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The Mediterranean diet prioritizes fruits, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats – which, when you read it aloud, can sound kind of boring. But there are plenty of ways to doctor up your Mediterranean recipes to be extremely delicious and life-changing! Why not start with the most important meal of the day? These Mediterranean diet breakfast ideas put those healthy elements right at the forefront, so you can kickstart your day feeling powered up to tackle anything.
These 15 Mediterranean diet breakfast recipes range from savory to sweet, and most of the ingredients are easy to locate at the store, if you don't already have 'em in your kitchen. Scroll on for our favorite dishes!
Harissa Lemon Shakshuka
This savory saucy bowl is packed with plant-based protein, as the base is all chickpeas. It earns a citrusy kick from preserved lemon that gets mellowed out more with tahini, while crushed tomatoes add in some tasteful acidic notes. The eggs are optional (since they're not one of the main Medi diet foods), but they're totally traditional and add in even more protein, if that's what you desire! (via Brit + Co)
Mixed Berry Breakfast Cake
This moist-in-the-middle, crumbly-on-top breakfast cake owes its heavenly texture to whole milk yogurt, which can be easily swapped for the more Mediterranean diet-approved Greek yogurt. Either way, you'll get a mouthful of fresh fruits, from blueberries to strawberries! The real star of this breakfast recipe is the sweet streusel topping with almond slivers. (via The Real Food Dietitians)
Feta + Herb Sfougato
Meet your new favorite Mediterranean diet breakfast idea: sfougato. Think of it like a crustless quiche packed with zucchini, eggs, feta cheese, and herbs. Lots of herbs. We're talking parsley, oregano, dill and mint. This means you'll get a good amount of greens in each bite, alongside plenty of protein from the egg. (via Bowl of Delicious)
Breakfast Fruit Pizza
Pizza for breakfast?! Now that's a concept we can get behind. Okay, maybe this one's not all pepperoni and cheese, but it's still super tasty, especially for a morning meal. These personal-sized 'zas that sit atop baked store-bought biscuits take on a sweeter effect with the inclusion of cream cheese and basically any medley of fresh fruits you love to eat! (via A Spicy Perspective)
5-Ingredient Egg White Frittata
This high-protein breakfast looks ahh-mazing. It's also wildly easy to meal prep, so you can eat on it day after day. To make it, you'll stir cherry tomatoes, red onion, spinach, and cottage cheese with egg whites and seasonings, then simply bake it all together. (via The Girl on Bloor)
Strawberry-Yogurt Breakfast Brulée
This Mediterranean diet-approved breakfast bowl is basically dessert. Plus, it's only 3 ingredients! At its core, this breakfast brulée is just strawberries mixed into a serving of Greek yogurt, all topped off with that deliciously familiar crusty sugar coating you get from a traditional crème brulée. (via Completely Delicious)
Pre-Workout Breakfast Smoothie Bowl
Smoothie bowls are always a good way to go if you want your breakfasts to align with the Mediterranean diet, since they are as fruit-forward as can be. Alongside strawberries and bananas, this recipe includes cooked brown rice for added sustenance and blends it down into a nice, spoonable texture you can enjoy (and digest) easily before a workout. (via Clean Cuisine)
Spinach + Eggs
Similar to shakshuka, this savory concoction leverages spinach (and lots of it) for the base, instead of chickpeas and tomatoes. You only need 6 ingredients to make this nutrient-dense one-skillet meal, including an entire pound of spinach. Rest assured, you'll definitely be abiding by the Medi diet guidelines with that much green! (via Give Recipe)
Date Nut Bread
Nuts = fiber, protein, vitamins, and healthy fats, so this nutty bread baked with dates is the perfectgrab-and-go Mediterranean diet breakfast idea. It also uses 70% whole grain flour for even more health benefits. This is one of the easiest recipes you can make since you'll bake the whole loaf and have lotsa leftovers to snack on all week. One slice goes swimmingly alongside some fresh coffee! (via Veggie Society)
Mixed Berry Cream Cheese Breakfast Bruschetta
This recipe exudes brunch vibes, which is great if you're looking to add a bit more *color* to your mid-morning table spread. To make it even more Mediterranean diet-friendly, use whole grain bread instead of a French baguette. From there, you'll slather on the cream cheese, berries, and sweetener of your choice for a super fresh feel. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)
Sheet Pan Frittata
We love a sheet pan meal. This eggy version is prepped with hash browns, peppers, feta, and herbs, but you can really toss in any mix of veg you have on-hand. Don't be shy to load it on up – it's a great way to use up near-expired produce to reduce food waste! (via Crowded Kitchen)
Fruit + Yogurt Parfaits with Easy Granola
These morningtime parfaits are topped with an especially light (and very quick and easy) homemade granola: you'll dice up an English muffin, toss it with oats, butter, cinnamon, and sugar, bake, then it's all ready to enjoy on top a heaping cup of Greek yogurt and your fave fruits. This way, it's not as heavy or calorie-dense to start your day. (via Averie Cooks)
Green Detox Smoothie
Since the Mediterranean diet requests tons of fruits and veggies, this ice-cold smoothie that has both is a quick and easy breakfast option that abides by the recommendations. Each sip is loaded with spinach, strawberries, banana, and even chia seeds for more fiber! Just look at that gorgeous green. (via Kathryn's Kitchen)
Sweet Potato Pinto Bean Open-Face Breakfast Tacos
Sweet potatoes, spinach, and pinto beans (or any kind of beans, really) are the stars of this hearty breakfast dish. It all comes together flawlessly with the addition of avocado and egg, which fill you up with healthy fats and protein. Make sure to season everything up with plenty of garlic, chili powder, paprika, and flaky sea salt for maximum enjoyment. (via Vanilla and Bean)
Nutty Vegan Breakfast Cookies
These small breakfast bites pack an impressive nutritional punch with flaxseed, oats, almond flour, pumpkin seeds, pecans – the list of grains and nuts goes on. Though they're definitely health-ified, they're still pleasantly sweet with dark chocolate chips, peanut butter, and maple syrup mixed in! You'll appreciate that these are meal prep-friendly for the whole family. (via The First Mess)
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Lead image via The Girl on Bloor.
