Fruits, veggies and a daily glass of wine? Sounds like a diet we can get behind. Drop regular diet stress by simply eating what’s natural, the Mediterranean way. It’s easy to nail this cuisine, you just have to go for unprocessed foods (that still taste wonderful btw), control your portions and, most importantly, make sure to focus on chow worth really enjoying. Then, just make the most of it. These 25 ripe and delicious recipes will keep your heart beating healthily — maybe even forever!
1. Creamy Caprese Quinoa Bake: Talk about comfort food that’s actually good for you. While cheese isn’t exactly a member of the Mediterranean club, you can use light cream for this recipe to make it diet-approved. (via Half Baked Harvest)
2. Eggplant With Tomato Compote, Toasted Almond and Mint: This is one for all the Paleos out there — nothing but natural ingredients. (via An Edible Mosaic)
3. Balsamic Chicken With Honey Roasted Tomatoes: Chicken and fish are the accepted meats in this white-meat-friendly diet. While meat intake is only suggested once a week, there are about a billion ways to make that day’s meal ultra-tasty. (via The Realistic Nutritionist)
4. Tomato Fritters: Corn fritters are a favorite, but these tomato fritters are better for you and taste just as good. (via Souvlaki for the Soul)
5. Garlic Yogurt Baked Chicken: You… you right there with the breadcrumbs and lemon and garlic… we want you. (via Diethood)
6. Roasted Cauliflower Chickpea + Quinoa Salad With Jalepeño Dressing: This might be the most filling meatless salad of all time. (via My Darling Lemon Thyme)
7. Market Mediterranean Pizza: Redefine pizza with this gluten-free, grain-free, lactose-free AND meat-free creation. (via Tartine and Apron Strings)
8. Grilled Eggplant With Tomatoes, Basil and Feta: Are you seeing a pattern here? A delicious, vegetable pattern you can’t get enough of? (via Martha Stewart)
9. Mediterranean Veggie Dip: Your party attendees and their bodies will love you for this tasty, healthy treat. (via BHG)
10. Baked Eggplant Penne Pasta: Discredit the serving size because we won’t know how to stop eating this. (via Diethood)
11. Roasted Pumpkin Risotto: Fun fact of the day: Pumpkin is a fruit! A berry to be exact. We’re not even kidding. (via The CozyApron)
12. Tabouleh: This dish may look simple but there’s a lot going on in there. What’s more? It’s a mix of herbs and veg that can be had all year long. So you can enjoy it no matter if there’s snow on the ground or sun in the sky. (via No Recipes)
13. Mediterranean Breakfast Sandwiches: Start your day off right, and you’ll be surprised to find that you’re craving healthy eats the rest of the day, too. (via BHG)
14. Grilled Greek Chicken Salad: Greek salad may seem like an obvious choice for this roundup, but this one is different. This one is served chicken-salad style, aka it’s irresistible. (via How Sweet Eats)
15. Lamb Burgers + Watermelon Salad: The Mediterraneans say red meat is okay once a month. But once you have this delicious looking watermelon salad and lamb burger combo you might be sneaking in a second helping before the 30 days are up. (via Souvlaki for the Soul)
16. Mediterranean Kale and Cannellini Stew With Farro: Be back in five — comfort has gone to the health store. (via BHG)
17. Nicoise Salad With Charred Fish: Look at all that color. Colorful things are good for you… even when it comes to food. (via Feasting at Home)
18. Mediterranean Mushroom Stuffed Tomatoes: Meet stuffed-peppers’ natural, healthy cousin. (via Eat Live Travel Write)
19. Smokey Eggplant Puree With Pine Nuts and Urfa Pepper: DIY baba ghanoush sounds good to us. (via Lottie + Doof)
20. Creamy Cajun Shrimp Spaghetti: This sauce is creamy thanks to the addition of strained yogurt — the healthy way to add decadence. (via Rock Recipes)
21. Fresh Tomato Salad With Smoked Blue Cheese: Substitute blue cheese for feta or cottage cheese to make a true heart-healthy dish. Or if you really want, you can go ahead and stick with the blue cheese. This blogger raves about the combo. And since tomatoes are so good for you, it all evens out, right? (via Foodie with Family)
22. Stuffed Peppers With Tomato Basil Cream Sauce: Use ground chicken instead of beef, and yogurt instead of cream to achieve the perfect Mediterranean-approved stuffed pepper. (via How Sweet Eats)
23. Zucchini Chickpea Burgers: Chickpeas provide a meat-like base for a patty, and zucchini keeps it from drying out. (via Avocado Pesto)
25. Minty Yogurt Parfaits: Yes, please. (via Nosh On It)
25. Coconut Fillo Pie: Getting rid of wheat doesn’t take away baking possibilities. And ending on a sweet note with any diet is important. (via Souvlaki for the Soul)
What other Mediterranean-inspired dishes get your heart thumping? Spread the health in the comments below!
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Isara Krieger
Isara is a photographer who loves words, and a writer who sees the world as a series of photographs. She's an East-to-West-Coast transplant who eats a lot. You can find her foodie insights on her blog Alone With A Cupcake, where she shares her thoughts on the best restaurants in Boston, San Francisco and places in between.
