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Greek Salmon Salad

Greek salmon salad is a healthy dinner that’s full of fresh Mediterranean flavor! This easy meal is simple and satisfying.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Greek salmon salad is a healthy dinner that’s full of fresh Mediterranean flavor! This easy meal is simple and satisfying.

Greek Salmon Salad

Looking for fun dinner ideas? This Greek salmon salad is healthy and satisfying, full of bold Mediterranean flavors! The star of the show is salmon bites, bite-sized pieces that add a pop of protein to each bite. Layer them over juicy tomatoes, cool cucumber, and feta cheese, and it’s a crowd-pleasing dinner idea that’s ideal in summer or anytime. Honestly, we’d eat this every night of the week! It’s that satisfying.

Ingredients in Greek salmon salad

This Greek salmon salad recipe is built around salmon bites, 1-inch bits of salmon that are cut into pieces before cooking. It makes them the perfect addition to salads, and what better pair than a refreshing Greek salad? Take our classic Greek salad, add a little arugula and top with the salmon bits. It makes the ideal Mediterranean diet dinner! Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 1 recipe Salmon Bites
  • Ripe tomatoes
  • Red onion
  • English cucumber
  • Baby arugula
  • Capers
  • Kalamata olives
  • Feta cheese
  • Olive oil
  • Red wine vinegar
  • Dried oregano and salt
Greek Salmon Salad

Making salmon bites

The key to Greek salmon salad is making these salmon bites! They’re quick to make in the broiler and take just 15 minutes total. Broiling salmon is one of our favorite ways to cook it because you don’t even have to wait for the time it takes to preheat the oven! Open the salmon bites recipe in a separate tab to see those ingredients. Here’s what to do:

  1. Preheat: Preheat a broiler to high.
  2. Season: Cut the salmon into 1-inch pieces, then toss them with the seasonings. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet brushed with olive oil.
  3. Broil: Broil 4 to 5 minutes until just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130°F in the center). 
  4. Toss with Garlic Lemon Butter: Melt butter, then stir in minced garlic and lemon zest. Toss the bites with the butter and sprinkle them over each Greek salad.
Salmon Bites Recipe

Notes for making salmon Greek salad

This salmon Greek salad is very simple and comes together in 30 minutes or less! Here are a few things to keep in mind when preparing and serving this dish:

  • Use an English cucumber. English cucumbers are a long, thin variety with a sweeter flavor, imperceptible skin, and less pronounced seeds than a standard cucumber. We recommend using them in most cucumber recipes because you don’t need to peel or seed them! If you use a standard cucumber, make sure to peel and seed.
  • Use baby arugula. Baby arugula (sold in boxes or bags) has a much milder flavor than standard arugula, which is sold in a bunch. If you can’t find it, use a different leafy green like spinach or mixed greens.
  • The recipe is very forgiving, so add ingredients to taste. Want to use more tomatoes or cucumber? Feel free! Do you prefer lettuce over baby arugula? Use that instead!

Tips for buying salmon

It’s important in any salmon recipe to buy good-quality salmon. Low quality salmon can taste very fishy and have a mushy texture, or have a lot of that white stuff when it’s cooked (called albumin). Good quality salmon has a fresh flavor that’s not fishy and a tender, flaky texture. Here’s what to look for when buying salmon:

  • Opt for fresh salmon if possible. We’ve found buying salmon fresh from the fish counter usually has the best flavor. However, frozen can work too: try to find higher-quality frozen salmon and avoid those big economy-sized bags (we’ve found this type can taste very fishy).
  • Look for wild caught salmon. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. (There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.)
  • Know your types of salmon. We tend to like Coho salmon for its mild flavor: it’s a good middle of the road option in terms of price. Of course, King salmon is incredible but it’s expensive and we wouldn’t recommend it for this recipe. Atlantic salmon is most often farmed and not available wild caught. Ask about its source at the fish counter.
Salmon Greek Salad

Make ahead notes

This Greek salmon salad is best eaten the day it is made; leftovers become rather soggy. If you want to make it in advance, here are a few tips:

  • Make the salmon bites in advance and refrigerate until serving. If desired, you can re-warm them in the broiler or on the stovetop.
  • Chop the cucumber and red onion in advance and store refrigerated; add the tomatoes, arugula and dressing directly before serving.

More salmon recipes

Greek salmon salad makes a hearty, Mediterranean diet dinner that everyone will love! Here are a few more salmon recipes that make easy dinner ideas:

This salmon salad recipe is…

Gluten-free and pescatarian.

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Greek Salmon Salad

Greek Salmon Salad


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4

Description

Greek salmon salad is a healthy dinner that’s full of fresh Mediterranean flavor! This easy meal is simple and satisfying.


Ingredients

  • 1 recipe Salmon Bites
  • 3 large ripe tomatoes, chopped into rough chunks
  • 1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 large English cucumber, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (or peeled, de-seeded and chopped for a standard cucumber)
  • 2 cups baby arugula
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives
  • 2 to 4 ounces high quality feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Salmon Bites by completing Steps 1-3.
  2. Chop the tomatoes, red onion and cucumber as noted above. 
  3. In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, red onion, and cucumbers with the baby arugula, capers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese crumbles (saving out a few for garnish), olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and salt. Gently mix to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.
  4. Cook the Salmon Bites by completing Steps 4-5.
  5. To serve, divide the salad between 4 plates, then top with the salmon bites. Garnish with additional feta cheese and serve. (If making in advance, prepare the salmon bites and refrigerate. Chop the cucumber and red onion in advance and store refrigerated; add the tomatoes, arugula and dressing directly before serving.)
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Broiled
  • Cuisine: Seafood
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Keywords: Greek salmon salad, salmon gree

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.


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How Summers in Greece Taught Me the Joy of Frying

A few years ago I made donuts at home for the first time. To some, this may feel trivial, and to others, impressive. Personally, I was in awe. Moi? Me? I can make donuts at home?! It was as if I’d discovered how to print money on a 2002 LaserJet. I was…

A few years ago I made donuts at home for the first time. To some, this may feel trivial, and to others, impressive. Personally, I was in awe. Moi? Me? I can make donuts at home?! It was as if I’d discovered how to print money on a 2002 LaserJet. I was surprised by how easy the process was and shocked by how judgmental, or perhaps intimidated, I’d previously been by the idea of deep frying at home.

To some, this epiphany may sound basic. As a child of latkes, I wasn’t a total stranger to frying food at home, but, growing up, frying was not in our regular repertoire, nor did I seek it out in early adulthood. Of course, I love a fried good—fried chicken, fried dumplings, samosas, katsu, empanadas, donuts—you name it, I love it. But for some reason, I compartmentalized these items as “things I eat out.”

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Tzatziki Sauce

This tzatziki sauce recipe is cool and creamy, featuring Greek yogurt, cucumber, and garlic! It’s great for veggies, falafel, gyros,…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This tzatziki sauce recipe is cool and creamy, featuring Greek yogurt, cucumber, and garlic! It’s great for veggies, falafel, gyros, and more.

Tzatziki sauce

When it comes to yogurt-based dipping sauces, there’s nothing more iconic than tzatziki sauce! This famously creamy and garlicy Greek cucumber sauce is commonly eaten as a dip with pita or veggies, or a sauce with falafel or gyros: but it works with just about anything! After an epic trip Greece, we created a version to capture the magic of our experience with this traditional dip.

Common tzatziki ingredients

Tzatziki is a yogurt and cucumber sauce that is common in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, specifically Greek and Turkish food. It is often served as a side dish with pita or veggies, or as a sauce with gyros or falafel.

There are lots of opinions when it comes to this dip, especially about what makes the most authentic tzatziki recipe! We don’t have Mediterranean or Middle Eastern heritage, so we honor the great tradition of this cuisine (here’s a traditional recipe by a Greek chef). Here are the common ingredients in tzatziki:

  • Full fat Greek yogurt: Using full-fat yogurt is key to get the desired creaminess!
  • Grated cucumber: Just enough to keep the creamy consistency. It’s best to use an English cucumber since you don’t have to peel or seed it!
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic is essential here; don’t use jarred minced
  • Olive oil: Oil important for taste and texture.
  • Red wine vinegar: a bit of acid adds some tang. Some people use lemon, but our research shows the most authentic is vinegar.
  • Fresh dill (optional): Fresh dill is not always included in traditional Greek tzatziki, but we love how the herbaceous flavor enhances the dip.
  • Salt: Salt is essential for good seasoning.
Tzatziki sauce

How to make tzatziki sauce

There’s just one trick to tzatziki sauce: otherwise it’s just dump and stir! Cucumbers are full of water, so it’s important to remove as much excess as possible before mixing it into the dip. Here’s what to know:

  • Peel and grate the cucumber, then salt it and let it stand 10 minutes. This helps to draw out the liquid.
  • Squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible with your hands. This is essential, otherwise the dip will be much too runny.
  • Mix! Then mix the cucumber with the Greek yogurt, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings.

English cucumber vs standard cucumber

This tzatziki sauce is best using an English cucumber versus a standard one, but either works! English cucumber has a sweet flavor and imperceptible skin and seeds, making it simple to use in this recipe. You can use a standard cucumber, but make sure to seed and peel it first since the peel is very bitter and the seeds are large. Persian cucumbers also work: they are similar to an English cucumber but smaller!

English cucumber

Storage for homemade tzatziki

Tzatziki tastes even better after it’s been chilled for a few hours: but it’s great right away, too! How long does homemade tzatziki last? Store it in a sealed container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Ways to serve it

Tzatziki sauce is full of creamy, bold, garlicky flavor: perfect for dipping and adding to sandwiches or serving with chicken or fish. Here are a few ideas on how to serve this tzatziki sauce recipe:

Tzatziki sauce

More sauces and dips

And that’s it! Let us know what you think of this tzatziki sauce recipe in the comments below. Here are a few more essential sauce recipes to try:

This tzatziki sauce recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

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Tzatziki sauce

Tzatziki Sauce


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 ½ cups

Description

This tzatziki sauce recipe is cool and creamy, featuring Greek yogurt, cucumber, and garlic! It’s great for veggies, falafel, gyros, and more.


Ingredients

  • 1 cup finely grated English cucumber* (10 ounces or ¾ large cucumber)
  • 2 cups (18 ounces) full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional)
  • Fresh ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Small grate the cucumber using a box grater (if using a standard cucumber instead of English, peel and remove seeds first). Place the grated cucumber in a fine mesh strainer and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt, then allow to stand for at least 10 minutes. Then use your hands to squeeze out as much water as possible from the cucumber before adding it to the dip.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, minced garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, remaining ½ teaspoon kosher salt, fresh dill (if using), and freshly ground black pepper. Stir in the grated cucumber.
  3. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
  4. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Keeps up to 1 week in the refrigerator.
    To serve, drizzle with olive oil; if desired, garnish with olives and a sprig of dill. Serve with pita, crackers, or vegetables.

Notes

*You can use a standard cucumber, but make sure to peel it and remove the seeds first. You can also use Persian cucumbers, which are similar to English cucumber but smaller.

  • Category: Dip
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Greek
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Tzatziki Sauce, Tzatziki, Tzatziki recipe, Tzatziki sauce recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Greek Pizza with Feta

This Greek pizza with feta is bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Top it with colorful veggies for a pie that pleases…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Greek pizza with feta is bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Top it with colorful veggies for a pie that pleases everyone.

Greek pizza with feta

Here’s a pizza topping idea that always gets rave reviews, with its smattering of colorful vegetables and hearty flavor: this Greek Pizza with Feta! There’s nothing better than the combination of tangy artichoke hearts, refreshing bursts of tomato, garlicky spinach, and salty olives and feta. We love a great veggie pizza, and this one is what we turn to most often. It’s destined to be the smash hit of your pizza night!

Ingredients in Greek pizza with feta

Greek pizza is not authentically Greek, but the classic Italian pizza pie dressed up with Mediterranean-style toppings. Many restaurants and pizzerias serve a version of this pizza and use different toppings. This one we’ve customized to the ingredients we love seeing on a Greek pizza, but feel free to customize it to your tastes if there are others you prefer. Here are the elements you’ll need:

  • Pizza dough: our favorites are Best Pizza DoughThin Crust Pizza Dough and Pizza Oven Dough, but there are a few more options below
  • Pizza sauce: This Homemade Pizza Sauce is a must! The flavor is the best you’ll ever have (we promise)
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese: holds everything together like glue
  • Feta cheese: feta cheese is required! It adds just the right salty seasoning to the top of the pie
  • Baby spinach
  • Kalamata olives (optional)
  • Artichoke hearts
  • Red onion
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Dried oregano
  • Fresh basil, for garnish

Again, you can customize to your own tastes if you prefer Greek pizza with other ingredients. Other options include sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, cured meats, or chicken.

Greek pizza

For the pizza dough

The trick to the best Greek pizza? Homemade pizza dough. There are several pizza dough options we’ve developed over the years: the first is our workhorse and the best for making an incredible artisan-style pizza. It works best with a pizza stone. Or if you prefer, try one of our other methods for the dough: like a thick-crust pan pizza or a large sheet pan pizza that’s 3 pizzas in one! Here are the pizza dough options:

  • Best Pizza Dough: The standard! This pizza dough makes a medium artisan style pizza; it works best on a pizza stone. A pizza peel is helpful for transferring the dough onto the stone (see below).
  • Thin Crust Pizza Dough: This variation is slightly easier, since you can roll it out instead of stretching it.
  • Pizza Oven Dough: Got a pizza oven? This is the dough recipe for you.
  • Perfect Pan Pizza: Make your pizza in a cast-iron skillet! Takes a little longer but there are no special tools required. Makes one medium pizza.
  • Best-Ever Sheet Pan Pizza: This one makes recipe the size of 3 pizzas in a large sheet pan: perfect for serving a crowd!
Feta pizza

Homemade pizza sauce is a must

The key to this Greek pizza? The homemade pizza sauce! While you can use a purchased sauce if you must, we highly recommend making the homemade version. The flavor is unreal! Here’s what to know:

  • Fire roasted tomatoes and garlic make magic. One spoonful and you’ll be singing its praises! Fire roasted canned tomatoes have a sweet, smoky flavor right out of the can. They are essential to the flavor, so they’re worth seeking out! Check in your local grocery near the canned tomatoes: they’re becoming much more widespread and are sold by several different brands.
  • It takes 5 minutes in a blender! There’s no need to simmer: just throw everything in a blender and whiz it up. This is one of our most-made recipes on the website!

Pizza making tools

If you choose the standard pizza dough recipe, the following tools are helpful for baking the crust. Again, if you chose the pan pizza or sheet pan pizza recipes above, no extra tools are needed!

Greek pizza

Sides for Greek pizza with feta

What to serve with Greek pizza? Make a big salad and heap it on your plate with a big cheesy slice. In fact, we love trying to have a few different salad and veggie options to complement the rich pie. Here are a few great side dishes for pizza:

More homemade pizza recipes

Want a few more pizza topping ideas for your pizza night? Here are a few great homemade pizza recipes:

This feta pizza recipe is…

Vegetarian.

Print
Greek pizza with feta

Greek Pizza with Feta


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 7 minutes
  • Yield: 1 medium pizza

Description

This Greek pizza with feta is bursting with Mediterranean flavor! Top it with colorful veggies for a pie that pleases everyone.


Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup Homemade Pizza Sauce
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 cups baby spinach or chopped spinach
  • 1 pinch each salt and garlic powder
  • 4 Kalamata olives, halved (optional)
  • ¼ cup chopped artichoke hearts
  • 1 handful red onion slices
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup feta cheese
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • 4 basil leaves (optional)

Instructions

  1. Make the pizza dough: Follow the Best Pizza DoughThin Crust Pizza Dough or Pizza Oven Dough recipes to prepare the dough. (This takes about 15 minutes to make and 45 minutes to rest.)
  2. Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F. OR preheat your pizza oven (here’s the pizza oven we use).
  3. Make the pizza sauce: Make the Homemade Pizza Sauce. (You’ll use about ⅓ cup for the pizza; reserve the remaining sauce and refrigerate for up to 1 week.)
  4. Prepare the toppings: Warm the olive oil in small skillet. Add the spinach, 1 pinch salt, and 1 pinch garlic powder. Sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Half the Kalamata olives, chop the artichoke hearts, thinly slice the red onion, and quarter the cherry tomatoes. 
  5. Bake the pizza: When the oven is ready, dust a pizza peel with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you don’t have a pizza peel, you can use a rimless baking sheet or the back of a rimmed baking sheet. But a pizza peel is well worth the investment!) Stretch the dough into a circle; see How to Stretch Pizza Dough for instructions. Then gently place the dough onto the pizza peel.
  6. Spread a thin layer of the pizza sauce over the dough. Add the mozzarella cheese. Top with the spinach, olives, artichoke, red onion, and tomatoes. Sprinkle with the feta cheese and dried oregano. Add a few pinches of kosher salt and some fresh ground pepper, to taste.
  7. Use the pizza peel to carefully transfer the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone. Bake the pizza until the cheese and crust are nicely browned, about 5 to 7 minutes in the oven (or 1 to 2 minutes in a pizza oven).
  8. Allow the pizza to cool for a minute or two before adding the basil on top (whole leaves, lightly torn, or thinly sliced). Slice into pieces and serve immediately.
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Pizza
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Greek pizza, feta pizza, feta pizza recipe

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.


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spanakopita

I finally conquered my fear of making spanakopita, the Greek savory spinach and feta pie, and yes, this means I’m going to tell you all about it. It took me so long because, however pathetically, I find filo/phyllo, the thin dough used t…

I finally conquered my fear of making spanakopita, the Greek savory spinach and feta pie, and yes, this means I’m going to tell you all about it. It took me so long because, however pathetically, I find filo/phyllo, the thin dough used to produce the flaky layers in many Middle Eastern and Balkan pastries, stressful: the tissue-like sheets can dry into crumbles in what feels like seconds. Having to brush each layer with butter or oil before using it is challenging in a small kitchen, and a lot of work in any size. Over the years, I’ve auditioned many spanakopitaish pies that allowed me to hedge a bit on the phyllo — triangles (only one sheet at a time made it less scary), spirals (ditto with one sheet; this recipe is in Smitten Kitchen Every Day), galettes (using a pie-like dough), and even “skillets” where I just messily crumbled some phyllo on top. All were good. None were this. This is exact spanakopita I crave, more doable than I thought possible.

spanakopita-15

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Spinach Rice with Feta

Spinach rice turns rice into a classy side dish! Garlic, dill and feta cheese bring big flavor to this Mediterranean-style…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Spinach rice turns rice into a classy side dish! Garlic, dill and feta cheese bring big flavor to this Mediterranean-style dish.

Spinach Rice

Here’s a fun way to turn everyday rice into a classy side dish: Spinach Rice! After years of cooking, we’re discovering fun tricks like this. Take plain old white rice and cook up a pot with spinach and garlic, then flavor it with a pop of lemon and sprinkle of feta cheese. It’s an elegant Mediterranean-style side dish that you can serve for guests or just use to spice up weeknights. And, it’s a great way to load up on spinach. The savory, fresh flavors are unreal!

How to make spinach rice: the basic concept

Spinach rice is a mix of spinach and rice, and often other aromatic flavors like onion, garlic, dill and feta cheese. The traditional Greek version is called spanakorizo, which often has added tomatoes or tomato paste. This recipe is inspired by the Mediterranean flavors in that dish (if you want a more traditional spin, go to this spanakorizo recipe!).

The basic concept is to cook rice with spinach and seasonings until the liquid is reduced. Note that spinach rice comes out a little more gooey than a traditional fluffy rice: which is what is intended here! Here’s the basic concept (or jump to the recipe below):

  • Sauté garlic in olive oil, then add spinach and wilt. This takes about 3 minutes total.
  • Add water, rice and seasonings and cook 15 minutes. At this point the liquid should be reduced.
  • Allow to rest 5 minutes. This helps the rice to cool and set.
  • Fluff and add lemon juice, dill and feta. These additions brighten the flavors! See below for more.
Spinach Rice

A few notes on serving

One thing we love about this Mediterranean spinach rice: it packs in loads of spinach, which not only adds nutrients but helps to stretch the serving size. Often we can polish off a whole lot of rice, but adding spinach and flavorings helps it to be more satisfying.

Don’t have fresh dill? That’s ok: you can skip it! But it does add quite a bit of fresh flavor (don’t bother adding dried dill). The fresh lemon juice adds quite a punch though: we’d recommend using it if possible.

Ways to serve spinach rice

Spinach rice is the ideal side dish to make your meal seem elegant and thoughtful! We love making it for guests but it also works to class up a weeknight meal. Here are some great ways to serve it:

Spinach Rice

More spinach recipes

Love adding spinach to your recipes? Here are a few more tasty spinach recipes to enjoy this nutritious leafy green:

This spinach rice recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

Print
Spinach Rice

Easy Spinach Rice


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 to 6
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Spinach rice turns rice into a classy side dish! Garlic, dill and feta cheese bring big flavor to this Mediterranean-style dish.


Ingredients

  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 6 cups (5 ounces) baby spinach (or chopped standard spinach)
  • 1 cup long grain white rice
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon (2 tablespoons)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, optional
  • ¼ cup feta cheese crumbles

Instructions

  1. Mince the garlic. In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté 1 minute until fragrant (but not browned). Add spinach and cook until it wilts, about 2 minutes.
  2. Add 2 cups water and bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the rice, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Make sure it’s simmering, then cover and cook for 15 minutes, uncovering and checking every so often to make sure that the heat is not too high.
  3. After 15 minutes, check to make sure the water is completely cooked out (if not, cook a minute or two longer but it should be done by this point). Remove the heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork, then stir in the lemon juice and chopped dill. Top with feta crumbles and serve.
  • Category: Side dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Rice

Keywords: Spinach rice

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Quick Hummus Bowls

A hummus bowl makes the best easy lunch or dinner: no cooking required! Layer a dollop with crunchy veggie toppings.…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

A hummus bowl makes the best easy lunch or dinner: no cooking required! Layer a dollop with crunchy veggie toppings.

Hummus Bowl

Hello and welcome to the best quick lunch or healthy easy dinner around: the Hummus Bowl! At it’s base, this simple concept requires no cooking at all: layer a dollop of hummus with crunchy veggies and serve with pita wedges. It’s easily customizable and you can make it super basic or fancier with easy additions of ingredients. It takes just 5 minutes to make this Mediterranean-style meal that’s bursting with creamy, tangy, crunchy, fresh, and savory flavors. Here’s how it’s done!

What’s in a hummus bowl?

This concept is so simple for easy lunches and dinners where you don’t even have to think. It’s great for filler days of the week where you don’t want to cook, or you want to use up veggies in the fridge. There are a few elements that are required, and then lots of fancy toppings that can step it up from basic to beautiful. Here are the required elements in a hummus bowl:

  • Hummus: find the best purchased brand you can, or make your own (see below)
  • English cucumber: An English cucumber is long and thin with no tough skin, no seeds and a milder flavor than standard cucumber. Look for it in the produce section!
  • Cherry tomatoes or red bell pepper: It’s nice to have a red element: we eat with our eyes!
  • Olives: Kalamata olives add a satiating salty pop; try Castelvetrano olives as a milder option
  • Red onion: or use shallot for a milder option
  • Pita bread or gluten free crackers: It’s nice to have a bread item for dipping: use whatever fits your diet
  • Baby greens or chopped lettuce (optional): Baby greens add texture and nutrients
  • Feta cheese (optional): A sprinkle adds another savory element; omit or try vegan feta for dairy-free
  • Rice or another grain (optional): This makes the hummus bowl more filling, so it’s nice to include as a dinner option. We like using the microwavable pre-cooked rice packages for quick meals, or using leftover cooked rice or quinoa, farro, or other grains.
Hummus Bowl

Variations: more hummus bowl toppings

Want to make a fancy hummus bowl? The great thing about this concept is you can make it as fancy or plain as you like. You can use leftover veggies from the fridge, or fancier pantry items to give it unexpected flavors. Or top it with a protein to make it into dinner! Here are some ideas:

Hummus Bowl

Buy best quality hummus, or try homemade

It’s easiest to pick up purchased hummus for this recipe: there are so many options at the grocery store these days! Look for a great quality brand with creamy, balanced flavor (for example to us, Sabra brand has an overly salty, artificial flavor). Or, you can make your own! Meal prep it over the weekend, then enjoy it for meals throughout the week. Here are some of our top homemade hummus recipes:

Hummus Bowl

More easy Mediterranean diet recipes

This hummus bowl is an ideal easy Mediterranean diet recipe that makes healthy eating fun! Here are a few more easy Mediterranean-style recipes to liven up your diet:

This hummus bowl recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

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Hummus Bowl

Quick Hummus Bowls


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 1
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

A hummus bowl makes the best easy lunch or dinner: no cooking required! Layer a dollop with crunchy veggie toppings.


Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup hummus
  • 1 pita bread, sliced into wedges
  • 1 handful Kalamata olives
  • 1 handful red onion slices (or shallot)
  • 8 English cucumber slices (or standard cucumber, peeled)
  • 1 handful cherry tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 handful baby greens or chopped lettuce (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons feta cheese, to sprinkle (optional or use vegan feta for vegan)
  • ½ cup cooked rice or packaged pre-cooked rice (optional)
  • Optional toppings: Jarred Calabrian chilis or roasted red peppers, caper berries, fresh herbs, frozen or homemade falafel, etc.

Instructions

  1. Place greens and rice in the bowl, if using (try packaged pre-cooked rice for a quick shortcut). If using rice, season it with salt and a drizzle of olive oil.
  2. Top with hummus, sliced cucumber, sliced red onions, sliced tomatoes, olives and feta cheese. Eat with pita wedges, using the hummus as a dip / dressing for the veggies.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keywords: Hummus bowl

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