These alfajores aren’t the dulce de leche sandwich cookies familiar in South America. They’re a classic, no-bake Andalusian holiday cookie made with honey, toasted nuts, and warm spices, shaped into small cylinders and coated in sugar. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm It’s easy to see why alfajores have been a southern Spanish Christmas tradition for centuries. The snowy sugar coating of these no-bake cookies crackles as you bite in, giving way to a chewy honey-nut center....
You’ll love this authentic Greek Avgolemono Soup Recipe. Ah-vgo-le-mono, as the Greeks pronounce it, is a silky, rich, fragrant chicken soup, prepared Greek-style with avgolemono sauce (lemon-egg sauce.) Best part, this weeknight version comes together in just over 30 minutes. A couple of important tips make all the difference, be sure to read through this post and watch my video for how to make Greek avgolemono. Chicken soup is one of those nostalgic dishes known as a home remedy to comfort the sick or relief the cold chill in the air....
Baklava bark is a quick and easy twist on the classic. It takes far less time, but delivers the same cinnamon-honey flavor profile along with an irresistible crunch. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond I learned to make baklava while studying abroad in Greece. My host mother, Mrs. Kritharalis, showed me how to butter layer upon layer of delicate phyllo dough, stuffing it with chopped nuts, and soaking the pastry in cinnamon and clove-infused honey syrup....
Cauliflower Parmesan, a veggie-forward twist on the Italian-American classic, chicken parmesan, is an impressive and hearty vegetarian main or side dish for any occasion. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm Earlier this summer, when we shared Chef Domenica’s Chicken Parmesan , I couldn’t help but think—what if we gave cauliflower the same treatment? A golden cauliflower “steak” crusted with breadcrumbs and layered with marinara sauce and melty mozzarella. Finally, I put the idea to the test in my kitchen, and these handsome Cauliflower Parmesan steaks were born!...
Chocolate Olive Oil Cake is the little black dress of your dessert table. Classic, classy and it goes with everything! Make this recipe as simple or as sophisticated as you would like. Photo Credits: Mark Beahm This chocolate olive oil cake is the perfect treat for true chocolate lovers. Like Italian Carrot Cake , it’s sweet without being cloying, with an unbelievably tender crumb thanks to the extra-virgin olive oil in the batter....
This citrus salad recipe features a colorful array of oranges, kiwi, grapefruit, and optional pomegranate seeds. The finishing touch is an easy-to-make honey, lemon, and vanilla syrup. Photo Credits: Kathrine Irwin In the realm of culinary delights, few things rival the combination of sweet and tangy flavors that a well-crafted citrus salad brings to the table. Winter months are when citrus fruits truly come to life. I think of it as nature’s reward for enduring the cold....
Crispy olive oil fried brussels sprouts with caramelized onions and garlic! Finish with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts. Be sure to grab all my tips below. These pan fried brussel sprouts are best served immediately. They make a great side next to anything, especially hearty roasts like spatchcock chicken or even slow-cooker leg of lamb. Take things up a notch more with a drizzle of homemade tahini sauce!...
Healthy & budget-friendly, oven baked eggs are incredibly easy and so delicious! Once you learn how to bake eggs in the oven, you’ll whip up a batch for for weekend brunches, weekday breakfasts, & more! Photo Credits: Caitlin Bensel Learning how to bake eggs in the oven was a complete game-changer for me. Seriously, you won’t believe how easy it is to do! I use ramekins but you can use well-greased muffin tins, to create the most beautiful runny eggs in a matter of minutes....
This healthy, easy lasagana soup packs lots of goodness and flavor from ground turkey; rich tomato-based broth with Mediterranean herbs and spices; and a dollop of part-skim ricotta mixture for a creamy finish. The perfect weeknight dinner in one pot! Options to make this lasagna soup in both the crock pot and pressure cooker included below, so be sure to keep reading! Of the many tasty Italian classics we’ve adapted here in North America, lasagna takes first place in popularity–for good reason!...
This light, vegetarian rotini pasta recipe will surprise your taste buds in the best way possible! I went a little non-traditional and added a fall twist with charred butternut squash, brussels sprouts, and a tasty shallot sauce with butter and olive oil. So pretty and delicious, it’s like a little fall bouquet in a bowl! This is a versatile recipe to use as lunch, warm pasta salad, or a holiday side dish!...
Give your green bean salad a Greek-style twist with a zippy lemon and garlic dressing, briny olives, and creamy feta cheese! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond I took a page from yiayia’s playbook for this green bean salad recipe, borrowing a double-boiling method that’s so typical of Greek green bean dishes. Greeks, like many of us in the Mediterranean, tend to like their green beans on the tender, well-done side–but never mushy!...
Your pizza game just got an upgrade with this easy grilled pizza recipe. I use a chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside Neopolitan-style dough that yields perfect grilled pizza results every time! You don’t need a fancy grill or pizza stone to make delicious grilled pizza! The high heat of the grill mimics a pizza oven, making a restaurant-quality pizza without the expense or the fuss. This grilled pizza recipe is a spin on classic pizza margherita, which my family loves....
Light and delicate ricotta gnocchi are a lovely alternative to classic potato gnocchi and so easy to make. These fluffy Italian dumplings use just four ingredients—flour, cheese, egg, and salt. Serve this ricotta gnocchi recipe with a simple tomato sauce for a special night in. Photo Credits: Mariam Hamdy Ricotta gnocchi are small dumplings made by combining sweet, milky ricotta cheese with a little flour and egg. Regional Italian cooking has many types of gnocchi (pronounced “NYOH-key”)....
Grilled whole chicken is easier to make than most people think! With the right flavor combination and grilling technique, you are good to go. This recipe includes an irresistible Mediterranean-style chicken marinade and a few grilling secrets you don’t want to miss! Be sure to read through and watch the video below. If you’re looking to pull out all the stops for an impressive barbecue, this grilled whole chicken is the answer!...
This Mediterranean bean salad recipe is a vibrant twist on the classic three bean salad. This recipe features kidney beans, cannellini beans, and chickpeas tossed with fresh veggies, and herbs in a zesty garlic Dijon vinaigrette. Photo Credits: Suzy Karadsheh My Mediterranean twist on the classic three bean salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed recipe featuring kidney beans, cannellini beans, and chickpeas mixed with crisp bell peppers, cucumbers, red onions, fresh herbs, and capers....
These juicy Greek-inspired turkey burgers are seasoned with garlic, herbs, and crumbled feta, then topped with creamy tzatziki sauce and crisp veggies. Whether in a skillet or on the grill, they come together quickly for a satisfying, Mediterranean-inspired meal any night of the week! Photo Credits: Ali Redmond This turkey burger 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....
Poached chicken breasts cook gently in garlic, lemon, peppercorns, and fresh herb-infused water. The result is juicy, tender chicken perfect for meal prepping. Whisk up a quick lemon-herb dressing to enjoy it as-is, or use it anywhere you typically reach for rotisserie chicken. Photo Credits: Miriam Novoa Poaching chicken is a classic technique. Chicken breasts cook to juicy perfection with gentle, even heat by steeping in hot water seasoned with aromatics....
Velvety and richly-spiced roasted pumpkin soup is a warming autumn meal. Adding a drizzle of fragrant Aleppo pepper-infused olive oil and golden garlic chips to take it over the top. Photo Credit: Omayah Atassi This roasted pumpkin soup recipe is exactly the kind of thing I crave when the weather starts to shift. It’s comforting, cozy, and full of depth from a few simple, beautiful ingredients. It starts with any orange-fleshed winter squash, roasted until the edges caramelize and the insides are buttery soft....
Spaghetti all’Assassina, or “Assassin’s Spaghetti” shows that sometimes it pays to break the rules! This Southern Italian favorite cooks the spaghetti right in a spicy tomato sauce until it’s crispy, singed, and totally irresistible. Photo Credits: Ali Redmond There are two theories for why Spaghetti all’Assassina is named “Assassin’s Spaghetti.” Both are exactly why I love this pasta so much! First, a good hit of chili pepper makes it boldly spicy....
A can of beans is your ticket to affordable, delicious, and satisfying meals. These healthy bean recipes are easy to make, and packed with Mediterranean flavor you’ll love! Image ofVegan Quinoa Chiliby Ali Redmond Healthy bean recipes are nothing new in the Mediterranean. Where I grew up in Egypt—and my neighbors all across the sea—people have been turning humble beans into delicious meals for centuries! Now the rest of the world is catching on, especially as more people look for ways to boost their protein and fiber intake....
