Mediterranean Food: 25 Traditional Dishes You Need To Try

Mediterranean food is adored worldwide. The cuisine is widely praised for its healthy fats and prevention of cardiovascular disease, with plenty of minimally processed meats, healthy oils, fresh vegetables, and herbs and spices. Mediterranean recipes are so popular that they are now recreated in most corners of the world. However, they stem from three culinary regions; Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

25 Traditional Mediterranean Dishes

Mediterranean food might have adapted and spread globally, but we’ll explore the most traditional versions of the best Mediterranean dishes. Whether you want to try recreating a dish at home or are planning to visit the Mediterranean region, this guide will cover the best traditional Mediterranean dishes you need to try.

1. Greek Salad, aka Horiatiki

Greek salad is a classic Mediterranean dish, and Greek food is one of the most famous Mediterranean cuisines. It is the perfect summer salad, with fresh flavors and a delicious drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. You’ll typically find chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, black olives, and either crumbled feta cheese or a thick slice of feta cheese perched on top of the rest of the salad. The extra virgin olive oil neutralizes the acidity of the onion, and you might also find a sprinkling of oregano for an aromatic added flavor.

When the Greek salad was truly invented is a bit of a mystery. The version of the salad we know and love today was created by tavern owners in Plaka between 1960 and 1970. However, adaptions of the recipe have been used for centuries. Greece is one of the leading producers of the world’s olives and has been growing olive trees since Ancient Greece. The Mediterranean climate is perfect for growing olives and fresh vegetables all year round.

If you visit Greece, you’ll easily find a Greek salad in a local cafe or restaurant. It is also a great, simple dish to recreate at home.

2. Pizza Margherita

The Margherita pizza needs little introduction. The pizza is somewhat of a national dish of Italy, which is fitting considering it was patriotically invented in honor of Queen Margherita in 1889. Its three toppings even represent the Italian flag, with white mozzarella, green basil leaves, and red tomato. It goes without saying that the Margherita pizza is one of the most iconic dishes in all of the Mediterranean countries.

Margherita pizza served the Mediterranean way, is uncut and eaten with a knife and fork. Like most of…