Christmas Dinner Recipes inspired by the Mediterranean Diet

Are you looking to add a unique twist to your Christmas dinner this year? Why not take a Mediterranean approach! Bursting with fresh flavors, vibrant ingredients, and time-honored traditions, these recipes will elevate your holiday feast to a whole new level. Here’s a complete Mediterranean-inspired menu, with ideas for every course—from appetizers to dessert. Let’s dive in!

Christmas Dinner Appetizers: Favorite Mediterranean Starters

Start your Christmas dinner with these flavorful appetizers that bring a Mediterranean touch to the table. Each one is perfect for setting the festive mood.

Spanakopita (Spinach and Feta Phyllo Pastries)

Flaky and filled with a delicious spinach and feta mixture, these pastries are a crowd-pleaser. Make them bite-sized for a convenient appetizer that guests can enjoy as they mingle.

Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmades)

Dolmades, made with grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs, and sometimes a hint of ground meat, are a classic Mediterranean appetizer. Serve them warm or at room temperature with a squeeze of lemon for an extra zing.

Tyropita, Crispy Phyllo Cheese Pie

A Mediterranean and Greek feast isn’t complete without a creamy, crispy tyropita, aka cheese pie! Pair it with a simple green salad or a Winter Citrus Salad.

Christmas Dinner Salad Recipes with a Mediterranean Twist

Endive Salad with Greek Honey Vinegar and EVOO

Endive Salad with Greek Honey Vinegar and EVOO: Refresh your Christmas dinner with this vibrant endive salad, featuring the perfect balance of bitter greens and sweet apples. Drizzled with rich Cretan extra virgin olive oil and tangy Greek honey vinegar, this salad is a delightful palate cleanser that complements festive flavors beautifully.

Winter Citrus Salad with Pomegranate and Arugula

Brighten up your table with a vibrant citrus salad featuring oranges, grapefruit, pomegranate seeds, and peppery arugula. Toss with a honey-mustard vinaigrette for a touch of sweetness.

Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

The combination of earthy roasted beets, creamy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts creates a festive salad that’s as tasty as it is beautiful. Drizzle with a balsamic glaze for an extra layer of flavor.

Christmas Dinner Side Dishes from Mediterranean Cuisine

Round out your Christmas dinner with these flavorful side dishes that bring the essence of the Mediterranean to your table.

Lemon and Herb Roasted Potatoes

Roasted with fresh lemon juice, rosemary, and garlic, these potatoes are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. They pair wonderfully with almost any main course.

Braised Chestnuts and Shallots

Braised Chestnuts and Shallots: Elevate your Christmas dinner with this vegan-friendly stifado-inspired dish. Tender chestnuts and caramelized shallots braised in wine create a rich, festive flavor perfect for the holiday season

Pan-Roasted Potatoes with Krokos Kozanis and Herbs

Pan-Roasted Potatoes with Krokos Kozanis and Herbs: Unfortunately, I don’t have information about this specific recipe from dianekochilas.com in the provided search results.

Grilled Mushrooms with Oregano and Garlic

Impress your guests with this easy yet elegant Christmas side dish. Juicy grilled mushrooms infused with Greek olive oil, oregano, and garlic offer a Mediterranean twist to your holiday table

Mediterranean Main Course Christmas Recipes

Make your main course the star of the show with these Mediterranean-inspired dishes that bring bold flavors to your Christmas table.

Roast Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary

A classic Mediterranean dish, roast lamb is seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and olive oil. Roast it to perfection and serve with a side of roasted potatoes and vegetables.

Lamb Shank Roasted with Quince

Chicken breasts stuffed with a mixture of spinach, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes make for a delicious and moist main dish. Bake until golden brown and juicy.

Pork Loin with Chestnuts, Hazelnuts and Dried Figs

Celebrate the holidays with this flavorful pork loin dish, featuring tender meat paired with sweet dried figs and crunchy hazelnuts. The addition of chestnuts adds a delightful richness, making it a perfect center piece for your Christmas dinner that beautifully blends savory and sweet flavors.

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

Whether you’re catering to vegetarians or simply looking for delicious meatless dishes, these Mediterranean-inspired recipes will not disappoint.

Red Onion – Petimezi Tart Tatin with Mastiha Whipped Feta

Elevate your Christmas dinner with this stunning vegetarian Red Onion-Petimezi Tart Tatin, a Greek-inspired twist on the classic French dish. Caramelized red onions glazed with grape molasses, topped with buttery puff pastry and served with creamy mastiha-infused whipped feta, this elegant tart offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and aromatic flavors

Quick Lemony Chickpeas & Spinach

Warm up with a hearty chickpea stew that’s packed with spinach, aromatic spices and olive oil. Serve it with a slice of crusty bread for the perfect comfort dish.

Vegetarian Moussaka

For a meatless main course, try a vegetarian moussaka. Layers of eggplant, potatoes, and a rich tomato sauce topped with a creamy béchamel make this dish a standout option for your holiday feast.

Easy Christmas Recipes That Everyone Can Make

These simple and tasty recipes are ideal for those who want to keep things easy but delicious during the busy holiday season.

Greek Figs in A Blanket

This viral dish is a snap to make and features baked feta cheese with cherry tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Toss with your favorite pasta for a quick and delicious meal.

Warm Spanakopita Dip

Crispy roasted chickpeas make for a great snack or side dish. Season with garlic powder, rosemary, and a pinch of salt, then bake until crunchy.

Orzo Pasta Salad with Mediterranean Flavors

Toss cooked orzo with olives, feta, cucumbers, and a lemon-olive oil dressing for a refreshing side dish that complements any meal.

Christmas Baking: Greek Pies That Everyone Will Love

No Mediterranean Christmas is complete without traditional Greek pies. Here are a few must-try options:

Pleated Phyllo Pie with Feta

Known for its beautiful pleated appearance, this pie combines crumbled feta cheese with crispy phyllo layers, creating a light and flavorful dish. Perfect for sharing, it pairs wonderfully with a glass of Greek wine.

Bougatsa (Custard-Filled Phyllo Pastry)

A sweet pie made with semolina custard wrapped in phyllo dough, dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. It’s perfect for dessert or breakfast during the holiday season.

Kreatopita (Meat Pie)

A hearty pie filled with seasoned ground meat and herbs, baked inside a flaky phyllo crust. It’s an excellent choice for a main course or a hearty appetizer.

Greek Christmas Cookie Recipes

Melomakarona

These classic Greek cookies are a staple during the holiday season. Made with honey, orange zest, and walnuts, Melomakarona are soft, fragrant, and absolutely delicious. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients: Olive oil, flour, orange juice, honey, sugar, walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves.
Instructions: Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately, then combine to form a dough. Shape into oval cookies, bake until golden, and dip in a honey syrup. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Kourambiedes

Christmas Dessert Recipes

End your meal on a sweet note with these Mediterranean-inspired desserts.

Baklava

Layers of crispy phyllo dough filled with a spiced nut mixture and drenched in honey syrup. It’s a festive and flavorful treat that’s hard to resist.

Karidopita

Indulge in this moist and aromatic Greek walnut cake, infused with warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. Soaked in a luscious syrup, this dessert is perfect for holiday gatherings, offering a delightful balance of sweetness and nutty flavor that will impress your guests. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a cup of Greek coffee for an authentic experience.

Galaktoboureko (Custard-Filled Phyllo Dessert)

This luscious dessert features a rich custard filling wrapped in layers of phyllo, baked to golden perfection, and soaked in a citrus-infused syrup.

Greek-Inspired Christmas Cocktail Recipes

Add some holiday cheer with festive cocktails that feature Mediterranean flavors.

Ginger Wine Spritzer

Wine is the de facto way people on Ikaria relax, always drinking in moderation and in the company of friends, but also, often, watering down their wine lest it adversely goes to their heads! Taking a cue from this ancient habit, this wine cocktail is also a mixture of, well, wine and water. The lemony ginger infusion is a beautiful foil to the sweet dessert wine of Samos, an island close to Ikaria renowned for its muscats.

Mastihatini (Greek Mastiha Liqueur and Sour Cherry Cocktail)

Want a great cocktail with a Greek twist? This is it and I owe its invention to a good friend, Ilya Malahias, with whom I’ve sipped many a quaff while watching the sun slip into the sea on Ikaria.

Mastiha & Tsipouro Cocktail

Tsipouro is distilled a number of times in order to enrich its flavor. If you do not like the stong smell and flavour of anise seed -that gives tsipouro a unique, rooty flavor- you have the option to find tsipouro without it, which in fact is considered the original tsipouro. Anise is added to the tsipouro only in northern Greece.

Christmas Stews and Braises: Comforting Mediterranean Classics

As winter evenings draw in, nothing beats a warm stew or braise. These comforting dishes are perfect for cozy family dinners.

My Son’s Favorite Beef Stew

This hearty beef stew, slow-cooked with red wine, onions, and a hint of cinnamon, delivers a warm and aromatic flavor perfect for Christmas. Serve it alongside crusty bread to soak up the rich sauce and enjoy a comforting holiday meal.

Northern Greek Pork Braised with Leeks

Experience the flavors of Northern Greece with this tender pork braised in white wine and leeks. The dish is finished with a velvety avgolemono sauce, making it a delightful centerpiece for your festive table.

Giant Beans with Honey and Dill

This comforting casserole features creamy giant beans baked with honey and fresh herbs, offering a sweet and savory flavor profile. It’s a nutritious vegetarian option that adds a touch of Greek tradition to your Christmas dinner.