The Mediterranean is one of the most popular cruise destinations in the world, and for very good reason! The beautiful culture, amazing landscapes and, of course, the decadent cuisine. The Mediterranean is situated in one of the best locations in the world for growing ingredients and, as such, even the simplest dish here tastes divine. Bring the Mediterranean to your kitchen with these 5 dishes:
Popular Mediterranean dishes
French Lentils
France
Amber from The Bean Bites is a food and travel writer. Her love for beans, legumes and pulses drove her to want to share amazing recipes using these ingredients for anybody who might think they are boring. And wow, does she succeed! She shared her thoughts on the beauty of Mediterranean cuisine, “From Portugal and Spain in the west to Greece and Turkey to the east, the food of the Mediterranean has one thing in common: a dedication to freshness. Only the freshest seafood, produce and spices will do. The Mediterranean region produces a yearlong bounty of delicious fresh ingredients. Ensuring you’re eating what’s in season.”
Amber recommends French lentils, a light dish that is the perfect accompaniment to a meal. She explained, “The French region of Provence, where this dish gets its inspiration, benefits greatly from its proximity to the Mediterranean. A seasonal summer dish, it is light, healthy and best of all, easy to make. It’s the perfect side dish for grilled meat or fish.”
| Rustic French Style Lentils Recipe by The Bean Bites
Greek Latherá
Greece
Eugenia shares her passion for Greek food on her blog, Eat Yourself Greek. “Mediterranean dishes rely on a handful of fresh, good quality ingredients,” she told us. “These sun-kissed dishes are often very easily put together. In Greek home cooking, olive oil is, of course, a must ingredient. So much so, there is a whole group of dishes cooked with olive oil, called latherá, very similar to the modern one-pot dinners.”
Eugenie told us more about latherá, her recommended dish, “In latherá recipes, you have seasonal vegetables taking centrepieces, such as spinach or cabbage, often some freshly grated tomato and a generous helping of olive oil. The principle is easy to adapt to just about any seasonal vegetable from summer string beans to wintery heads of cabbage. Of course, you can have some meat or seafood thrown in too if you like.”
| Kotópoulo Me Araká Latherá Recipe by Eat Yourself Greek
Italian Salad
Italy
If you’re looking for something a little lighter, an Italian salad is a wonderful lunch option. Inspired by the colours of the Italian flag, this dish may be simple but it harnesses the flavour of fresh Italian ingredients. Although you may not be in Italy, if you’re able to get some fresh ingredients to make this, you’re in for a treat!
Light, fresh and surprisingly moreish, you can serve this for a light lunch or alongside another meal and it’s sure to be a hit with whoever tries it! Quick and simple to make, it’s a recipe that you’ll come back to time and time again.
| Caprese-Style Salad by Mary Berry
Moroccan Tagine
Morocco
Gwen from Pratesi Living has been passionate about food ever since she was a child. She spoke about how Mediterranean dishes inspire her, “Known for their fresh ingredients, spices and herbs, traditional Mediterranean dishes offer a wide and interesting range of flavours that inspire most of my cooking.”
When we asked Gwen about a favourite recipe, a Moroccan chicken tagine with green olives and preserved lemons, she told us: “It has a wonderful combination of fresh and dried spices and dishes. I love the intense flavours that are created when they are combined with the briny olives and tangy preserved lemons. I serve this with a couscous that’s made with toasted pine nuts and golden raisins.”
| Chicken Tagine with Green Olives and Preserved Meyer Lemon by Pratesi Living
Spanish Paella
Spain
Spanish paella is a signature dish. And, if you’ve had Spanish paella already, then recreating it in your own home is sure to bring back memories of past trips. Although you may not have enough room for a large traditional paella pan, if you’re able to stick to the low and slow method that is used around Spain, you can fill your home with the scent of the Spanish coastline.
This is a wonderful slow cooker meal, as it can be left to let the flavours strengthen all day. It’s also super easy to customise, so whether you want to swap seafood for chicken and chorizo or create a vegan paella, so long as you have rich and rich paprika flavours, it’ll be a success.
| Slow Cooker Paella by Delish
