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The cuisine of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea is phenomenal! These 21 countries have some common base ingredients, but with cultures that are European, Middle Eastern, and North African, the variety is seemingly endless.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit three of these countries in my travels and ever since I’ve been kind of obsessed about the flavors in their foods. I got even more interested after going AIP, because I found that a lot of the most well-known Mediterranean cuisines can easily be adapted to AIP . . . which is really no surprise, since there is ample proof that some aspects of Mediterranean diets are also very healthful.
This recipe is a 4-for-1 special! You’ll see lots of overlap in base ingredients, but with simple swaps, brand-new flavor profiles are born. Check out these four simple ways to infuse some Mediterranean vibes into your life!
- 1 lb. ground lamb
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 medium-sized head cauliflower, riced
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 1 small cucumber, diced
- ½ cup kalamata olives, halved
- 1 cup plain, unsweetened coconut-milk yogurt
- 1 teaspoon dill
- Brown lamb in large heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat, mixing in lemon zest, oregano, and sea salt as it cooks. Cook until fully browned.
- Remove from skillet with slotted spoon, reserving fat. Place in a clean bowl and set aside.
- Add cauliflower and onion to skillet. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring only every 2 minutes to prevent sticking, until lightly browned and tender. Remove from heat.
- Combine yogurt, lemon juice, and dill in a small bowl, mix well to combine.
- Fill bowls with cauli rice, top with lamb, cucumber, olives, and drizzle yogurt sauce over.
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 medium-sized head cauliflower, riced
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup packed fresh basil, sliced into ribbons
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- Brown beef in large heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat, mixing in oregano, sea salt, and mushrooms as it cooks. Cook until fully browned.
- Remove from skillet with slotted spoon, reserving fat. Place in a clean bowl and set aside.
- Add cauliflower and onion to skillet. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring only every 2 minutes to prevent sticking, until lightly browned and tender. Remove from heat.
- Combine olive oil and vinegar in a jar, tightly secure lid, and shake to combine.
- Fill bowls with cauli rice, top with beef, basil, and drizzle oil and vinegar dressing over
- Heat one tablespoon olive oil in large heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp, stirring often and mixing in garlic, saffron, and salt as it cooks. Cook only until shrimp is opaque and garlic is fragrant.
- Remove from skillet with slotted spoon. Place in a clean bowl and set aside.
- Add remaining olive oil, cauliflower and onion to skillet. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring only every 2 minutes to prevent sticking, until lightly browned and tender. Remove from heat.
- Fill bowls with cauli rice, top with shrimp, carrots, and parsley.
- 2 chicken breasts, chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon raisins
- 1 tablespoon chopped dried apricot
- 1 tablespoon chopped prune
- 1 medium-sized head cauliflower, riced
- 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled, grated
- fresh or dry parsley, for garnish
- Heat two tablespoons olive oil in large heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, stirring often and mixing in turmeric, cinnamon, salt, and dried fruits as it cooks. Cook until chicken is completely cooked and fruits are softened. (Add a few tablespoons of water if mixture begins to stick to skillet.)
- Remove from skillet with slotted spoon. Place in a clean bowl and set aside.
- Add remaining olive oil, cauliflower and ginger to skillet. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring only every 2 minutes to prevent sticking, until lightly browned and tender. Remove from heat.
- Fill bowls with cauli rice, top with chicken and parsley.
2 comments
These look wonderful! I can’t wait to try them! What a great post!
Thank you for this! I am Mediterranean and miss so many of the foods being AIP for the past 8 years (eggplant and tomato were my favorites). This helps to replicate the flavors of the Med Diet with all the healthy benefits.