15 Recipes to Help You Escape to the Mediterranean
May 07, 2020, Updated Sep 26, 2022
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Mamma Mia! Here we go again with more recipes to take your family on an adventure at your own dining table. This time the destination is the sunny Mediterranean!
Sometimes it seems like the COVID-19 lockdown goes On and On and On. Saying So Long to quarantine sure would make us Dancing Queens. For now The Name of the Game is to help flatten the curve, so that next year maybe we can safely say Happy New Year from Santorini.
In the meantime, go Head Over Heels for these 15 recipes to help you escape to the Mediterranean. These dishes are easy enough for anyone to make; you won’t have to send an SOS over them. You can be a Super Trouper by fighting the virus and staying inside while taking your family on a culinary vacation. They’ll be saying Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! another delicious Mediterranean meal!
We’ve included recipes for lunches, snacks, appetizers, and entrees. Whether you’re cooking a Greek or Italian dinner or just looking for some finger foods for movie night, there’s something here for everyone.
1. Greek Salad Kabobs
This is innovation in action: a salad that requires no utensils! Your kids will love building their own skewers, too – simply chop up the veggies first, provide the sticks, and let them have at it.
Recipe: Greek Salad Kabobs
2. Lemon-Whipped Feta Dip
If you’re a feta fan, you won’t be able to get enough of this dip! The saltiness of the feta is brightened with zesty bits of lemon and rounded out with garlic and Italian seasoning.
Recipe: Lemon-Whipped Feta Dip
3. Sweet Kale Flatbread Pizza
Think outside the box with your next homemade pizza… or in this case, the bag! This Sweet Kale Flatbread Pizza uses the Eat Smart® Sweet Kale salad kit to make homemade pizza night easy, fun, and nutritious.
Recipe: Sweet Kale Flatbread Pizza
4. Pasta Alla Norma
This well-known Sicilian dish uses eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and ricotta salata cheese. It’s hearty and flavorful yet not overwhelmingly heavy like some pasta dishes.
Recipe: Pasta Alla Norma
5. Marinated Feta Cheese with Herbs and Garlic
Marinating feta cheese in olive oil, herbs, and garlic takes the flavors from good to amazing. Taking cheese to the next level couldn’t be any easier!
Recipe: Marinated Feta Cheese with Herbs and Garlic
This recipe comes from The Mushroom Council by way of our partners at Monterey Mushrooms. Inspired by the filling of dolmas, these meatballs use a blend of lamb, mushroom, aromatic herbs, and rice. They’re juicy and loaded with flavor, and the simple dipping sauce gives them a tangy twist!
Recipe: Lamb and Mushroom Blended Meatballs with Spiced Cucumber Yogurt Dipping Sauce
7. Grilled Radicchio
Nope, that’s not red cabbage or lettuce… it’s radicchio! While adding radicchio to salads is always a good idea in our book, there’s so much more that can be done with this beautiful veggie.
Recipe: Grilled Radiccio
8. 10-Minute Tzatziki Sauce
Recipe: 10-Minute Tzatziki Sauce
9. Porcini Mushroom and Broccoli Rabe Risotto
Risotto is a creamy Italian dish which is perfectly suited for broccoli rabe. This recipe is still warm and comforting like traditional risotto, but the addition of a broccoli rabe purée makes the flavors brighter and more complex.
Recipe: Porcini Mushroom and Broccoli Rabe Risotto
10. Watermelon Mediterranean Salad
We have our partners at Watermelon Board to thank for this unique salad recipe. Feta cheese and black pepper make it the perfect sweet and savory appetizer, side, or snack for a sunny afternoon.
11. Kohlrabi Linguine with Lemon Butter Shrimp
Mann’s Kohlrabi “Linguine” is a delicious, versatile, ready-made pasta substitute – no spiralizer required! This rich entree will transport you to the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast.
Recipe: Kohlrabi Linguine with Lemon Butter Shrimp
12. Grilled Bread with Pesto Burrata and Tomatoes
Bread, cheese, tomatoes, and pesto. There’s just no better combination in our book! While we love this recipe best on the grill, you can also make it in the oven by placing the bread directly on your oven rack.
Recipe: Grilled Bread with Pesto Burrata and Tomatoes
13. Tuscan Spinach Salad
Some salads are more decadent than others, like this Tuscan Spinach Salad featuring warm spinach and radicchio topped with Gorgonzola cheese, garlic, yellow onions, and toasted walnuts. Pair it with Pasta Alla Norma for an Italian countryside dinner!
Recipe: Tuscan Spinach Salad
14. Cheese Kale and Penne Bake
Introduce your kids to kale through this pasta bake that’s covered in creamy cheese and topped with crunchy breadcrumbs. This hearty and versatile recipe works as a side or a main dish.
Recipe: Cheesy Kale and Penne Bake
15. Grilled Red Bell Peppers with Olives and Feta
Last but certainly not least, Grilled Red Bell Peppers with Olives and Feta is a great side or appetizer with flare only Mediterranean recipes can provide. Whether you make it indoors on a grill pan or outdoors on the grill, it’s sure to be an irresistible part of your meal.
Recipe: Grilled Red Bell Peppers with Olives and Feta
Staying home and preventing the spread of COVID-19 is the right thing to do right now — for you, for your family, and for your whole community. But that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to some adventurous meals! We hope these tasty Mediterranean recipes help you take your family on a sunny European vacation right at your own dining table.
What are your favorite Mediterranean-inspired recipes? Share in the comments below or tag us in your food photos on Instagram @theproducemoms.
