Calling all big flavor / fresh veggie / easy dinner lovers! I have some good news coming your way in the form of tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, and… wait for it… so much cheese!
This collection of recipes is hitting just right with cheesy, herb-speckled, olive-oil-drenched goodness. It is nutritious and easy eating, all creamy and textured and salty and jazzed up with a kick of garlic. This is officially the greatest day ever.
1. Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas is a Spanish dish of roasted potatoes that is calling your name.
These potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and just delicious in every single bite.
They are smothered with a smoky salsa and a creamy garlic aioli, and they are highly addictive.
Consider yourself warned!
2. Margherita Pizza
Who doesn’t love pizza? I am right there with you.
While I definitely won’t say no to a meat-filled pizza, my heart belongs to this Margherita.
We are talking fresh tomato sauce, basil, tomatoes, and vegan mozzarella piled on top of a homemade crust. It is simple, but it is also full of color and big flavor.
3. Mediterranean Hummus Bowl
Brighten your day with this colorful hummus bowl! This healthy breakfast, lunch, or dinner option is hearty and healthy and just makes you feel good.
Chickpeas, quinoa, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, spinach, olives, feta cheese, and obviously hummus combine to make one delectable bowl.
4. Greek Chickpea Soup
Greek chickpea soup is exactly what you need to warm you up on a chilly evening. It is hearty and soulful and just so delicious.
It uses simple ingredients like onions, chickpeas, lemon, and olive oil, so it is one of the easiest recipes to pull off. But don’t let that fool you because it is also one of the coziest and tastiest soups there is.
5. Mediterranean Pasta with Tomatoes and Vegan Feta
This pasta dish is brimming with roasted tomatoes, fresh basil, and vegan feta cheese. It gets tossed with a flavor-packed garlic olive oil dressing, and this salad is truly special.
The olive tapenade, which is a rich appetizer made of olives, capers, lemon juice, and thyme, adds to the exquisite flavors. I am not drooling, you are!
6. Skordalia (Greek Garlic and Potato Dip)
Skordalia is a Greek dip made of garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and mashed potatoes. It is ridiculously smooth and creamy and absolutely addictive.
This recipe jazzes up the classic with crushed almonds, and that nutty flavor makes the dip a total winner.
7. Mediterranean Yellow Rice
Elevate your plain rice with cumin, turmeric, garlic, and cilantro! You can transform the humble grain into a mind-blowing dish with just simple ingredients.
This Mediterranean yellow rice gets an A+ for color and flavor.
8. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Vegan Feta
This pasta salad is as colorful as can be! It is loaded with tomatoes, olives, parsley, and cucumber, so it is nutritious and delicious without a doubt.
The vegan feta cheese gives it a rich flavor like no other. This salad is filling because it contains orzo, which is a short-cut pasta that looks like rice, so it is a complete meal on its own!
9. Mediterranean Lentil Soup
Hearty lentils are the star of this soup. Onions, garlic, tomatoes, bay leaves, and vegetables give it playful textures and flavors.
This is Mediterranean comfort food at its finest.
10. Caponata
Caponata is a Sicilian staple that highlights eggplant in all its glory! You can spread this creamy treat on crusty bread for a sweet, savory, and sour appetizer.
11. Italian Oven Roasted Vegetables
Yellow squash, potatoes, carrots, beets, zucchini, onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms get coated with olive oil and Italian seasoning and roasted to perfection. It really could not get any better than that.
Pro-tip: cut up your vegetables in uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
12. Hummus
Ending this list is the humble hummus, which is the quintessential Middle Eastern dip. Why get store-bought when you can make it yourself at a fraction of the cost?
Chickpeas, tahini, and garlic are all you need to create this mouthwatering treat!
13. Mediterranean Vegetable and Chickpea Stew
This vegetable stew is so rich and savory that you won’t even notice it doesn’t contain meat.
The combination of chickpeas, eggplant, bell peppers, squash, and zucchini is more than enough to fill your belly and satisfy your taste buds!
14. Spanokopita (Greek Spinach Pie)
If you are not a fan of spinach, this pie will surely change your mind. Spanakopita is a delectable pie that features filo pastry, spinach, and feta cheese.
It is crispy, flaky, creamy, and bursting with umami flavors! This pie is also vegan thanks to a plant-based feta substitute. Yay!
15. Italian Wedding Soup
Italian wedding soup is a popular menu item in Italian restaurants in the US, but do you know where it got its name from?
It is called “minsetra maritata,” which means “married soup,” and the name refers to the way the flavors of the ingredients marry once combined.
In this dish, vegetables, pasta, and vegan meatballs marry to make one stunning soup.
16. Tomato and Butter Bean Dip
Your chips have never tasted better than they do with this creamy and savory tomato and butter bean dip.
Fresh tomatoes, rich butter, and creamy beans? You really can’t go wrong with this delectable combination!
17. Greek Green Beans
This Greek recipe is called fasolakia and it is made of green beans and potatoes in rich olive oil and tomato sauce.
The components may be simple, but this appetizer is bursting with flavor! A sprinkling of herbs and a splash of lemon juice give it even more oomph.
18. Greek Eggplant Dip
Speaking of delectable dips, here is another one for ya! Eggplant isn’t typically present in classic American dips, but it is in Greek cuisine, and it is awesome.
Roasted eggplant, garlic oil, and lemon juice get mashed together to create one epic dip! What a great way to get the party started.
19. Mediterranean Cucumber Tomato Salad
This salad is filled with cooling cucumbers and juicy tomatoes, which is really all you need to make a delicious appetizer!
It is drizzled with a dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, and mint, so this salad is as refreshing as can be.
20. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas
Quinoa and chickpeas join forces to create one hefty and tasty salad. This dish is one colorful bowl of nutrition!
Cherry tomatoes, olives, onions, basil, and an olive oil-balsamic vinaigrette add big color and flavor to the salad.
