8 Mediterranean Diet Cookbooks That Make This Diet Easier

October 10, 2023

Clean Plates

Whether you’ve followed the Mediterranean diet for years or are looking to incorporate more of it into your lifestyle, Mediterranean diet cookbooks are a great tool to have — not only do they allow you to make delicious meals, often in a matter of minutes, but they also can make you healthier.

For those who need a refresher, the Mediterranean diet puts a significant focus on plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, and nuts, as well as healthy fats, including extra virgin olive oil and whole grains, like whole wheat and brown rice. Those who follow this diet will often also eat moderate amounts of fish, cheese, and yogurt and little to no sugary desserts or meat.

Beyond having flavorful dishes, the Mediterranean Diet has many health benefits. For instance, one 2019 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that those who followed a Mediterranean Diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A 2023 study published in BMC Medicine also found that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is linked to a lower risk of developing dementia.

If you’re interested in trying out the Mediterranean diet but don’t know where to start, or are getting tired of the recipes you already have, you’re in luck. There are plenty of Mediterranean diet cookbooks out there that focus on the pillars of the diet, such as eating more fruits and vegetables. Here are some favorites.

1. Up Your Veggies: Flexitarian Recipes for the Whole Family by Toby Amidor MS, RD, CDN, FAND

Step up your veggie game with this fun cookbook by award-winning dietitian Toby Amidor. Featuring over 100 plant-based recipes ranging from speedy vegetable soups to poached egg superfood bowls, Up Your Veggies is the perfect tool for flexitarians looking to increase the amount of vegetables they include in their meals. As stated in the book’s bio, only one in two American adults get the recommended daily vegetable intake — this cookbook can help change this.

Buy now: Up Your Veggies

2. The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners by Elena Paravantes

Perfect for those new to the world of cooking, The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook for Beginners has all the information you need to make this heart-healthy way of eating part of your routine in no time. This book not only comes chock-full of recipes but also boasts shopping tips, a lifestyle guide, and an easy-to-follow 14-day meal plan to help kick things off. Written by award-winning Mediterranean diet expert Elena Paravantes, this cookbook checks all boxes and then some.

Buy now: The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook

3. The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen

Over 13,000 Amazon shoppers have given this buzzy recipe book a five-star rating, so you know it’s going to be one of the best Mediterranean diet cookbooks out there. Written by America’s Test Kitchen, this comprehensive guide features 500 kitchen-tested recipes that all draw inspiration from the Mediterranean diet. In here, you can expect delicious choices like grilled swordfish skewers with basil aioli and stuffed eggplant with bulgur. The best part? Many of these recipes can be whipped up in 45 minutes or less.

Buy now: The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook

4. PlantYou by Carleigh Bodrug with a foreword by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz MD

One of the tenets of the Mediterranean diet is eating more fruits and vegetables, which is why this plant-based cookbook is an excellent choice for anyone looking to integrate more fresh produce into their meals. Written by plant-based cook Carleigh Bodrug and featuring an introduction by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, this highly-rated book has over 140 healthy recipes that can be prepared for breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, desserts, dressings, snacks, and more.

Buy now: PlantYou

5. The Mediterranean Dish by Suzy Karadseh

There’s a reason why this cookbook is a New York Times bestseller. Written by Suzy Karadseh, the owner of The Mediterranean Dish food blog, this book features 120 practical recipes using easy-to-find ingredients. The dishes, which blend Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, include simple-to-make options like garlicky spinach and chickpea soup, orange-cardamom olive oil cake, sheet pan smoky chicken with carrots, and much more.

Buy now: The Mediterranean Dish

6. Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London’s Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi

If you’re a fan of Chef Yotam Ottolenghi, the famous chef and restaurateur who owns several London restaurants, you’ll love Plenty, a cookbook centered around vegetables. Inside, you’ll find over 350 pages packed with 120 recipes you can make any time of the day. The dishes, which includes tasty picks like spicy Moroccan carrot salad, Jerusalem artichokes with Manouri and basil oil, and sweet potato cakes, are delicious and each include step-by-step instructions to make cooking a breeze. Besides Plenty, Ottolenghi has also authored several other cookbooks, including Ottolenghi Simple, Essential Ottolenghi, and Sweet.

Buy now: Plenty

7. The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook by Serena Ball, RD and Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD

This cookbook is a no-brainer for those who want to eat healthier but may be low on time. Written by registered dietitians Serena Ball and Deanna Segrave-Daly, this top-rated pick includes over 100 recipes covering everything from hearty breakfasts to beginner-friendly dinner options. Choose from delicious choices, including pomegranate cherry smoothie bowls, melon Caprese salad, Italian breakfast bruschetta, and more. Even better? Each recipe can be made in 30 minutes or less.

Buy now: The 30-Minute Mediterranean Diet Cookbook

8. Milk Street Vegetables by Christopher Kimball

Christopher Kimball, a James Beard and IACP award winner, founder of Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street, and co-founder of America’s Test Kitchen, has put together a book of recipes that will easily elevate how and how often you eat vegetables. Boasting more than 250 delicious veggie-centric recipes, Kimball transforms ho-hum produce into flavorful meals you’ll be thinking about for days after. To give you an idea, this cookbook covers everything from curried cauliflower rice with peas and cashews, Persian-style Swiss chard and herb omelets, and scallion noodles to cauliflower soup with harissa butter, hot oil-flashed chard with ginger, and more. Flavorful and easy to make, this book deserves a permanent spot on your kitchen counter.

Buy now: Milk Street Vegetables

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