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14 Mediterranean Diet Comfort Food Recipes To Make Right Now

ByElena Paravantes, MS, RD

These 14 recipes are not only comforting, they are full of nutrients to keep you strong, balance your mood and reduce your stress. Science says so!

Gemista Greek stuffed tomatoes

Have you started stress cooking and baking? I know I have. With the news that we may need to stay at home for an extended period of time, our first impulse may be that we can eat whatever we feel like since we are stranded in our house. And sure, junk food sounds good just about now and under these unique circumstances, and I would not blame anyone for seeking out easy to eat, highly processed foods. But did you know that studies have shown that junk food is associated with a depressive mood? So, you may go into a vicious cycle of feeling sorry for yourself-eating junk food-feeling stressed-eating more junk food etc. etc. In the long run junk food is not only bad for our physical health but our emotional health as well.

One of the most important things to do right now is eating healthy, well-balanced meals. And that means includes food as well. Eating well will be good for your health and your well-being and it also gives you a sense of accomplishment. Plus, at some point this situation will end and we want to come out of it stronger, physically and mentally.

Thankfully Mediterranean cuisine has plenty of tasty and satisfying dishes. Research has shown that incorporating Mediterranean foods may help you cope better with stress, and as a bonus your home will fill with delicious aromas and smell cozy and homey. So, check out some favorites and let’s start cooking!

1. Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted Cauliflower

Roasted cauliflower with olive oil caramelizes resulting a sweet, nutty and healthy cauliflower dish.
Click for the recipe here >> Roasted Cauliflower

2. Baked Spiced Greek Meatballs in Tomato Sauce-Soutzoukakia

soutzoukakia meatballs

Greek baked cumin flavored meatballs, drenched in thick tomato sauce.
Click for the recipe here >>Baked Spiced Greek Meatballs in Tomato Sauce-Soutzoukakia

3. Syrupy Walnut Phyllo Rolls – Baklava

Baklava Rolls Walnut phyllo rolls

If you love baklava, you can make this easy, vegan, healthier version at home. Walnuts wrapped in phyllo and drizzled with syrup is a perfect dessert any time of the day.
Click for the recipe here >> Syrupy Walnut Phyllo Rolls – Baklava

4. The Best Authentic Greek Stuffed Tomatoes-Gemista

Gemista Greek stuffed tomatoes

The quintessential Greek Mediterranean dish: Roasted tomatoes and peppers stuffed with rice and herbs. The famous Gemista or Yemista.
Click for the recipe here >> The Best Authentic Greek Stuffed Tomatoes-Gemista

5. Greek Stewed Pork and Greens in Lemon Sauce – Fricassee

Tender pork along with greens and a lemon sauce, this hearty, comforting meal is not only tasty, it is cooked with plenty of greens, making it healthy too.
Click for the recipe here >> Greek Stewed Pork and Greens in Lemon Sauce – Fricassee

6. Greek Baked Feta Cheese in Phyllo and Honey

Greek baked feta in phyllo

A sweet and salty dessert, easy on the sugar. Baked feta wrapped in phyllo dough drizzled with honey.
Click for the recipe here >> Greek Baked Feta Cheese in Phyllo and Honey

7. Mediterranean Eggplant stuffed with Fresh Tomato and Onion

MEDITERRANEAN EGGPLANT STUFFED WITH FRESH TOMATO AND ONION

Roasted Eggplant stuffed with a tasty mix of caramelized onion and fresh tomato, drizzled with olive oil.
Click for the recipe here >> Mediterranean Eggplant stuffed with Fresh Tomato and Onion

8. Greek Chickpea Patties with Thick Tomato Sauce

Flavorful chickpea-tomato patties drenched in intense tomato sauce.
Click for the recipe here >> Greek Chickpea Patties with Thick Tomato Sauce

9. Crispy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Greek sheet pan chicken

Roasted crispy chicken accompanied with juicy roasted sweet potatoes. An easy, sheet pan, weekday dinner.
Click for the recipe here >> Crispy Greek Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

10. Greek Roasted Veggie Pita Pizza

Roasted Veggie Pizza

This Greek inspired roasted veggie pita pizza will satisfy your pizza craving and get in plenty of vegetables.
Click for the recipe here >> Greek Roasted Veggie Pita Pizza

11. Greek Spinach and Rice – Spanakorizo

spanakorizo Greek spinach and rice

A traditional Greek rice and spinach dish that will become a winter staple, thanks to its flavor.
Click for the recipe here >> Greek Spinach and Rice – Spanakorizo

12. Greek Style Nachos with Spicy Whipped Feta

Greek nachos

Nachos made with traditional Greek salad ingredients (tomatoes, capers, olives, onions), topped with the traditional Greek dip made with feta, yogurt and hot peppers.
Click for the recipe here >> Greek Style Nachos with Spicy Whipped Feta

13. Pasteli: Greek Honey-Sesame Bars

Pasteli

Crunchy, Sweet and Protein rich bars. A traditional Greek snack made with only two ingredients: sesame seeds and honey.
Click for the recipe here >> Pasteli: Greek Honey-Sesame Bars

14. Authentic Spanakopita – Greek Spinach and Feta Pie

Greek Spinach Pie Spanakopita

The authentic recipe for spanakopita, spinach cooked with herbs and feta cheese covered with crunchy phyllo.
Click for the recipe here >> Authentic Spanakopita – Greek Spinach and Feta Pie

SAVE IT AND PIN IT FOR LATER!

Photos by Elena Paravantes All Rights Reserved

Elena Paravantes, MS, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist by the U.S. Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). She is an expert on the Mediterranean Diet. She has been active as a clinician, consultant, author and lecturer for 20 years, both in the U.S. and Greece. An expert on the Greek Mediterranean Diet, her interviews and articles have been published in many publications including CNN, U.S. News and World Report, Prevention, NPR, and Shape. Elena has collaborated with a number of organizations including Loyola University, Yale University, University of Missouri, Louisiana State University, and the American College of Greece. Elena earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics and her Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She holds has a Master’s Degree of Science in Health Management.

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13 Comments

  2. Hey Elena! I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now. I’m 25 and want to treat my body right so I can keep it for the long haul. I found your blog and loved that it is based on what people had been eating for hundreds (even thousands) of years and did not involve calorie counting or fad health food ingredients. Also, I could tolerate veggies in your recipes much more than the boring boiled peas and carrots of my childhood. Because of your blog, I was inspired to visit Greece this summer and went to Ikaria to see the famous blue zone and what they really eat there, because I had a feeling it was not “Mediterranean” seasoned Sun Chips. Your blog started me on an overhaul of the way I eat and a more positive outlook on what a healthy lifestyle is like. I was very glad to learn that a healthy lifestyle involves lots of olive oil and no no calorie counting. I’m really grateful for this website and the time you dedicate to it. Thank you a lot.

    Reply

  3. Thank you Elena! Finally, a site that incorporates my favorite foods(Bread, Vegetables and Cheese – in that order) in a Healthy and COST effective manner. I have been trying quite of the recipes over the past several weeks and have enjoyed both making AND eating I have even started to see my weight improve without really trying and no guilt. I wanted to reach out to let you know how thankful I am that you have taken the time to share via this site. It has made a huge difference in my Kitchen!
    Thank you, Thank you and Ευχαριστούμε!

    Reply

  4. Hi Elena, This morning I saw a recipe you had which was a pita with hand made dough stuffed with ricotta.
    I didn’t note the name of it and I cannot find it. Please help. Thank you

    PS your patsavouropita is a huge hit with my family and friends

    Reply

  5. I had weight loss surgery . I still haven’t met my goals. I need to have 80 grams of protein each day and eat low carbs. The ‘popular ‘ diets like Keto is NOT good for me!
    I love the Mediterranean way of eating! Do you think I can get my nutrition needs eating the Mediterranean way?

    ANY SUGGESTINGS?
    Thank you!!!

    Reply

  6. After going to Greece last spring, I can’t get enough of Greek Food recipes! I especially love your spanakopita. I make it all the time and my family loves it. And you are right about cooking and baking, they are very good therapy for these times! Thank for posting these.

    Reply

  7. Hi Elena! I can vouch for your mom’s gemista recipe. It’s the greatest comfort food recipe in the history of the world! Also, your spanakorizo recipe is great comfort food, too. But since I made it last week, I’m tempted to make either prasorizo or lahanorizo this week. It depends on what will be available at the store.

    Another of my favorites is the Spinach Casserole with Feta and Crunchy Topping that I will definitely be making this week.

    Thanks so much for sharing your recipes and everyone take care with this horrible virus that’s going around.

    Reply