The Mediterranean Dish: Simply Dinner: 125 Easy Mediterranean Diet-Inspired Recipes to Eat Well and Live Joyfully

Eschewing “a rigid food plan” and embracing the idea that “anything can be dinner,” Karadsheh’s cheery second collection (after The Mediterranean Dish Cookbook) brings ease and simplicity to the fore. Many of these tangy, colorful dishes are inspired by Karadsheh’s Egyptian heritage, featuring bold eastern Mediterranean and Levantine flavors. The mezze chapter offers appetizers to mix and match into a meal, including sweet corn and salmon nuggets; muhammara, a tangy Syrian dip; and no-bake roasted pepper and feta nachos. Salads include “reimagined familiar classics” such as a mini–wedge salad that replaces bacon bits and blue cheese with grilled corn, tomatoes, and feta, and fattoush with strawberries, arugula, and spinach. A kebab chapter features chicken kebabs and scallop skewers, while plentiful meatless dishes include a veggie phyllo pizza and a quick lasagna that’s whipped up in a skillet. Seafood options include pan-seared snapper and garlic and Dijon baked salmon. Olive oil–fried lemon rings stand out as tangy additions to many of the dishes while a handful of drinks and desserts round things out. Simplified meal prep and pantry-stocking tips prove useful, but readers turning to a Mediterranean diet for health reasons may wish there was nutritional information included. Home cooks seeking to broaden their Mediterranean repertoire will enjoy the range and accessibility of these recipes. (Sept.)