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25 Delicious Mediterranean Side Dishes

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Whether you're following a Mediterranean diet or just looking to add some Mediterranean side dishes to your meals, I have you covered. 

This list includes a wide variety of side dishes, most of which include plenty of vegetables for healthy eating. 

These Mediterranean recipes are all delicious and include tons of flavor. They're healthy side dishes the whole family and any dinner guests will enjoy.


Tabouli salad with sliced lemons in a large glass bowl with a silver spoon, next to a striped towel.

Authentic Tabouli Recipe

This delicious tabouli salad recipe (tabbouleh and tabbouli) is heavy on fresh herbs and tomatoes. It's a herbaceous salad that's versatile and can be served in many ways and pairs well with many main dishes. This healthy Mediterranean recipe is also naturally vegan! 


A scoop of Arabic salad in a spoon above a bowl of salad.

Arabic Salad

This traditional Arabic salad combines chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions with spices and herbs for a refreshing, delicious side dish! You'll love the bright, crisp flavors in this veggie salad. This dish is incredibly popular across the Middle East. It's sometimes called Lebanese salad because it's native to the Levant region (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, etc.).


A closeup shot of a bowl of Turkish potato salad.

Turkish Potato Salad (Patates Salatasi)

This tasty Turkish potato salad is a hearty and filling side dish that's so flavorful. The combination of bell peppers, green onions, fresh herbs, and kicky spices really makes this dish special. In Turkish, this recipe is called Patates Salatası and it's often eaten as a main dish during summer picnics.


A large bowl of cherry tomato caprese salad.

Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

This delicious cherry tomato caprese salad is a standout recipe. This easy Caprese salad is the perfect summer side salad and saves well in the refrigerator so you can make it ahead of a party, BBQ, or picnic. An Insalata Caprese is ridiculously popular for a reason and this one is made with cherry tomatoes for extra bursts of flavor. 


Italian tomato salad in a large white serving bowl with serving utensils.

Italian Tomato Salad

This fresh Italian tomato salad recipe (Insalata di Pomodori) is a simple, easy summer side dish. It's perfect for a BBQ or picnic and absolutely bursting with fresh flavors. You'll love the combination of fresh ingredients - including ripe tomatoes and aromatic herbs in this marinated tomato salad. 


An overhead shot of a platter of grilled vegetables, topped with finely chopped herbs, next to a blue napkin.

Mediterranean Grilled Vegetables

These delicious grilled Mediterranean vegetables are a perfect side dish. They're char-grilled to perfection and topped with herbs, olive oil, and lemon juice. Grilling veggies enriches their flavor for a simple but tasty dish. Serve these alongside some grilled chicken, kabobs, or a pasta salad for dinner. 


A large pot of Mediterranean lentil soup.

Mediterranean Lentil Soup

This Mediterranean lentil soup with potatoes and spinach is hearty, healthy, and easy to make! It takes a little time to simmer, but it makes a large pot of delicious soup. You will love the Mediterranean flavors in this hearty soup. It's an easy recipe that doesn't require much hands-on time.


Sautéed oyster mushrooms in a white serving bowl.

Pan-Fried Oyster Mushrooms

These pan-fried oyster mushrooms are a fantastic side dish! Oyster mushrooms are one of the most delicious types of mushrooms. They're savory and delicate with a mild, earthy flavor that pairs well with so many dishes. Oyster mushrooms are grown around the world and are common in European and East Asian cooking. 


Turkish shephard's salad in a white bowl.

Shepherd's Salad (Turkish Chopped Salad)

This easy Turkish chopped salad is called Shepherd's Salad (Çoban Salatası or Choban Salad). It's made with fresh vegetables, herbs, and can be topped with feta. It's called "salad of the people" because it's made with common, seasonal ingredients like tomato, cucumber, and bell pepper. This type of salad is very common throughout the Mediterranean.


An overhead shot of Turkish cucumber salad in a black bowl with a silver spoon.

Turkish Cucumber Salad

This delicious and easy Turkish cucumber salad is made with a few simple ingredients and includes a tasty Greek yogurt dressing. This recipe is similar to the Turkish dish cacik and can be served as a side or topping - similar to tzatziki.


A chopped Middle Eastern salad in a ceramic bowl with a serving spoon.

Chopped Middle Eastern Salad

This Middle Eastern salad is a cinch to make and full of fresh ingredients. It's an Arabic chopped salad with a combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, fresh mint, and a quick vinaigrette. This Arabic salad is similar to fattoush salad in that it has tomatoes and cucumbers as the main ingredients, but it's quicker and easier to make. And it's a delicious way to get in a hefty serving of vegetables. 


tomato tarragon pesto salad closeup shot

Easy Tomato Salad with Tarragon Pesto

This bright, easy tomato salad is topped with a basil tarragon pesto and toasted pine nuts. It's truly delightful and makes a wonderful summer side dish.  


Pearl couscous salad with tomatoes and zucchini.

Israeli Couscous Salad

This Israeli couscous salad with zucchini, mozzarella, and tomatoes is hearty and full of bright flavors. The vegetables in this dish can be quite flexible - add more zucchini if you'd like or substitute it for eggplant or other squash. It's really a delicious side dish option.  


A bowl of Mediterranean chickpea salad.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

This 15-minute Mediterranean chickpea salad with feta is a fantastic recipe that's quick to pull together. It's got loads of fresh flavors and is a great side salad recipe. It's made with a few simple ingredients, including some pantry ingredients. The garbanzo beans add a nice bit of protein and this salad is great paired with a light main dish. 


A Mediterranean pasta salad in a large white serving bowl.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

This delicious Mediterranean pasta salad feeds a crowd. It's got loads of fresh veggies and bright ingredients. It's a flavorful vegetarian side salad perfect for a BBQ. This recipe is easy to make too. It's full of fresh foods like a mix of orange, yellow and red bell peppers, feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes and fresh herbs. It's a real treat and one of the most delicious side dish recipes.  


Grilled halloumi salad in a white bowl.

Grilled Halloumi Salad Recipe

This grilled halloumi salad is a tasty, savory Mediterranean recipe! It's paired with fresh and juicy tomatoes and cucumbers for a crunchy vegetable bite.


Tomato and herb salad in a large serving bowl.

Mediterranean Summer Salad

This Mediterranean Summer Salad recipe is heavy on tomatoes, fresh herbs, and flavor. This is an easy, healthy recipe that showcases summer produce. This flavor pairing works so well because of the sharp tanginess of the pomegranate molasses, the juicy sweetness of the tomatoes, and the salty softness of the crumbled feta, and it is one of my favorite Mediterranean side dishes.


One pot skillet orzo and white beans with spinach and sun dried tomatoes.

One Pot Orzo with White Beans

This hearty one-pot orzo with white beans meal is bursting with flavor - from fresh greens to sun-dried tomatoes, this dish has it all! You'll love how the Mediterranean flavors combine for a cozy and delicious meal. This recipe is surprisingly easy to make. While you can eat this as a main course, it can also be portioned out for a wonderful side dish. 


Muhammara dip with pita chips and fresh vegetables.

Muhammara (Syrian Red Pepper Dip)

Muhammara is a delicious, lightly spicy dip made from roast red bell peppers and walnuts. It's originally from the Levant countries of Syria and Lebanon.


An overhead shot of a bowl of Turkish lentil soup topped with paprika oil and parsley.

Turkish Lentil Soup (Mercimek Corbasi)

This delicious Turkish lentil soup recipe (called mercimek çorbası) is a velvety soup with loads of flavor. It's filling, healthy, and full of flavorful spices - perfect for a chilly day when you want a rich bowl of warm soup. 


Pesto pasta salad in a large white bowl.

Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe

This healthy pesto pasta salad recipe is full of flavor. The roasted veggies, grilled corn, and pesto make this a standout summer recipe. This recipe is a perfect side dish for summer BBQs or a picnic and can be served warm or cold. This healthy pasta salad just tastes like summer and is full of delicious Mediterranean flavors. 


Decorated focaccia on a piece of parchment.

Decorated Focaccia Bread

Focaccia bread is a wonderful side dish, especially when eating soup or pasta. Making decorated focaccia bread art is so fun (and it tastes great)! This recipe is delicious and looks beautiful on the dinner table. In addition to a tasty bread recipe, I'll show you how to decorate focaccia bread for many different seasons to impress your guests. Use our focaccia recipe and decoration ideas as a jumping off point for your own creativity. 


A large bowl of spring minestrone soup with a spoon.

Spring Minestrone Soup Recipe

This hearty, spring minestrone soup recipe is a delicious celebration of spring vegetables. Asparagus, spinach, and leeks all shine in this minestrone soup. It's easily made vegan by removing the cheese garnish and makes a great side dish. 


A closeup shot of a bowl of hummus topped with olive oil, parsley, pomegranate seeds, and a piece of pita.

The Creamiest Hummus Recipe

This delicious, homemade hummus recipe is the creamiest dip. Hummus is the chickpea dip we all love, but not all hummus is created equal. In fact, if not prepared properly, hummus can be grainy or too thick. I'll show you how to make the perfect creamy hummus in just a few simple steps. 


Spinach artichoke stuffed pasta shells in a bowl.

Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Pasta Shells

These spinach artichoke stuffed pasta shells are a delicious, vegetarian recipe. They're cheesy pasta deliciousness at its best!  When you’re making stuffed pasta shells, there are a few things to keep in mind and I'll share all the best tips.


If you try any of these Mediterranean side dishes, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos, or leave us a rating.