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7 Lazy Summer Mediterranean Dinner Ideas

ByElena Paravantes, MS, RD

Looking for a fresh, vibrant and healthy Mediterranean meal without spending hours in the kitchen? Here is my go to recipes for easy summer cooking! My favorites offer easy, delicious Mediterranean meals that are perfect for warm summer evenings.

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7 lazy summer mediterranean recipes

Today I’m sharing my easy to make recipes, that are perfect for easy summer cooking. No complex ingredients or complicated instructions, just honest recipes. In under 30 minutes , you’ll have a perfect Mediterranean style meal!

1. Cherry Tomato Basil Mozzarella Pasta

Baked Pasta with Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella

The classic combination of sautéed tomatoes and fresh melted mozzarella come together in this delicious pasta dish.
​GET THE RECIPE: Cherry Tomato Basil Mozzarella Pasta​

2. Mediterranean Pita Pizza with Tahini Sauce

tahini pita pizza

Mediterranean inspired pita pizzas include a layer of a citrusy tahini sauce, topped with tomatoes, sweet and nutty artichoke hearts.
​GET THE RECIPE: Mediterranean Pita Pizza with Tahini Sauce​

3. Lemon Garlic Shrimp with a Touch of Ouzo

This dish features shrimp sautéed in a zesty lemon and garlic sauce, adding the anise-flavored essence of ouzo, all served over al dente spaghetti.
​GET THE RECIPE: Lemon Garlic Shrimp with a Touch of Ouzo​

4. Warm Greek Orzo with Feta and Tomato

Orzo recipe

This delicious and comforting recipe is perfect! Creamy and silky warm orzo pasta cooked to perfection with tomato and topped with tangy feta.
​GET THE RECIPE: Warm Greek Orzo with Feta and Tomato​

5. Mediterranean Baked Sole with Greek Ladolemono Dressing

Mediterranean Baked Sole with Greek Ladolemono Dressing

For this easy and delicious sheet pan fish recipe, sole fillets are baked with the flavorful Greek ladolemono (olive oil-lemon) dressing and herbs.
​GET THE RECIPE: Mediterranean Baked Sole with Greek Ladolemono Dressing​

6. Grilled Feta and Spinach Sandwich

Grilled Spinach and Feta Sandwich

Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s a sandwich, this Mediterranean twist on this classic sandwich is a whole lot healthier and heartier: whole-grain bread topped with tangy, feta cheese, and plenty of spinach, grilled to perfection.
​GET THE RECIPE: Grilled Feta and Spinach Sandwich​

7. 5 Minute Mediterranean Salad with Sardines and Chickpeas

Five Minute Colorful Mediterranean Salad with Sardines and Chickpeas

This bright and fresh chickpea-sardine salad is complemented with tomatoes, cucumber and olives offering a lot of flavor plus a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids.
​GET THE RECIPE: 5 Minute Mediterranean Salad with Sardines and Chickpeas

​More Mediterranean Recipes

12 Mediterranean Summer Salads to Try Now
10 Fall Vegetarian Mediterranean Recipes to Try Now
10 of The Best Mediterranean Tomato Recipes for Summer

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Cherry Tomato Basil Mozzarella Pasta

Baked Pasta with Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
The classic combination of  burst tomatoes and fresh melted mozzarella come together in this delicious pasta dish.
Course: Main Course, pasta
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword: Mozzarella, Pasta
Servings: 2
Author: Elena Paravantes, MS, RD
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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 10-12 ounces (320-350 g) cherry tomatoes washed and halved
  • ½ cup fresh basil roughly chopped
  • 4 ounces (115 g) fresh mozzarella
  • 9 ounces (250 g) uncooked pasta tagliatelle, spaghetti, fettucine
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add a whole garlic clove, then add the cherry tomatoes, the basil leaves and a pinch of salt. Sauté for about 15 minutes, until the tomatoes are tender.
  • Cook the pasta in plenty of water with a pinch of salt for the amount of time indicated on the package.
  • Drain the mozzarella and cut or rip in pieces, if using small mozzarella ball leave as is or cut in half.
  • Once the pasta is ready, drain it and empty in in the pan with the tomato sauce, and sauté for 2-3 minutes, mixing well.
  • Transfer to a casserole dish suitable for cooking in the oven, spread the pasta-tomato sauce mixture. Place the mozzarella on the surface and bake at 400 °F (200 C) for about 5-7 minutes and turn on broil for 2-3 minutes until the mozzarella has melted.
  • Remove from the oven, add a basil leaf and some freshly ground pepper and a pinch of kosher salt and serve immediately.
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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