Dishes that read like poetry: pomegranate fattoush, burrata on bruschetta, huevos a la flamenca, strawberries in moscatel with sandcakes. Twenty delicious and easy recipes from the north and south of the Mediterranean. We have Richard Olney’s fabled fennel baked with white wine, Claudia Roden’s chicken with olives and boiled lemons, Imad Alarnab’s baked halibut. Simple lunches and dinners to be eaten inside or out. Pasta con le sarde from Giorgio Locatelli, black figs, feta and red wine from Selin Kiazim. Summery food for friends or family, or a near-effortless treat on your own.
Fried courgette and tomatoes with garlic vinegar by Meedu Saad (pictured above)
Perfect for eating on a summer evening with some grilled fish, or simply with some warm bread
Fava bean puree, boiled egg, red onion, olives and parsley with crispbread by Marianna Leivaditaki
Hot, cold, in a sandwich, as part of a sharing meal – this Greek dish is as versatile as it is delicious
Claudia Roden’s chicken tray bake with olives and boiled lemon
The sharp lemony flavours and enticing ginger aromas of one of the most famous Moroccan tagines work marvellously in this bake
Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich’s prawn, pea and potato tagine
The summer flavours of new potatoes and fresh peas with Middle Eastern spices is a winning combination
Huevos a la flamenca by José Pizarro
There are many different versions of this simple Andalusian dish, but good bread and a glass of wine on the side are essential
Yasmin Khan’s fish kebabs with skordalia
This dish brings together flavours of a garlicky Greek potato sauce and a spiced Turkish fish marinade
Cold almond, melon and pastis soup (with bits of crispy ham) by Alex Jackson
Adding melon and pastis to this classic Andalusian soup makes it a go-to dish on a hot summer day
Giorgio Locatelli’s pasta con le sarde – pasta with sardines, anchovies, fennel, raisins and pine nuts
With Arab flavourings like saffron, plus fennel and anchovies from the island itself, this dish sums up Sicily
Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley’s roasted cod with a coriander crust – samak mashew bil cozbara w al limon
Fish and tahini is an irresistible combination, but to make this a speedy midweek meal it works well without too
Pomegranate fattoush by Georgina Hayden
There are few things better than dunking bread into the tangy dressing at the bottom of this crunchy sweet salad
Ben Tish’s burrata on bruschetta with stewed courgettes and fennel with marjoram
Filled with creamy stracciatella, burrata is deliciously enticing and best eaten very simply with seasonal vegetables
Tuna ftira by Nicole Pisani
With its smashed tomato and olive oil, this sandwich is a taste of every Maltese person’s childhood
Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich’s stuffed aubergine boats
Gently spiced with Lebanese flavours, plus the sharp tang of feta, this dish is perfect to share among lots of guests
Buttered halibut by Imad Alarnab
A traditional summer dish in Syria, this recipe is simple, fresh and packed with lemony, buttery flavours
Claudia Roden’s bean stew with chorizo and bacon
A mouthwatering, gently spiced Spanish dish that will fill your home with delicious aromas
Fennel baked with white wine – fenouil au four by Richard Olney
This seasonal summer vegetable is sweet and succulent, and fragrant with the wine its cooked in
Georgina Hayden’s cherry and rose sharlotta
A retro Greek-Cypriot pudding usually made with leftover cake, here a little fancier with poached cherries and rose petals
Black figs, feta and red wine by Selin Kiazim
Combined with a salty cheese and a sweet syrup, the flavour of this quintessential Mediterranean fruit shines through
Fresas en moscatel con mantecados – strawberries in moscatel with sandcakes by Sam Clark and Sam Clark
This quintessential summer fruit cooked in a sweet wine from Málaga is made even better by serving with sandcakes
Claudia Roden’s rice pudding with apricot compote – roz bi halib wal mish mish
This homely pudding is transformed into elegant dinner-party fare with its topping of fruit compote