Our 7 Favourite Mediterranean Cookbooks For Every Type of Home Cook

Year in and year out, two of the most-searched subjects on our site are “Mediterranean diet” and “Mediterranean-inspired recipes.” As a term, “Mediterranean diet” is quite broad, both geographically (it encompasses more than 22 countries) and conceptually (it refers more to a way of life than a rules-based diet). It can also refer to the Mediterranean diet pyramid, which emphasizes what kinds of food to eat, and how often, during the week—focusing heavily on fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and very lightly on meat and sweets.

This level of selection can make finding cooking inspiration a little overwhelming, so we’ve done the legwork for you! Here are seven of the best Mediterranean cookbooks we love that will appeal to every type of home cook.

The Best Mediterranean Cookbooks

For the traveller

Bitter Honey by Letitia Clark, $52

A bestseller since it was first released in 2020, this cookbook encompasses the cuisine of Sardinia, one of the first-ever identified Blue Zones—i.e. regions of the world that have comparatively high rates of people who live to 100 or beyond. Much of this longevity is attributed to lifestyle and diet, and this cookbook, packed with traditional and contemporary takes on the vegetable-and-grain focused dishes of the island, is a delicious way to incorporate more Mediterranean meals to your repertoire.

Recipe to try: Slow-Cooked Zucchini with Mint, Chili and Almonds

For the picture-perfect plate

Ottolenghi Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi, $42 

Israeli-British chef and cookbook author Yotam Ottolenghi’s influence on how home cooking looks today—breezy; casually plated; Mediterranean flavours; a ton of vegetables—can’t be overstated. This 2018 collection of pared-down recipes addresses one of the more commonly cited roadblocks entry-level cooks have about the dishes in previous bestsellers such as Ottolenghi, Jerusalem and Plenty. The ingredient lists are shorter, there are fewer sub-recipes, and most dishes can be knocked together in under an hour.  

Recipe to try: Hot Charred Cherry Tomatoes with Cold Yogurt

For the history buff (and avid home cook)

A Mediterranean Feast by Clifford Wright, $87

 In addition to 500 recipes that span the 12th to 18th centuries, this  deeply researched book by a James Beard award-winning author includes historical backgrounds that tie together the threads of migration, trade, agricultural advances and changing palates among the working and aristocratic classes alike, showing how truly diverse the concept of “Mediterranean cuisine” is.

Recipe to try: Heaven’s Broth (Egg, Ham and Tomato Soup)

For the vegetarian

The Vegitereanean Diet by Julieanna Hever, $26

Building off the principles of Mediterranean cooking that are proven to reduce various forms of disease (using olive oil as a main cooking fat, eating mostly whole grains and protein-packed pulses), registered dietitian Julieanna Hever removes meat from the equation entirely. This book is ideal for vegetarians who’d rather stick to a single resource for meatless cooking instead of picking and choosing appropriate dishes from multiple books.

Recipe to try: Hatz Lentil Stew

For the weeknight cooks

The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen, $42

Sorted by ingredient and focused on the Mediterranean diet pyramid, this 500-recipe tome is an incredibly useful cooking resource and contains plenty of weeknight-friendly dinners that have been thoughtfully developed and thoroughly tested—which we at Chatelaine appreciate!

Recipe to try: White Bean, Sundried Tomato and Feta Dip

For the storytellers

Claudia Roden’s Mediterranean by Claudia Roden, $54

Hailed as one of the first home cooking experts to popularize Middle Eastern cooking in the U.K., British-Egyptian cookbook author and cultural anthropologist Claudia Roden is often cited as paving the way for Ottolenghi’s later success. The recipes span a wide range of influences, from French to Spanish to Egyptian, Moroccan and more. An Invitation to Mediterranean Cooking, first published in 1997, remains a classic; her more recent Claudia Roden’s Mediterranean remains in print. 

Recipe to try: Chicken with Apricots and Pistachios

For the Buy-Canadian home cook

My Cypriot Table by Irene Matys, $42

Based in Oakville, Ont., Irene Matys first moved to Canada in the mid-’70s from Cyprus as a refugee. The style of cooking she grew up with heavily influenced the food she makes today as a food blogger, professional host and food stylist. Her first cookbook, out later this spring, features hearty, vegetable- and grain-forward dishes that would be at home at any table here, or in her homeland. 

Recipe to try: Cypriot Meatballs