Short on time but big on flavor? Whether you’re planning a dinner party, prepping for a potluck, or just need a weeknight dinner idea that doesn’t take all evening, this list has you covered. I’ve gathered 30 mouthwatering Mediterranean recipes that come together in 30 minutes or less. No stress, just delicious results.
Why You’ll Love This
- Perfect for busy weeknights and last-minute guests
- Every recipe is ready in 30 minutes or less
- Features seasonal, fresh ingredients with bold flavor
- Great for both beginner cooks and seasoned pros
- A complete collection—from starters to mains—for every craving
Let’s go!
Appetizers
I love starting a meal with small, flavorful bites that wake up the palate. Appetizers set the tone for the rest of the mail. And these ones come together quickly.
The Best Marinated Tomatoes Recipe (Easy & Adaptable)
Summer tomato lovers, it’s time to make Marinated tomatoes! This recipe is versatile, adaptable and delicious! And it comes together in under 15 minutes! A perfect summer side dish to serve at your next outdoor dinner party or bbq. Pair it with one of my many Mediterranean main dishes.
Marinated Tomatoes Recipe
Blistered Shishito Peppers with Tahini Dipping Sauce
Delicious, charred peppers are paired with tangy lemon and creamy tahini sauce.
Blistered Shishito Peppers Recipe
Asparagus Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Tart
This asparagus goat cheese puff pastry tart is spring on a plate. It’s the kind of recipe you whip up when you want to impress with minimal effort. Perfect for brunch, lunch, or a light meal with a glass of wine.
Asparagus Tart Recipe
Mercimek Corbasi (Turkish Red Lentil Soup Recipe)
Warm, comforting and delicious, this Turkish Red Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbasi) is an incredibly easy, accessible and affordable recipe to make any time of year, but especially during the month of Ramadan to break your fast. The soup is garnished with tangy lemon, fresh cilantro and a gorgeous Aleppo pepper infused olive oil. Best of all, it is ready in under 30 minutes!
Turkish Lentil Soup Recipe
Arayes (Authentic Middle Eastern Meat Stuffed Pitas)
Arayes is a popular Middle Eastern dish that consists of stuffed and grilled (or baked) pita bread filled with a mixture of minced meat, typically beef or lamb, along with various seasonings and spices. This incredibly easy-to-prepare recipe includes 2 cooking methods to suit your preferences, as well as a dipping sauce.
Arayes Recipe
Simple Eggplant Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Herbs
Roasted eggplant bruschetta is a perfect and delicious appetizer for your summer garden party, picnic or weeknight meal. It comes together quickly (in under 20 minutes) and covers all the bases. Hearty vegetables, tangy cheese, herbaceous basil, sweet mint and balsamic.A definite crowd-pleaser. Pair this with one of my many appetizer recipes like Mutabal (roasted eggplant dip), Eggplant hummus or Fried shishitos.
Eggplant Bruschetta Recipe
Dips
Dips are all about gathering and sharing. Whether it’s creamy, tangy, or smoky, a good dip has a way of slowing everyone down and bringing people together around the table.
Tzatziki Recipe (Greek Cucumber Yogurt Dip)
This Tzatziki Recipe is my take on the classic dip. It comes together in under 10 minutes! Serve alongside other dips and condiments as part of a mezze or sharing platter. Or serve with one of my many meat-based recipes like pulled lamb and chicken skewers.
Tzatziki Recipe
Bread Dipping Oil
This bread dipping oil with olives, herbs and spices will change your appetizer game! It’s a wonderfully easy, adaptable and delicious recipe that takes less than 10 minutes to make. Serve with fresh crusty sourdough, sliced baguette or ciabatta.
Bread Dipping Oil Recipe
Muhammara (Syrian Roasted Red Pepper Walnut Dip)
Muhammara is a classic Levantine roasted red pepper and walnut dip that balances sweet, savory, salty and spicy flavors. It’s also incredibly easy to make in just 2 steps! Best of all, this gorgeous dip comes together in under 10 minutes!
Muhammara Recipe
Feta Yogurt Cucumber Dip
I love Tzatziki, and I love Feta Cheese… And so we have their love child: Feta Yogurt Cucumber Dip. Creamy, tangy, and loaded with fresh herbs, this is exactly what summer snacking dreams are made of.
Feta Yogurt Cucumber Dip Recipe
Caramelized Eggplant Hummus
A classic hummus base topped with caramelized eggplant, this eggplant hummus has a great rich flavor without losing the traditional hummus taste. Serve this with pita or flatbread, crackers, or crudité for a tasty snack or fun main.
Eggplant Hummus Recipe
Salads
Salads bring color, freshness, and a sense of seasonality to any meal. I often build them around what’s growing in the garden: crisp greens, herbs, or just-picked veggies tossed in a bright dressing.
Maroulosalata (Classic Greek Lettuce Salad)
Maroulosalata is a classic Greek lettuce salad that is refreshing, tangy and makes for a perfect side dish with heavier mains. It’s incredibly easy to make and comes together in under 10 minutes! It’s adaptable and can be modified slightly to suit your preferences.
Maroulosalata Recipe
Tahini Salad (Levantine Salata with Cucumber and Tomato)
This tahini salad recipe is so incredibly easy to make it comes together in under 15 minutes. Pair it with a hearty main dish or grilled and fried seafood. It’s also very adaptable and you can modify it to suit your tastes.
Tahini Salad Recipe
Traditional Greek Salad Recipe (Horiatiki Salata)
If summer had an official salad, it would be this vibrant and refreshing Traditional Greek Salad Recipe (Horiatiki Salata). Fresh tomatoes, crisp cucumber, briny olives, and creamy feta come together in one glorious bowl. My go-to salad recipe for dinners in the garden.
Greek Salad Recipe
Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad Recipe (in a Lime Dressing)
This Watermelon Cucumber Feta Salad is everything I crave in the summer: juicy, refreshing, salty, tangy, and just a little herby. It’s the perfect side for any backyard BBQ or a quick lunch. It comes together in under 15 minutes.
Watermelon Cucumber Salad Recipe
Peach Caprese Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes
Summer isn’t complete without my Peach Caprese Salad. This recipe is a slight twist on the traditional Caprese salad and includes luscious ripe peaches, fresh heirloom tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. What I love about this recipe is how quickly it comes together, in under 15 minutes.
Peach Caprese Recipe
Authentic Lebanese Fattoush Salad
Fresh, refreshing and delicious, this authentic Lebanese Fattoush salad recipe is sure to be a crowd-pleaser with its tangy dressing. Enjoy it as a side dish, an appetizer, or on its own. Best of all, it can be prepared in under 30 minutes!
Fattoush Recipe
Sides
Sides are where I get creative. They’re the bridge between everything else on the table. A roasted vegetable, a simple grain, or a quick pickle that adds texture and contrast to the main dish.
Sumac Onions (Turkish Marinated Onion Salad)
Sumac Onions (Turkish Marinated Onion Salad) is a traditional Middle Eastern condiment perfect for grilled meats, fish, or a mezze platter. It’s not only popular in Turkey, but in The Levant as well. Best of all, it comes together in less than 15 minutes!
Sumac Onions Recipe
Mediterranean Yellow Rice Recipe (with Turmeric)
Level up with this Mediterranean Yellow Rice Recipe. It's easy to make, incredibly flavorful and pairs beautifully with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or even a simple fresh salad. It gets its gorgeous golden color from ground turmeric.
Yellow Rice Recipe
How to Make Saffron Rice (Middle Eastern Recipe)
This Middle Eastern-style Saffron Rice recipe is delicious, fragrant, and incredibly versatile. It pairs well with many of my other recipes (stews, grilled proteins, and fish). Best of all, it comes together in less than 30 minutes, and most of the time is inactive!
Saffron Rice Recipe
Corn, Zucchini, and White Bean Side Dish
This Corn, Zucchini, and White Bean Side Dish is one of those throw-it-in-a-pan recipes that comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes like summer on a plate.
Corn Zucchini Side Recipe
Mains
This is where it all comes together. The main course anchors the meal. Hearty, bold, and satisfying, yet still rooted in fresh, seasonal ingredients and simple techniques.
Mushroom Pappardelle
A hearty mushroom-based pasta dish, mushroom pappardelle is made with a mix of white wine, cream, and Parmigiano Reggiano. This dish isn't too creamy or saucy and really lets the mushroom flavor shine!
Mushroom Pappardelle Recipe
Chicken Kafta Kebabs
Looking for a mouthwatering and easy-to-make recipe? My chicken kafta is a must-try! Packed with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, these grilled chicken kafta patties or kebabs are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend barbecue.
Chicken Kafta Recipe
Kabob Koobideh (Persian Beef Kebab Recipe)
A staple in Persian cuisine, Kabob Koobideh can easily be prepared at home. This recipe is very straightforward and a perfect addition to your summer grilling rotation. The kebabs are delicious, smoky, fragrant and juicy!
Koobideh Recipe
Beef Kofta (Easy Kafta Kebabs)
This beef kofta recipe combines accessible ground beef with aromatic Middle Eastern spices and fresh herbs. It’s a perfect recipe for a quick and easy lunch or weeknight dinner.
Beef Kofta Recipe
Condiments and Sauces
Sauces and condiments are the secret to making food come alive. A drizzle, a dollop, or a spoonful can completely transform a dish, adding brightness, heat, or depth. I love making them from scratch using garden herbs, peppers, and seasonal produce so every meal feels just a little more special.
How to Make Lemon Tahini Sauce (Authentic and Easy)
A classic Middle Eastern condiment, Lemon Tahini Sauce is used to dress shawarma, grilled meats, falafels, and more. It’s rich, unctuous and nutty. And best of all, this creamy sauce comes together in under 5 minutes and with only 5 ingredients!
Lemon Tahini Sauce Recipe
Chermoula (North African Cilantro Parsley Sauce)
Chermoula is a vibrant, earthy, and aromatic North African marinade and sauce commonly used in Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian cuisines. This very adaptable recipe is incredibly easy to make! Traditionally the sauce is used to flavor fish and seafood.
Chermoula Recipe
Red Chimichurri Recipe (Chimichurri Rojo)
This Red Chimichurri sauce is a simple and straightforward twist on the classic Argentinian Chimichurri. It comes together in under 10 minutes! Serve it with grilled meat, chicken, seafood and vegetables. It works really well with grilled flank steak, skirt steak or even a New York Strip.
Red Chimichurri Recipe
Mint Yogurt Sauce (with Garlic and Lemon)
This mint yogurt sauce with garlic and lemon is a refreshing side or dip. It comes together in under 10 minutes and with 5 ingredients. The perfect accompaniment for heavy dishes like pulled lamb, beef kebabs, chicken shish tawook, Musakhan rolls
Mint Yogurt Sauce Recipe
Mint Chimichurri Sauce Recipe (with Pomegranate Molasses)
A spin on the classic herb sauce, this mint chimichurri sauce (with pomegranate molasses) will elevate your grilled or slow-roasted meats. The sauce can be used for dipping, garnishing or even as a marinade. Best of all, it comes together in under 15 minutes.
Mint Chimichurri Recipe
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