22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (2024)

If you’re looking for new recipes to try out, these 22 recently published ones have got you covered. Plus, they all align with the Mediterranean diet—one of the healthiest eating patterns around. Unlike many popular diets (think keto and paleo), this diet focuses on what foods you can add instead of what to avoid. And the best part is that you don’t have to eat dishes from the Mediterranean region but can embrace all flavors and cuisines. Simply focus on incorporating more healthy fats, legumes, spices, vegetables and whole grains into your daily meals. From our Veggie Enchiladas to our Mushroom Miso Pasta, these tasty new meals are sure to become staples in your weekly dinner rotation.

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Mushroom-Miso Pasta

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (1)

This miso pasta features mushrooms, another umami-forward ingredient that takes this quick vegetarian recipe to the next level. We use white miso, which is light and slightly sweet. Whisking the miso into the reserved cooking water makes it easier to incorporate into the pasta.

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The Best Veggie Enchiladas

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (2)

These veggie enchiladas are packed with sweet corn, onion, peppers, zucchini and beans and are coated with store-bought enchilada sauce to save time on prep. Enchilada sauce ranges from mild to hot. We like the earthy flavor of red enchilada sauce, but green enchilada sauce works well too. For a slightly different spin, substitute yellow squash for the zucchini and a poblano for the bell pepper.

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One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (3)

This one-pot pasta dish with white beans, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes is lively and vibrant and leaves you with an easy cleanup. Toasting the orzo before adding the broth adds another layer of flavor. Another dark leafy green like chopped kale or Swiss chard can stand in for the spinach, but may take longer to wilt in the pan. If you use a sturdier green, add it to the pan during the last 5 minutes of cooking time.

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Baked Feta & Tomato Spaghetti Squash

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (4)

Inspired by the baked tomato and feta pasta trend, this easy baked spaghetti squash recipe is a showstopper on any table. Baking the feta and tomatoes in the squash half results in a lovely sauce when everything is mixed together. The balsamic glaze adds a nice bit of sweetness while playing up the acidity of the tomatoes. Dried oregano works as a substitute for fresh, but reduce the quantity by half. Serve alongside a side salad and crusty bread.

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20-Minute White Bean Soup

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (5)

This fiber-rich soup is an easy, healthy dinner when you’re pressed for time. This brothy soup is finished with a bit of heavy cream for body and richness. For a thicker soup, mash 1/2 cup of the beans and stir into the soup right before adding the cream. Frozen sweet potatoes and collard greens keep the prep to a minimum, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, fresh veggies work just as well. Serve with crusty bread for dunking.

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Curried Cauliflower Salad Sandwiches

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (6)

The creamy cauliflower mixture in this vegetarian sandwich was inspired by the flavors of Indian raita. A combination of yogurt, cashews and mustard round out the spices in the curry powder, with pomegranate arils adding a juicy pop of sweetness. Buy cauliflower florets in a bag instead of the whole head and look for containers of pomegranate arils to keep prep simple.

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Chef Michelle Bernstein's Lemongrass-&-Coconut Poached Salmon

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (7)

Chef Michelle Bernstein suffers from psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition that often presents as joint pain. She created this recipe for Lemongrass-&-Coconut Poached Salmon exclusively for EatingWell. It features a trifecta of inflammation-fighting ingredients: turmeric, ginger and salmon. For a more filling meal, serve with a whole grain like brown rice, or over rice noodles.

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Chicken Paprikash Soup

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (8)

This hearty soup takes inspiration from Hungarian chicken paprikash, with a creamy, paprika-flavored broth studded with tomatoes, bell pepper and chicken. We like tender, flavorful chicken thighs, but chicken breast will work too. If you don’t have hot paprika, add chili powder or cayenne pepper to taste.

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Slow-Cooker Spinach & Artichoke Chicken Soup

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (9)

If you love spinach and artichokes, this is the perfect soup for you. The creamy base is packed with veggies and shredded chicken, which soaks up the broth while adding a boost of protein. Frozen artichoke hearts have less sodium than canned, but canned can be used in their place. Just be sure to give them a good rinse before adding them to the slow cooker.

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Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccoli

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (10)

Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd. It’s ideal for making use of any leftover chicken and rice you have on hand. If you’re short on leftovers, a rotisserie chicken paired with a package of microwaveable brown rice is a good substitute.

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Creamy Chicken Pasta with Brussels Sprouts & Artichokes

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (11)

The creamy white wine-garlic sauce helps blend artichokes and shaved Brussels sprouts together with nutty whole-wheat pasta in this quick dinner. Use a mandoline or a very sharp knife to shave the Brussels sprouts. If you opt for pre-packaged shaved sprouts, note that they might be on the thicker side, requiring a few extra minutes of cooking time. You can swap in canned artichokes, but they tend to have more sodium than frozen, so give them a good rinse before adding.

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These Creamy Chickpeas Are the Best Marry-Me Recipe Out There

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (12)

We put a vegetarian spin on Marry Me Chicken, a dish typically consisting of chicken coated in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, by swapping in fiber-packed chickpeas as the main ingredient. From the creamy chickpeas to the umami-laden sun-dried tomatoes, you’ll want to sop up every last bit of sauce. To riff on this recipe, you could swap the chickpeas for white beans, like cannellini or navy.

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The Only Veggie Lasagna Recipe You’ll Ever Need

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (13)

Every layer of this delicious veggie lasagna has its own flavor profile. Cooking the vegetables before assembling the lasagna ensures the dish won’t be soggy. Be sure to squeeze the spinach well—spinach holds a surprising amount of water that will make your lasagna soupy. Lightly coat the foil with cooking spray before covering the lasagna to prevent the cheese from sticking. Serve with a mixed green salad and crusty garlic bread.

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One-Pan Chicken & Cabbage with Rice

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This one-pan chicken and cabbage recipe is a super-flavorful dish, with rice absorbing all the flavor from the chicken and the broth mixture. The cabbage is perfectly tender, and the char adds a nice color to the dish. To keep the wedges from falling apart, leave the core intact. The chicken crisps up easily when you remove the lid from the pan and let it bake directly under the heat.

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Veggie Fajitas

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (15)

These veggie fajitas are packed with sweet bell pepper and red onion. Creamy avocado and warm tortillas complete the meal. The veggies alone make a great meal-prep recipe to have on hand. Serve them over rice, or heat them up over tortilla chips topped with melting cheese. To get a little char on your tortillas, place them over a medium gas flame and cook until darkened in spots, flipping once. Place on a plate and cover with a clean kitchen towel to keep warm.

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Sautéed Oyster Mushrooms with Garlic Butter

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (16)

This oyster mushroom recipe is quick, easy and versatile. Serve them on their own, or spin them into a vegetarian main dish by using them as a topping for creamy polenta or farro. The trick to super-savory mushrooms is not crowding the pan while they cook. We brown the mushrooms in two batches and add the garlic and butter in the last step to maximize the flavor.

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Chicken Carbonara

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (17)

This chicken carbonara has the classic all-yolk sauce, which yields a rich and creamy texture. For some carbonara recipes the residual heat and starch from the pasta are enough to thicken the yolks, but we prefer the double-boiler method to gently cook the egg yolks to a custard-like texture without the risk of overcooking them to a scramble.

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Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (18)

These 5-ingredient quesadillas take just 10 minutes to make. Using pre-sliced onions and peppers plus a taco seasoning blend helps keep the ingredient list (and prep time) short. If you like a little heat, use pepper Jack cheese in the filling.

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Creamy Caramelized Cabbage Pasta

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (19)

In this comforting vegetarian dinner, cabbage is sautéed in butter until it caramelizes, imparting a subtle sweetness to the dish. A light, creamy sauce coats both the cabbage and the pasta. If you want to stretch the sauce a little further, you can thin it out by adding in a few tablespoons of pasta cooking water.

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Coconut Stew with Spinach & Beans

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (20)

Sweet potatoes add sweetness and body to this stew flavored with ginger, cumin, coriander and turmeric (which gives it its vibrant yellow color). Unseeded chiles add extra heat, but you can seed them to mellow the spiciness. You want the potatoes cooked until they're tender, but not falling apart in the stew—the carryover heat will continue to cook them as the stew sits off the heat.

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Lemony Lentil & Cauliflower Cup Soup

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (21)

This bright lemony soup gets its boost of fiber and earthy, nutty flavor from ingredients like lentils and bulgur. Bulgur adds heartiness and a nice chewy texture, but you can swap it out for another cooked grain like brown rice or quinoa. Plus, the broth gets gentle heat from harissa paste. If you don’t wish to travel with vegetable broth or don’t have access to a microwave, you can use reduced-sodium bouillon instead and just add hot water.

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This Cozy Chicken & Rice Soup Needs Just One Pot

22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (22)

This chicken and rice soup is the epitome of cozy vibes in a bowl, with dried tarragon stealing the show. Dried tarragon has a more muted flavor than fresh, providing a mellow flavor that complements the other ingredients beautifully. Instant brown rice is a massive timesaver. To cut down even further on prep time, look for pre-chopped mirepoix (carrots, onions and celery) in the produce aisle where prepped vegetables are sold.

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22 New Mediterranean Diet Dinner Recipes to Make This February (2024)

FAQs

What is a typical meal for a person on a Mediterranean diet? ›

Foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes are main ingredients in meals and snacks. Meals may include small portions of fish, meat, or eggs. People often cook with olive oil and add herbs and spices for flavor.

What do Mediterraneans eat for breakfast lunch and dinner? ›

Sample menu and recipes
  • Breakfast: Greek yogurt with strawberries and chia seeds.
  • Lunch: a whole grain sandwich with hummus and vegetables.
  • Dinner: a tuna salad with greens and olive oil, as well as a fruit salad.

How do I kick start my Mediterranean diet? ›

Stock up on shelf-stable items like beans, legumes, quinoa, brown rice, farro, oats, bulgur, barley, nuts and seeds. Fill the fridge and freezer with fruits, vegetables and fish. Step 3 – Change how you prepare food. The Mediterranean diet focuses on eating healthy fats, so start using olive oil instead of butter.

What does a Mediterranean dinner look like? ›

Fresh tomatoes, olives, fish, lemon, feta, mint, za'atar, and more make their way into delectable dishes like stuffed grape leaves, moussaka, shish kebabs, and fattoush salad. Discover traditional Mediterranean food and riffs on the region's classic flavors with this collection of Mediterranean recipes.

What is not eaten in a Mediterranean diet? ›

The Mediterranean diet is high in plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. Foods not allowed include processed red meats, heavily processed foods, refined grains, alcohol, butter, and refined/processed/hydrogenated oils.

What is the best bread for the Mediterranean diet? ›

Any bread that is made from whole wheat, whole grains, sprouts, and sourdough is recommended while on a Mediterranean diet. You will want to avoid bread made from refined grains, such as white bread if you are following this diet.

What is the fastest way to lose weight on the Mediterranean diet? ›

If you want to lose weight following a Mediterranean diet here are my 5 tips that work.
  1. Eat your main meal early in the day. ...
  2. Eat vegetables as a main course cooked in olive oil. ...
  3. You should drink water mostly and sometimes tea, coffee and wine (for adults) ...
  4. Consume the right amount of olive oil. ...
  5. Move.
Jan 17, 2024

What are the top 10 foods on a Mediterranean diet? ›

10 Foods to eat on a mediterranean diet
  • Greek yogurt. ...
  • Extra virgin olive oil. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Whole grains like quinoa. ...
  • Leafy greens. ...
  • Beans like chickpeas. ...
  • Eggplant. ...
  • Red wine. When consumed in moderation on the Mediterranean diet, red wine can increase longevity.

What to drink on a Mediterranean diet? ›

Water should be the first thing you reach for. Coffee and tea are also fine, as long as you watch the added cream or sugar. Limit intake of sugar- sweetened drinks, like soda, fruit juice, or sweet tea. One glass of red wine is also permitted in this diet.

Do you lose belly fat on a Mediterranean diet? ›

The participants in the first group experienced “clinically meaningful” changes in body composition throughout the three-year experiment, according to the researchers. This included a 5% or greater improvement in fat mass, visceral (belly) fat mass and loss of lean muscle mass after only one year of following the diet.

How many eggs a day on Mediterranean diet? ›

Eggs: Limit egg yolks to 4 per week. Egg whites can be eaten in unlimited amounts. Sweets: Eat sweets less often – use fruit as your dessert. Red Meat: Lean red meats (beef, pork, lamb and veal) can be eaten 3-4 times per month.

How long does it take to see results from the Mediterranean diet? ›

In addition, one of the studies in the review found that participants lost an average of 8.7% of body weight on the Mediterranean diet after 12 months. Long-term adherence to the diet is associated with reduced risk of gaining back the weight that was lost.

What is the staple food of the Mediterranean diet? ›

Unlike some diets, the Mediterranean diet does not have strict requirements. Since its parameters can vary and many people may not be familiar with the Mediterranean diet, here is a quick overview: Most meals feature vegetables, fruits, whole grains— bread, pasta, rice, etc., and extra virgin olive oil.

What is the most popular Mediterranean dish? ›

There are always Mediterranean food classics like shawarma, falafel, tomato cucumber salad that goes with everything, and the simple but delicious Greek salad, but there are also many brand-new recipes with exciting modern twists that have quickly become some of the most loved recipes on the site.

What is a Mediterranean diet for beginners? ›

Named the world's top diet several years in a row by US News and World Report and other expert organizations, the Mediterranean Diet is a heart-healthy, well-balanced way of eating that prioritizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, lean proteins (particularly from fish), and good fats from things like extra ...

What does a Mediterranean lunch look like? ›

Lunch on the Mediterranean diet typically includes colorful ingredients — like vegetables and whole grains — that are flavorful and packed with nutrients. You can enjoy meals like falafel sandwiches, quinoa bowls, and tuna salads for lunch while following this diet.

References

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