Tunisian salad, also called Salad Tunisienne or Slata Tounsiya , is a traditional chopped salad from Northwest Africa’s Mediterranean coast. With canned tuna, hard boiled eggs , olives, fresh herbs, and loads of fruits and vegetables, this refreshing salad is a satisfying and nutritious dinner for a hot day. Photo Credits: Andrea Gralow Tunisian salad is a classic summery salad that mixes very finely chopped vegetables at the peak of their ripeness when they are bursting with flavor....

This vegetarian stuffed squash recipe doubles as a colorful, healthy main or side dish, and it reheats beautifully for workday lunches. Photo Credit: Ali Redmond I love a basic roasted squash, but for this stuffed acorn squash recipe, I wanted bold flavors, bright colors, and a bevy of roasted vegetables. No rice or grains here, so it’s great for people seeking lower-carb and gluten-free options. I first stumbled across this recipe at a restaurant about 10 years ago....

Sugared cranberries are the perfect holiday treat! Simply soak fresh cranberries in an aromatic orange and cinnamon syrup coat in superfine sugar. Enjoy this candied fruit as a snack, decorate festive holiday cakes, or use them to add edible sparkle to your holiday cookie tray. This sugared cranberry recipe so, so easy! You’re going to love them! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond You’re probably thinking, since when are cranberries Mediterranean? The answer is they are not, but enjoying fruit as dessert is very common in these seaside countries and when it comes to blending Mediterranean culture with North American kitchens, this Sugared Cranberry recipe fits right in!...

This brick-red sauce goes by many names: Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, Red Pesto, and Sundried Tomato Pesto just to name a few. No matter what you call it, this easy pantry recipe captures the intense garden flavors of a late summer’s day, but using dried tomatoes and herbs means you can make it even in the dead of winter. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond Dried tomatoes, nourished and then parched by the Mediterranean sunshine, are a staple of farmer’s markets in Southern Italy....

These energy balls are gluten-free, dairy-free, free of added sugar, and no-bake. All you need to make them is a food processor! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond Why I Keep a Stash of Energy Balls They’re naturally sweet and satisfying, and make the perfect pick-me-up when I’m craving something sweet. They only take about 15 minutes and 6 ingredients to make. They freeze well, which helps keep the almond and coconut flavor at its best....

BEST stuffed tomatoes you will come across! This stuffed tomato recipe is prepared Greek-style with a hearty, flavor-packed stuffing mixture of ground meat, rice with onions, garlic, fragrant spices like cumin, oregano, and nutmeg , and fresh herbs. A generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil helps these stuffed tomatoes as they bake to delicious, tender perfection. The step-by-step tutorial here walks you through exactly how to make these! And yes, you can prepare stuffed tomatoes a bit in advance....

This turkey bologense sauce is a lightened up version of the beloved Italian classic, but it is every bit as thick, delicious and hearty. In this tutorial, I show you step-by-step how to make the best bolognese sauce (with turkey or beef!) You can prepare the sauce ahead and keep it on hand for easy use with your next pasta dinner. But don’t worry, I also have a quick shortcut for those busy weeknights....

Chickpea Marinara is the extra easy pantry recipe you need in your life! Chickpeas simmer in tomato sauce until fragrant and flavorful, then quickly broil with mozzarella cheese until everything is melted and bubbling. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond This chickpea marinara recipe is from my second cookbook, “ The Mediterranean Dish: Simply Dinner, ” featuring more than 125 easy Mediterranean Diet-inspired recipes to eat well and live joyfully. Like many of my favorite meals, this chickpeas in tomato sauce was born from an empty fridge and a hungry household on a Sunday afternoon....

Whether it’s a weeknight meal, or a special dinner for a crowd, this easy baked salmon recipe will deliver in presentation and flavor! Although this is the kind of easy baked salmon recipe I’d make on any given day of the week, it’s one I’d also put on the menu if I were to host an Italian La Vigila. La Vigila , or The Vigil, is an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition marked by what is called, the Feast of Seven Fishes ....

Salmon Piccata is golden pan-seared fillets bathed in a buttery, lemony sauce with just the right pop from capers, garlic, and fresh parsley. It’s equal parts tangy, savory, and next-level delicious. Photo Credits: Miriam Novoa I’ll be honest with you—salmon is rarely my choice when dining out. Too often it’s dry, bland, and overcooked. But when I make it at home? Totally different story. This Salmon Piccata recipe is as elegant as a restaurant entree, but it’s exactly the kind of easy, flavor-packed meal I love....

This simple Fig Bread recipe comes together quickly with no special equipment or techniques. Whole wheat flour, olive oil, Greek yogurt, and honey gives the tender loaf a wholesome flavor fit for breakfast or brunch, but its tea cake-like crumb doubles as a crowd-pleasing dessert or afternoon treat. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm Some of my favorite baking happens when I’m just ready to embrace fall, but not quite able to let go of summer....

Comforting and buttery gigantes plaki, or Greek giant baked beans, with tomatoes and olive oil make a satisfying vegetarian dinner any night of the week. Or, you can serve them at room temperature over crusty bread as an appetizer! Photo Credits: Karishma Pradhan Gigantes plaki is a classic Greek dish of tender baked beans, swimming in a chunky tomato sauce with lots of good extra virgin olive oil. The term plaki, pronounced Plah-KEE, refers to a Greek cooking method where the food is baked or roasted with plenty of tomatoes, veggies, and extra virgin olive oil ....

Greek Mountain Tea, also known as Shepherd’s Tea and Tsai tou Vounou , is an ancient herbal tea made from the sideritis plant. Learn everything you need to know about this cozy, comforting tea with this essential guide, including Greek mountain tea’s benefits, how to brew it, what it tastes like, and more. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond What is Greek Mountain Tea? Greek Mountain Tea Benefits What Does Greek Mountain Tea Taste Like?...

Pastitsio is a comforting Greek lasagna with layers of pasta, a tantalizing cinnamon-spiked meat sauce, and creamy bechamel. I’m sharing my mom’s recipe, and it is a must-try! It is easier to make than you think, and you can prepare it in advance. If I were to ask you about a dish that might have defined the holidays for you as a child, what would it be? For me, it’s Greek pastitsio, but in our Egyptian household, this casserole was known by a more literal name: macaroni béchamel....

This homemade pasta recipe will show you that making pasta from scratch is easier to master than you may think! And you just need 3 ingredients to make silky, golden egg pasta, or pasta all’uovo as my family calls it: flour, eggs, and a drop of olive oil. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond My Italian mother made homemade pasta often. She cut her smooth egg-rich dough into a variety of shapes, but among my favorites were her fettuccine—silky flat noodles....

Ready in about 30 minutes, this easy baked red snapper recipe with bold Mediterranean flavors, fresh herbs, and bell peppers is a must-try! Be sure to read through for tips and watch the video below. Mediterranean-style red snapper One of the communal Mediterranean meals I grew up with is whole baked fish cooked on the bone, with fresh herbs and whatever vegetables happen to be in season. And red snapper, which is a popular white fish with a beautiful redish skin, has a firm texture and sweet and subtle nutty flavor that make it the perfect choice for this kind of preparation....

This simple Vegetable Frittata is perfectly balanced with the flavors of earthy roasted vegetables, rich extra virgin olive oil , and sharp feta cheese. It’s a comforting vegetarian meal that’s easy to make any night of the week! What is a frittata? You could also say that frittata is similar to quiche but with no crust. It’s an egg dish or an egg-based “pie” that works well for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or even sliced thinly for a savory appetizer....

Pizzicati are delicate Italian shortbread cookies filled with jam. Sometimes called biscotti pizzicati or simply pinch cookies, the jam-filled cookies are not too sweet and beautiful on a dessert tray. Photo Credits: Caitlin Bensel Pizzicati is one of my favorite cookie recipes and for good reason. These delicate jam-filled shortbread cookies have a light texture, and a subtle sweetness. With only a half cup of sugar in the entire recipe these Italian pinch cookies are lovely served with coffee or hot tea at the end of a meal....

If you like classic homemade hummus , you will love this roasted garlic hummus that’s kicked up a couple notches. Creamy. Sweet. Smoky. And just a touch spicy. Be sure to watch the quick video tutorial just above the recipe. Another day, another hummus dip, y’all! This time, cooked chickpeas—skins removed for a smoother dip—share the glory with two heads of garlic! If you have any Mediterranean blood in you, garlic probably doesn’t scare you....

Roasted rainbow carrots make an easy side dish look fancy with their naturally bright colors, velvety texture and candy-like sweetness. They’re tasty all on their own, but beyond delicious coated in nutty, crunchy Egyptian dukkah, piled on a bed of cooling, creamy garlicky yogurt and finished with a sprinkling of fresh mint. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond I’d go all-in on sides and condiments over mains any day of the week....