Mediterranean cuisine is made up of several regional Middle Eastern foods. This style of food focuses on fresh veggies, olive oil, and local in-season ingredients. Different cultures and countries put their own spin on Mediterranean street food dishes. Some well-known styles include Lebanese, Greek, and Turkish. You've probably heard of popular Mediterranean staples like hummus, gyros, and kebabs. Luckily for us, there are Mediterranean restaurants all over the US ranging from takeout to fine dining. If you truly want to immerse yourself in a culture, you need to try their food, and we have the 12 best recipes that you need to try.
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Mediterranean Street Food
1. Feta Shrimp Skillet
First on our list is a recipe embracing feta cheese. Feta hails from Greece and is a salty, crumbly cheese.
Get the recipe here.
2. Baklava
Baklava is a traditional Turkish and Arab dessert. It is made with layers of flaky pastry, nuts and honey. This recipe uses store-bought phyllo, making it much simpler than the original.
Get the recipe here.
3. Chicken Shawarma
Shawarma is meat that has been marinated in spices, then roasted on a spit in its own juices until cooked. At Mediterranean dine-in restaurants, you'll see the meat being shaved off the spit. Shawarma is served up with tahini sauce, which is a creamy sauce made from ground sesame seeds.
Get the recipe here.
4. Hummus and Pita
This duo is a classic appetizer and common Mediterranean street food. Hummus is relatively easy to make at home and only requires garlic, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, and chickpeas. Depending on your preference, you can even add different flavors like roasted red pepper or garlic.
Pita bread is a tad more complicated to make, but is similar to a traditional yeast dough. There's nothing like fresh warm bread straight from the oven.
Get the recipe here.
5. Greek Salad
Like the name implies, this Mediterranean street food's origins are Greek. This salad is served with fresh tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and a red wine vinaigrette.
Get the recipe here.
6. Falafel
Falafel is a great vegan food that will even satisfy carnivores. It's made with chickpeas, herbs and spices, then fried. It can be served on its own, or alongside gyro meat on a Mediterranean platter.
Get the recipe here.
7. Baba Ghanoush
Baba ghanoush is a creamy roasted eggplant dip. It great for strict diets, as it's vegan, gluten free, and nut free, while also being delicious.
Get the recipe here.
8. Tzatziki
This Greek dip is made with cucumber, yogurt, and dill. It's very refreshing and cooling and pairs great with grilled chicken.
Get the recipe here.
9. Garlic Sauce
Lebanese garlic sauce is a very thick spread used on a variety of dishes. It's most commonly seen on chicken shawarma or Shish Tawook.
Get the recipe here.
10. Torshi
Torshi, aka pickled vegetables, are a common side dish in Persian cuisine. Their bright and acidic flavor helps offset the rich flavor from kebabs.
Get the recipe here.
11. Basmati Rice
This type of rice is soft, fluffy and tender. It is also the base of Persian rice which is the staple of every Persian dish.
Get the recipe here.
12. Mediterranean Flatbread
This pillowy, doughy bread is a staple in Mediterranean cuisine. It can be used to scoop up baba ghanoush or as a base for a pizza.
Get the recipe here.
If you don't feel like making any of these, you can order from Pita Mediterranean Street Food. With several locations throughout the US, you're sure to find something delicious for your Mediterranean street food feast.
