Food & Cooking Recipes Recipes by Region 20 Mediterranean Recipes You'll Want to Make for Dinner Tonight Drawing inspiration from around the Mediterranean region, these healthy dinner recipes spotlight fish, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and legumes. By Randi Gollin Randi Gollin Randi Gollin is a freelance food writer and editor who has been covering food, travel, and fashion for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines Published on June 27, 2024 Close Photo: Johnny Miller What are Mediterranean recipes? The Mediterranean covers a lot of ground, spanning not only southern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean—the Balkans, the Middle East, and Northern Africa border the dazzling Mediterranean Sea as well. Each area is renowned for its distinctive flavors, but there's also a common culinary thread, with an emphasis on plant-forward dishes and healthy fats. We've rounded up dinner ideas that capture the spirit of the Mediterranean diet. These recipes spotlight olive oil, seafood, legumes like lentils and chickpeas, whole grains, nuts, olives, and fruits and vegetables, with moderate amounts of poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt. There's almost no red meat, butter, and processed foods. Try these 20 recipes—and bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your table. 26 One-Pot Vegetarian Recipes to Add to Your Weekly Dinner Rotation 01 of 20 Greek Mezze Salad Armando Rafael Inspired by the small plates known as "mezzes" that traditionally crowd Mediterranean and Middle Eastern tables, this salad-for-dinner is anchored by savory roasted chickpeas, a lemony yogurt sauce, and simple-prep vegetables like cucumber and radish. View Recipe 02 of 20 Mediterranean Pasta With Artichokes, Olives, and Tomatoes The very essence of the Mediterranean, this simple vegetarian pasta features artichokes and grape tomatoes, plus plenty of Kalamata olives and garlic. A generous splash of white wine ties the flavors together. View Recipe 03 of 20 Braised Fish With Fennel and Tomato Marcus Nilsson A braise often cooks long, but not when fish filets are the ingredient. The firm-fleshed fish, such as grouper, halibut, sea bass, or snapper, takes mere minutes to cook for this sunny dish. The braising liquid is infused with flavor first by cooking together the tomatoes, white wine, fennel, garlic, and lemon. View Recipe 04 of 20 Classic Minestrone The harmonious flavors start with carrots, onions, celery, onions, and rosemary sauteed in olive oil and build with the addition of whole canned tomatoes. Hearty cannellini beans, Savoy cabbage, potatoes, and green beans seal the deal: this soup is dinner-perfect. View Recipe 05 of 20 Spinach With Orzo and Feta No Mediterranean round-up is complete without shining a light on mint and feta. The two ingredients pair beautifully with the salty cheese, offsetting the sweet, fresh herb. View Recipe 06 of 20 Spanish Cod With Chorizo and Fennel Sidney Bensimon Fennel, Spanish chorizo, cherry tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and orange zest combine for an out-of-this-world, Mediterranean-style meal in a packet. Bundle everything in parchment, roast, and serve with toasted slices of baguette. View Recipe 07 of 20 Tian Provençal With Polenta Bryan Gardner As Francophiles may know, a tian is the name of the shallow dish in which this casserole-like main is baked, as well as the savory vegetable creation itself, a staple of the Provence region in the south of France. Our version is made with layers of zucchini, eggplant, leeks, tomatoes, and comforting polenta. View Recipe 08 of 20 Martha's Lamb and Squash Tagine Cinnamon sticks, pitted prunes, onion, garlic, and tomato paste come together to infuse lamb shoulder and butternut squash with incredible flavor here. It's a memorable dish you're sure to put in heavy rotation. View Recipe 09 of 20 Baked Chicken Legs With Chickpeas, Olives, and Greens Johnny Miller A heady spice mixture—featuring toasted and ground coriander seeds—plus shallots, leafy greens, and roasted chickpeas elevate this one-pan chicken dish to transcendent heights. A colorful cupful of olives and the juice of an orange drive the Mediterranean theme home. View Recipe 10 of 20 Turkey Meatballs in Apricot Sauce With Mint and Almonds Marcus Nilsson Dried Turkish apricots steeped with a cinnamon stick in chicken broth punch up these subtly spiced turkey meatballs. Allow enough time before cooking to let the balls chill in the fridge, which helps the bread crumbs hydrate and the meatballs retain their shape. View Recipe 11 of 20 Baked Fish With Summer Squash Con Poulos Light, fresh, and filling, this easy entree draws on the sunny flavors of the Mediterranean, pairing cod or halibut filets with zucchini, capers, thyme, and olive oil. Pair it with rice, as the recipe suggests, or with polenta. View Recipe 12 of 20 Falafel Combine chickpeas, herbs, and spices any which way, and you've got the makings of something good. Form the mixture into patties and fry it, and you're really in Mediterranean heaven. Serve with pita bread, tomatoes, red onion, romaine, and tahini dressing. View Recipe 13 of 20 Baked Shrimp With Tomatoes and Feta Fresh mint, bubbling feta cheese, and a fragrant tomato sauce take baked shrimp to the next level. In fact, one bite may be all it takes to transport your taste buds to the Greek Isles. View Recipe 14 of 20 Mediterranean Chicken Tina Rupp Roasting a simple chicken breast with capers, olives, and grape tomatoes transforms it into a Mediterranean dish. View Recipe 15 of 20 Chickpea and Butternut Squash Stew Marcus Nilsson Harissa, the Tunisian red pepper chile paste, brings the heat to this tomato-rich vegetarian stew, while cumin and paprika lend additional intrigue. For even more flavor, consider cooking your own chickpeas instead of reaching for handy cans. View Recipe 16 of 20 Roasted Chicken With Dates, Citrus, and Olives Marcus Nilsson Sweet and tangy ingredients, including pitted dates, lemons and oranges, and green olives, give this easy-bake chicken a Mediterranean flair. View Recipe 17 of 20 Chicken and Polenta Puttanesca Melts Kate Sears On nights when time is short, break out this filling dish made with precooked polenta, thin chicken cutlets, and store-bought marinara zipped up puttanesca-style with capers, olives, and garlic. The finishing touch: a smidgen of mozzarella cheese. View Recipe 18 of 20 Steamed Clams in Garlic Saffron Broth Lisa Hubbard Littleneck clams meet their match in this savory dish. The broth is lush with garlic, shallots, white wine, saffron, tomato, and parsley, so consider having a loaf of crusty bread on hand for dipping. View Recipe 19 of 20 Salmon and Zucchini Baked in Parchment Zucchini, dill, and lemon, reminiscent of summer in Greece, lend loads of oomph to salmon, packed with protein, vitamin A, and omega fatty acids. Parchment paper makes dinner prep a cinch. View Recipe 20 of 20 Arugula Salad With French Lentils, Smoked Chicken, and Roasted Peppers Earl Carter Mediterranean basics, including red bell peppers, lentils, and olive oil unite with fresh thyme and matchstick slices of chicken breast. Bright green arugula ups the plate (and nutritional) appeal. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit