15 Mediterranean Recipes You Need to Know

Our all-time favorite dishes from Spain to Greece to North Africa.

The cuisines from the areas around the Mediterranean sea are some of the most popular and beloved in the world. If you had to just pick one favorite, it would be incredibly difficult to do, especially since there's such a wide variety of ingredients and techniques used to create these dishes.

Here, we've picked our favorite and most iconic dishes from around the Mediterranean, hailing from the likes of Turkey, Greece, Morocco and Spain.

Greek Salad

Simply Recipes founder Elise Bauer says, "This Greek salad is a favorite of my father's to make during the summer."

Get Recipe: Easy Greek Salad

Chicken Souvlaki

Popular in Greece, souvlaki are small pieces of meat or vegetables grilled on skewers. This recipe is great on the grill, but for a weeknight win can also be made on the stovetop.

Get Recipe: Greek Chicken Skewers with Yogurt Sauce (Chicken Souvlaki)

Tabbouleh

This take on the classic Middle Eastern salad centers on bulgur wheat, fresh herbs, tomatoes and other fresh ingredients. It's a hearty dish, and great for lunches and leftovers.

Get Recipe: Easy Tabbouleh

Hummus

Quit buying store-bought hummus and make it yourself! With a few cans of chickpeas and a blender, it's easy to make at home.

Get Recipe: Easy Homemade Hummus

Moroccan Chicken with Lemon and Olives

We highly recommend making this delicious braised chicken dish in a traditional Moroccan tagine, but if you don't have one, don't fret—just use a large, shallow, thick-bottomed skillet with a lid.

Get Recipe: Moroccan Chicken with Lemon and Olives

Menemen

This spiced Turkish egg dish is traditionally served at breakfast, but the versatile combination of savory flavors gives it the flexibility to make a fantastic lunch or dinner.

Get Recipe: Menemen (Turkish Scrambled Eggs and Tomatoes)

Chermoula

This North African sauce pairs so well with meats and fish, but can also be mixed with mayonnaise for dressing, yogurt for a dip, or drizzled over avocado toast.

Get Recipe: Chermoula

Mercimek Çorbası

Mercimek Çorbası is a rich, warming lentil soup recipe hailing from Turkey. We've included a few tips for ingredient substitutions if you can't find the ones traditionally used.

Get Recipe: Mercimek Çorbası (Turkish Lentil Soup)

Spanakopita

To make this easy vegetarian Greek pie, spinach, feta, ricotta, and fresh herbs are encased in layers of flaky, buttery phyllo. It's often folded into triangles, but here it's made into a quick and simple casserole.

Get Recipe: Spanakopita

Moussaka

This is the Greek version of the layered dish found all over the Mediterranean. It takes time to put together, but the outcome is so worth it!

Get Recipe: Moussaka

Sabich

Author Micah Siva grew up eating sabich, a stuffed flatbread sandwich made with fried eggplant, boiled eggs, tahini sauce, hummus, and a tangy Israeli salad. Her recipe includes plenty of great tips for making it at home.

Get Recipe: Homemade Sabich

Shakshuka

Shakshuka is one of those dishes that everyone can love. There are many different ways to make it your own, whether you like a classic red version or want something more green.

Get Recipe: Shakshuka with Feta, Olives, and Peppers

Avgolemono

This classic Greek chicken and lemon soup is enriched with silky eggs. Our recipe gives you the foolproof methods you need to make it perfectly in your own home.

Get Recipe: Avgolemono Soup

Chicken Shawarma

There are so many versions of chicken shawarma from around the Mediterranean and this is just one great option for making it at home.

Get Recipe: Chicken Shawarma

Paella

Infused with saffron and laden with mixed seafood and meats, Valencian paella is a special dish that's great for sharing. All you need with it is some wine, sliced bread and all your friends and family!

Get Recipe: Seafood Paella

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.