Baked Eggs with Tomatoes, Feta, & Croutons from the Complete Mediterranean Cookbook

If you follow along on Instagram, you may remember that I recently received the newest cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen, The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook: 500 Vibrant, Kitchen-Tested Recipes for Living and Eating Well Every Day. It’s huge! Packed with 500 new recipes, this book surpassed my expectations (even for an ATK book, you know how much I love their recipes).

This Mediterranean cookbook had me intrigued from the moment I first heard it was in the works. If I had to categorize the way I eat, I would most accurately fall under the Mediterranean diet. My day-to-day consumption focuses heavily on vegetables, legumes, whole grains, dairy, and healthy fats with animal protein_­ (fish and poultry) often second, or even third thought.

I don’t know about you, but from time to time I find myself in a “cooking rut”, eating similar meals from week to week. So when I first flipped through this book all I could think was how excited and newly inspired I was to add variety back into my weekly meals while still maintaining a healthy outlook. These recipes are flavorful, accessible, seasonal, and most importantly, they show how fun and satisfying eating healthy can be.

“Our recipes are authentic, but accessible; you won’t have to search for esoteric ingredients you’ll never use again. Some recipes hew closely to the traditional recipes, and others use ingredients in ways that follow the diet but provides more options. We knew that we could wholeheartedly embrace the tenets of Mediterranean diet while also translating its vibrant, healthy ingredients, smaller portion sizes, and less-meat-and-more-vegetables approach into interesting, appealing recipes.”

In addition to the hundreds of Mediterranean recipes (accompanied by nutritional information), this book includes in-depth information regarding the diet itself, pantry must-haves, a complete FAQ on olive oil, and even recipes for homemade spice blends like Za’atar, Ras el Hanout, and Green Zhoug.

Nearly every recipes features a “why it works” blurb on how the recipe came to be and why certain ingredients and processes are called for. I love this information ATK adds to their recipes, not only because it explains the recipe and the importance of following it, but because there’s always a takeaway that can often be applied to future recipes.

Each and every recipe in this Mediterranean cookbook is absolutely stunning and I can say with certain that there isn’t one recipe I wouldn’t try myself (I obsessively read it cover to cover). I particularly can’t wait to try the Olive-Oil Yogurt Cake, Grilled Swordfish Skewers with Tomato-Scallion Caponata, and the Chickpea Cakes with Fennel and Arugula. I choose to share this recipe for Baked Eggs with Tomatoes, Feta, and Croutons because it exemplifies how a simple ingredient list can lead to an incredible meal. Packed with flavor and texture, this dish surprised me, and I guarantee it will surprise you too.

Key concepts to keep in mind when following a Mediterranean diet from The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook:

• Rethink your plate by choosing a veggie or grain as the main focus
• Moderation is key
• Eat what’s fresh and in season
• Eat beans and whole grains everyday
• Eat more fish and less red meat
• Use meat as a flavoring
• Serve fresh fruit and carefully choose sweets for dessert
• Embrace variety
• Meal plan

The types of recipes you’ll find in The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook:

• Meze, antipasti, tapas, & small plates
• Soups
• Salads
• Rice & grain
• Pasta & couscous
• Beans
• Vegetables
• Seafood
• Poultry & meat
• Eggs
• Breads, flatbreads & pizzas
• Fruit & sweets

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I received a copy of The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook: 500 Vibrant, Kitchen-Tested Recipes for Living and Eating Well Every Day from America’s Test Kitchen, this recipe is used with their permission. This post contains affiliate links.

 

 

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