranean food, one of the things I find that I like most about this cuisine is the way textures, colors, and even temperatures are often combined in a single dish.” —Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer
03 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photography by Morgan Hunt Ward / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hausser / Food Styling by Tori Cox
Get Recipe: Spaghetti alla Puveriello (Poor Man’s Spaghetti)
“It has just four main ingredients and takes little time or energy to put together, but the returns are magnificent. Creamy and cheesy, with a carbonara-esque sauce that coats each strand, it’s my go-to for a low-lift pasta dinner.” —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor
04 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Get Recipe: Mediterranean Mezze Platter
“If you think the colorful snack board suppers flooding Instagram and Pinterest are new on the scene, think again. Folks throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East have been doing these snacky set-ups for generations, only they call it mezze.” —Katie Morford, Recipe Developer
05 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Greek Grilled Chicken Salad
“My favorite aspect of this recipe is how quickly it comes together—in just half an hour, to be exact. After you whisk together a simple vinaigrette, you use half to quickly marinate the chicken and save half to dress the salad. The dressing makes the chicken extra juicy and moist, and gives the salad a bright, garlicky, herby flavor.” —Rebecca Fennel, Recipe Developer
06 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: 5-Ingredient Tuna Niçoise Melts
“I tapped into my memory of traveling in the sunny south of France, where I fell in love with tuna Niçoise salads. I took my favorite parts of this French classic—good-quality canned tuna, ripe tomatoes, and briny olives—and mixed them up for a light salad topping. The juiciness of the tomatoes meant I didn’t need any mayonnaise here.” —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer
07 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Dolma and Ground Beef Skillet
“This dinner tastes like it took hours to make, thanks to the rich flavor of the ground beef combined with the tang of the dolmas, but from start to finish, you’ll need less than 30 minutes to get this hearty main on the table.” —Megan Scott, Former Senior Editor
08 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Frittata di Pasta (Pasta Frittata)
“I’ve made this dish with all kinds of pasta shapes. At home, we especially love farfalle—the little butterfly-shaped pasta—but almost any leftover pasta works here. Spaghetti, linguine, penne, or rigatoni all cook beautifully in this skillet frittata. And don’t be afraid if your pasta has vegetables in it—it will taste even better when combined with the eggs.” —Shayma Saadat, Recipe Developer
09 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Microwave Shakshuka
“There are many versions—this one has bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, and is made in the microwave, perfect for when you don’t have access to a stove top or don’t want to heat up the kitchen. It’s full of spices, like cumin, coriander, and a pinch of cinnamon. The smells remind us of being in a spice market or baking gingerbread, so warm and comforting!” —Myo Quinn, Former Associate Editorial Director
10 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Get Recipe: Chicken Souvlaki
“Souvlaki—small pieces of meat or vegetables grilled on skewers—are popular all over Greece and often served with warm flatbread. Top this with a tangy yogurt sauce and a riot of fresh vegetables, and you’ve got a knockout dinner.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer
11 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: Spanish-Style Cod With Chorizo and Chickpeas
“Spanish-style chorizo is the key ingredient in my Spanish-inspired baked cod dish. Not to be confused with the soft, raw Mexican sausage also called chorizo, Spanish chorizo is a dry, cured, salami-like sausage—think of it as pepperoni’s Spanish cousin.” —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer
12 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Ward / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Priscilla Montiel
Get Recipe: Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Sandwich)
“Pan bagnat is to the area around Nice (in the French Mediterranean) as muffuletta is to New Orleans. You find the sandwich on every corner—in bakeries, markets, and even at stands by the beach. It is basically a salade Niçoise in a sandwich, but oh, what a sandwich!” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer
13 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph
Get Recipe: Italian Beans and Greens
“The combination of classic ingredients like good-quality olive oil, punchy garlic, bitter escarole, tender cannellini beans, and plenty of parmesan makes this pure Italian comfort food. And the savory, garlicky broth is perfect for mopping up with bread.” —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers
14 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: Easy Spinach-Feta Pasta
“To make my pasta-fied version of spanakopita, you’ll make a purée of spinach, garlic, oregano, feta, and olive oil, and spike it with lemon juice. This bright green sauce coats the pasta. It’s delicious tossed with warm penne and served right away or chilled and served as a pasta salad.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer
15 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne
Get Recipe: Vegetable Couscous Skillet
“I often throw in a can of drained chickpeas or a handful of toasted almonds. Adding spices like paprika, cumin, and coriander gives the couscous a lovely color and hint of Moroccan flavor. Top with whatever herbs or greens you have around and a sprinkling of cheese, and you’re done.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer
16 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
Get Recipe: Baked Shrimp in Tomato Feta Sauce
“Conventional cooking wisdom says that you should never pair seafood with cheese. The one glaring example of where this convention does not hold true, and in fact begs to be broken, is with a classic Greek dish called shrimp saganaki or shrimp Santorini. It pairs shrimp with tomatoes and feta cheese and is absolutely delicious in every rule-breaking way.” —Elise Bauer, Founder
17 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Orzo and Dolma Skillet
“Chopped dolmas are folded in for little savory, fragrant bites throughout. Finish with a sprinkle of fresh dill, and you’ve got cozy comfort food that’s hearty and vibrant. Minimal effort and maximum flavor perfectly describes how a weeknight dinner should be.” —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer
18 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Salmon With Feta Sauce
“Ease is the name of the game with this delectable salmon sheet pan dinner, where minimal prep and a tight ingredient list are key. You can get everything prepped and roasting in about five minutes, then just let the oven work its magic.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer
19 of 19
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: Yasmin Fahr’s Tomato Rice with Chicken and Green Beans
“Using pre-cooked chicken, this one-pot dish is ready in 30 minutes, but it tastes like it simmered all day on the stove. (Psst! A quick tip: Remove the chicken from the refrigerator so that it comes to room temperature and the meat accepts flavor more easily.)” —Stephanie Burt, Recipe Developer
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