This dish is a great example: You cook the shrimp in the water with the pasta, then add herby basil, briny capers, rich olive oil, and bright lemon juice, no further cooking required. But the Mediterranean diet is the total opposite: It’s all about whole grains, veggies, nuts, fish, lean meat and lots of olive oil, aka our dieting dream. In fact, many chefs that create one-of-a-kind Mediterranean dishes are only concentrating on the ingredients, not whether the food offers a health benefit. Nov 14, 2020 - The Best Mediterranean Recipes from The Mediterranean Dish and other food bloggers. That being said, lots of Mediterranean cuisine is healthy and can be attributed to the ingredients that are used in most Mediterranean style foods and make up the basis of the Mediterranean diet. We’ll discuss that too, and the list probably won’t surprise you at all. To round out your super-healthy meals, here are 23 Mediterranean side dishes that are healthy and delicious. Recipes like Mediterranean Cod with Roasted Tomatoes and Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad are delicious, filling and full of herbs. A hallmark of Mediterranean dishes is that they derive deep flavor from simple ingredients prepared simply. And, with its emphasis on vegetables and whole foods, it may help you lose weight and then maintain the weight you want. These dishes inspired by the Mediterranean region feature fish, whole grains and fresh vegetables to create a healthy meal. What foods are not allowed on the Mediterranean diet? Chunky Mediterranean tomato soup 8 ratings 3.7 out of 5 star rating Use roasted vegetables in this speedy, low calorie soup - we used peppers, aubergines, onions and courgettes. The Mediterranean diet is about eating whole foods, including lots of fruits and veggies, and limiting heavily processed foods and saturated fats.As far as health benefits, the Mediterranean diet has been shown to lower the risk of chronic diseases and increase life expectancy. These Mediterranean recipes are the perfect choice for Sunday dinner. Incorporate more fish, whole grains, plant-based proteins and olive oil into your routine with these healthy (and flavorful) Mediterranean diet-inspired recipes from Food Network. Mediterranean Diet Pyramid.