The Mediterranean diet has many benefits and has proven time and time again to be tremendously beneficial for human health. Perhaps you are interested in the Mediterranean diet but are unsure of what meals to cook.
You will find that most of the dishes included in the diet are simple and straightforward. You will want to keep things healthy with plenty of fresh and flavorful ingredients.
Listed below are a few of the best seven easy Mediterranean dishes you can make at home.
Table of Contents
1. Chickpea Salad
Chickpea salad is a delicious and healthy Mediterranean dish that is simple to make at home. It is a great source of plant-based protein and is packed with vitamins and minerals. Start by cooking a pot of chickpeas until they are tender.
Drain and cool them, then add diced tomatoes, chopped red onion, parsley, feta cheese, and olive oil. To give it added flavor and texture, you can also add roasted red pepper, pitted black olives, red and yellow bell peppers, and capers. Toss everything together to combine the flavors.
Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature for a light and refreshing meal. For a complete meal, serve the salad with a loaf of crusty bread. Chickpea salad is a nourishing and delicious dish that is simple to make, making it a great option when you don’t have a lot of time to cook.
2. Grilled Lamb
This easy meal to make at home begins with a fresh, succulent piece of lamb, which is seasoned with herbs, spices, and olive oil. The lamb is then grilled slowly over medium-high heat for about half an hour until tender and juicy. To bring out the flavors of the Mediterranean, you can add additional herbs — such as garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, or basil — to the seasoning mix before grilling.
To make it even healthier, you can add garlic or minced onion to the seasoning mix as well. You can serve the Grilled Lamb hot on top of a bed of Mediterranean-style rice, and lentils, or with roasted vegetables on the side. And it is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for lunch, dinner, or even a special occasion.
3. Grilled Shrimp
Grilled shrimp is one of the easiest and most delicious dishes to prepare at home. It is also healthy which makes it an even better choice for a weeknight meal. Start with selecting fresh uncooked shrimp as the base for the dish.
To season the shrimp, you can use olive oil, dried oregano, garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice. Mix all the ingredients into a marinade, pour over the shrimp, and leave to marinade for 30 minutes. Once the marinade is done, thread the shrimp on skewers and grill.
It will take around 4-5 minutes per side for the shrimp to be cooked through. The result is a perfectly tender and juicy shrimp cooked in a Mediterranean style. Serve with a side of quinoa, roasted vegetables, or a salad for a complete meal!
4. Hummus
It is made with cooked chickpeas, garlic, tahini, lemon, olive oil, and some hot sauce. You can prepare the ingredients according to your own taste. Gently mash the chickpeas in a medium-sized bowl. Add the garlic, olive oil, tahini, and lemon juice.
Blend until the ingredients are just incorporated. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings accordingly. Transfer the hummus to a shallow serving plate and garnish with a few slices of olives, cherry tomatoes, parsley, and a sprinkle of paprika.
Serve with crusty bread, pita chips, or fresh vegetable crudité for a delicious snack or appetizer. Hummus is easy to make and tastes great – definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a simple Mediterranean dish to make at home.
5. Marinated Feta
You start by combining crumbled feta cheese with high-quality extra virgin olive oil; then start chopping your preferred herbs such as oregano and parsley, and adding them to the cheese mixture. And add finely chopped garlic cloves, capers, and shallots.
Once everything has been combined, place the mixture in a sealed container and pour some more extra virgin olive oil over it. You can leave it in the refrigerator for a few hours or even overnight to create a delicious flavor. When you are ready to serve, you can either spoon the mixture over grilled vegetables, or you can put it in a salad.
6. Pesto Sauce
Made of fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, toasted pine nuts, and grated parmesan, pesto sauce is sure to put a zing in your taste life. All the ingredients are blended together to create a savory and intense flavor that is sure to please even the pickiest eater. This sauce easily pairs with a variety of dishes, from pasta to pizza to salads. Other ingredients may also be added, such as sun-dried tomatoes, grilled zucchini, or olives.
For those who like a bit of zing, a dash of chili flakes can also liven up the flavor. Pesto Sauce truly exemplifies how a few ingredients can create something of great depth and flavor. It is a must-try dish for any Mediterranean food enthusiast.
7. Spaghetti Aglio E Olio
The dish is quite simple and straightforward: spaghetti, olive oil, and garlic. The combination of these three ingredients creates a delicious and healthy meal. The simple ingredients create a unique taste that is both garlicky and subtly sweet.
While you can experiment with additions such as red pepper flakes for more flavor, the basic ingredients provide all the flavors you need. This classic Italian dish takes minutes to prepare and is sure to impress guests. Enjoy it as a light lunch or combine it with protein-rich vegetables for a main course.
Once you discover the deliciousness of Spaghetti Aglio E Olio, you’ll find yourself wondering why you had never thought to make it in the first place. Are you are still craving Mediterranean cuisine and the Mediterranean diet, you can find more information here.
Exploring 7 Easy Mediterranean Dishes to Make at Home
The delicious seven easy Mediterranean dishes that you can make in the comfort of your own home are definitely worth exploring. They’re a great way to bring amazing flavors to your dinner table.
So if you’re looking for a healthy, tasty way to add variety to your weekly menu, why not give some of these Mediterranean dishes a try? You won’t regret it.
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