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Ready to give your usual cookie tray a glow-up? These Christmas cookie recipes will bring a taste of the Mediterranean to your holiday table. Image ofPizzicatiby Caitlin Bensel Across the Mediterranean, every region has its own version of the Christmas cookie. There are honey-soaked Greek treats, crunchy Italian pine nut bites, chewy Middle Eastern date cookies, and beyond. Most have been passed down for centuries–made with simple ingredients and no fancy equipment, and several are naturally gluten and dairy-free....

This chicken sandwich recipe, packed with the fixings of an Italian antipasto platter , comes together quickly but tastes like it took all day. Make this nutritious Italian-style sandwich as a healthy yet indulgent lunch or dinner that everyone is sure to love. Photo Credits: Bella Karragiannidis This chicken sandwich recipe is a total crowd-pleaser. That’s mostly thanks to the slightly sweet roasted red peppers, meaty marinated artichokes, and tangy olives....

This Baklava Cheesecake is a stunning holiday showstopper. Crisp, golden phyllo wraps around a creamy orange-scented ricotta cheesecake, finished with a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of pistachios. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm This baklava cheesecake recipe fits into the holy trifecta of dessert categories: tastes incredible, looks fancy, but is secretly simple to make! Store bought phyllo dough is easier to manage than it seems. You get the most beautiful crispy and light crust with no kneading or rolling required....

This hearty gluten-free breakfast salad with lentils, jammy eggs, prosciutto, herby potato “croutons,” and tender greens is a savory, filling meal that works any time of day. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond Why I Love This Breakfast Salad Recipe It’s savory, filling, and balanced enough to carry you through the day. Many of the components can be prepped ahead for easy mornings or hosting. I use my air fryer so it saves on dishes This breakfast salad is inspired by one I used to order on repeat at The Hungry Pigeon, a now-closed Philadelphia restaurant I still think about often....

Herbaceous, a little bit spicy, and incredibly refreshing, this zippy cucumber salsa with my Mediterranean twist comes in handy all summer long! Photo Credits: Mark Beahm I love giving a Mediterranean flair to the food I’ve come to adore in Atlanta, from punching up Tomato Salsa with briny Kalamata olives, to my version of game-day Guac with mint and feta. Bringing together flavors from all walks of life can be magic!...

Creamy polenta, enriched with a little butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, is one of my favorite Italian comfort foods. A blend of medium and finely ground cornmeal creates the best texture. I love to top it with shrimp , mushroom ragu, or serve it alongside roast chicken . Photo Credits: Andrea Gralow Simply put, polenta is cooked cornmeal, but in reality it’s so much more than that. As the weather shifts and spring gives us sunnier days and cool, rainy nights, a warm bowl of rich, creamy polenta makes for a welcome addition to lighter, fresher springtime meals....

Crispy Salmon Bites are tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and drizzled with spicy and creamy harissa-yogurt sauce. They take only 15 minutes to make, and you can serve as a main or an appetizer! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond I recently tried a recipe for crispy salmon bites with a bit of an Asian twist—sweet, lightly fried, and finished with a spicy Thai chili aioli. They were good, but I couldn’t help wondering how they’d taste with a Mediterranean flavor profile....

Hands-down the BEST chicken spaghetti recipe you’ll find! Ditch those heavy spaghetti casseroles and try this easy option with bright Mediterranean flavors including tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and citrus. Meal-prep friends love this recipe, it’s one you can prepare in advance and enjoy for lunch over the next few days. Be sure to watch the video for how to make this chicken spaghetti. Spaghetti is the ultimate every-day kind of meal....

Escabeche de Pollo is a classic Spanish dish of tangy and rich chicken braised in a combination of olive oil, vinegar, and wine with aromatics for a deeply flavorful, make-ahead-friendly meal. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm I love a no-fuss meal that I can make ahead of time, especially if it tastes even better the next day. Pollo en escabeche is a centuries-old Spanish dish of chicken cooked in vinegar sauce....

With just a short list of simple ingredients, this easy fennel soup recipe lets the fennel’s delicate and perfectly sweet flavor shine. Creamy and yet dairy-free, this fennel soup is a comforting dinner or first course that takes just 15 minutes of hands-on time. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm Fennel is an under-appreciated and highly versatile vegetable. When you serve it raw for a shaved Fennel Salad it has an elegant, crisp anise flavor....

Whole wheat flatbreads stuffed with carrots and lentils are a hearty, flavor-packed meal and they’re easier to make than you’d think! These warm, golden stuffed flatbreads are filled with a harissa-spiced mixture, then pan-cooked until crisp and delicious. Fresh bread is pretty high up there on the list of high-reward kitchen projects. And the fastest way to get there is with a simple flatbread recipe. Mediterranean cuisine is full of flatbreads— pita , lavash , Tunisian mlewi , Palestinian taboon , and Persian barbari all spring to mind—but what makes this one special is the fact that it’s filled....

What is the secret to juicy, succulent grilled lamb kabobs? A special Mediterranean marinade that flavors and tenderizes the meat, plus a bit of grilling technique for the juiciest ever kebabs! Don’t miss my tips and video below. When BBQ season hits, you know we’re all about kabobs over here! Just add a salad , your favorite dip, or a little mezze , and dinner is served! Of all the skewered foods I’ve shared so far– shrimp , steak , salmon , pork , chicken , and more– I was shocked to discover that I had not yet shared my favorite lamb kabobs recipe....

Kumpir, Turkey’s beloved street food, are generously stuffed baked potatoes with irresistibly creamy interiors. This version is packed with garlicky sautéed mushrooms, peppers, sweet corn, and punchy quick-pickled red cabbage for the perfect balance of flavors and textures! Photo Credits: Miriam Novoa I absolutely adore Kumpir—it’s Türkiye’s (Turkey’s) version of a loaded baked potato and a much beloved street food, especially in Istanbul. Eating them always brings back fond memories of feasting on kumpir from the street stalls in Ortaköy, Istanbul, when I was a student....

This shaved cauliflower and chickpea salad has a vinegar-forward dressing and a nice crunchy texture that almost gives off pickled slaw vibes, but with warming Moroccan-style seasonings, dried apricots and toasted pistachios! Photo Credits: Mark Beahm I have been making different versions of this shaved cauliflower and chickpea salad for many years. Its assertive punchiness makes it the perfect accompaniment to heavier meats, such as lamb , as it cuts through the richness perfectly....

You’ll love this easy, bright, and elegant Mediterranean orange salad! Navel oranges are given a lift with pomegranate seeds, fresh mint, and honey-lime dressing. Photo Credits: Suzy Karadsheh This orange salad recipe may look fancy and full of color. But you can throw it together quickly for a special dinner, or add it to your holiday table in minutes. So many variations of orange salad exist in Mediterranean cuisine. I’ve shared versions with everything from fresh fennel to roasted beets ....

If you’re after that restaurant-level crispy skin, try this pan seared salmon recipe. This easy guide will elevate your weeknight dinner routine for life! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond You can make delicious pan-seared salmon with shatteringly crispy skin in just about 15 minutes! The key is a hot pan and patience—place the salmon skin-side down and resist the urge to move it. The skin will crisp up beautifully and release on its own when ready, while protecting the fish so it cooks gently to buttery perfection....

Perfectly ripe tomatoes, hearty Italian bread, and a tangy vinaigrette make this easy panzanella salad! Drying and toasting the bread with a little olive oil in the oven gives you the best texture. Check out more tips on how to make this delicious summer salad recipe! A classic Tuscan bread salad, panzanella is made of ripe tomatoes, dried Italian bread, and a simple tangy dressing. But for something so simple as bread and tomatoes, panzanella salad is one surprisingly complex and delightful summer dish, and one of my favorite things to make with tomatoes ....

Peach burrata salad with meaty, ripe tomatoes is tied together with a sweet and spicy dressing, crunchy toasted almonds, and refreshing mint. Photo Credit: Ali Redmond This Italian-style salad has it all. Colorful, quick, and easy on the eye, it works as an appetizer, a side, or a light summer meal. For as long as peaches and tomatoes are in season, this is the salad I’ll be making on repeat....

Warm days call for simple drinks, and this Rosé Lemonade is bright, refreshing, and so simple to make. Serve this big batch easy cocktail recipe in a pitcher for effortless entertaining at brunch and beyond. Photo Credits: Elana Lepkowski Rosé Lemonade is a refreshing addition to the more traditional brunch cocktails like mimosas and bloody marys . After all, brunches are best when you have a delicious drink to linger over!...

You’ll love this simple broccoli pasta, prepared Mediterranean-style with hearty white beans, tossed in a light olive oil sauce with garlic, onions, and oregano. A good handful of fresh parsley and freshly grated Paremsan cheese finish this light and flavorful pasta dinner. Use whole wheat pasta if you’re after Mediterranean diet meals. Pasta night is a big deal at my house, and if it were up to my girls, every night would be pasta night!...