The best Mediterranean diet and recipe ideas for beginners

Tinned salmon and courgette quiche

Our tinned salmon and courgette quiche uses seasonal veg and tinned fish to keep it affordable. It has a lovely, herbed shortcrust pastry and a tinned salmon and courgette filling.

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Shakshuka

Start off the day with a filling dish full of flavor: This vibrant Shakshuka recipe, a staple dish throughout the Middle East, fits into a Mediterranean diet.

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One Pan Cherry Tomato and Pesto Pasta

This method is so easy and saves on washing up. Add in any extra flavours you fancy (or have in the cupboard or fridge). Dried mixed herbs, tinned tuna and olives would all make tasty additions and add an extra Mediterranean touch.

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Lentil, chickpea and cauliflower dahl

A dahl recipe is a great way to get in lots of legumes and vegetables into your diet and is full of fragrant spices. It also happens to be vegan!

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Peach Melba Breakfast Trifle

Forget trifle for dessert and have for brunch instead! Granola, raspberry coulis, yoghurt and peach are layered up to create this impressive brunch centrepiece.

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Courgette carbonara

Adding grated courgettes makes this luxurious carbonara recipe more substantial for your midweek meal, without adding lots of extra calories (and sneaks in some greens!)

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Greek salad flatbreads

Good Housekeeping / Alex Luck

Take your Greek salad up a notch by turning it into this tasty flatbread lunch. For extra points, whip up your own homemade humous for the base.

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One-pan Chicken Cacciatore

Mike English

This classic uses flavoursome chicken legs, which are often a fraction of the cost of breast. For a heartier meal, stir in a 400g tin of drained and rinsed haricot beans along with the chopped tomatoes.

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If you want to try the Mediterranean diet but don’t know how to start, this free, easy meal plan of breakfasts, lunches and dinners for weight loss is for you.