Mediterranean Diet Breakfasts You'll Look Forward to Eating

These flavorful Mediterranean diet-inspired recipes make it easy to eat nutritious breakfast — and even forget you're doing so.

January 27, 2022

By: Meghan Hynes Cole

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Photo By: Renee Comet

Photo By: Rob Pryce

Blood Orange Whole-Wheat Ricotta Pancakes

With a strong focus on fruits and vegetables, the Mediterranean diet doesn’t lack in the nutrition department, especially when it comes to breakfast. You’ll find morning-worthy meals filled with healthy protein sources, like eggs or Greek yogurt, fit into this way of eating. And the Mediterranean diet is one of the easiest to follow: It’s not restrictive! Even pancakes can be on the menu. These whole-wheat ricotta pancakes are deliciously fluffy, rich and indulgent-tasting. The blood orange adds a hint of refreshing, sweet and tart citrus, and of course a beautiful, bold color. Start your day with a short stack and you can't go wrong!

Get the Recipe: Blood Orange Whole-Wheat Ricotta Pancakes

Spiced Lentils and Scrambled Eggs

Inspired by vegetarian fried rice, we cooked up red lentils in one skillet with loads of bell peppers, onion, garlic and classic Mediterranean spices like cumin, allspice, nutmeg and paprika. The lentils are then pushed to the side of the pan to crisp up while eggs are scrambled in the center. Everything gets tossed together at the end with fresh grape tomatoes, salty olives and fresh basil to garnish for a hearty breakfast packed with veggies.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Lentils and Scrambled Eggs

Fig, Oat and Yogurt Bars

This grab-and-go bar makes a satisfying breakfast (or snack) when there just isn’t time to sit down for a meal. Make a batch ahead of time to have on hand for busy days. Sweetened with dried figs and honey and topped off with a coating of Greek yogurt and coconut oil, these bars fit the bill for the Mediterranean diet.

Get the Recipe: Fig, Oat and Yogurt Bars

Jammy Tomato Toast with Eggs and Avocado

This recipe was inspired by the popular Israeli dish, shakshuka — an aromatic tomato sauce that's topped with dippy eggs for an ultimate (toast-dunking) meal any time of the day. Here, a similar sauce is simmered with sweet honey until jammy and then chilled for a different kind of spread on your morning toast. Each serving is topped off with a fried egg and sliced avocado for a quick and filling breakfast that aligns with the Mediterranean diet.

Get the Recipe: Jammy Tomato Toast with Eggs and Avocado

Zucchini Bread Pancakes

When there is an abundance of zucchini in the peak of summer, one of the best uses is to turn it into a quick bread. We’ve taken that delicious baked good a step further and turned it into pancakes. The batter comes together quickly and you can feel good about eating zucchini for breakfast. Make sure you wring out as much water from the shredded zucchini as possible to prevent the pancakes from getting soggy.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini Bread Pancakes

Kale and Tomato Eggs Benedict with Berries

These colorful, veggie-packed Benedicts are low in calories compared to their full-fat relatives!

Get the Recipe: Kale and Tomato Eggs Benedict with Berries

Strawberry Couscous Breakfast Bowl

While oats are often the first choice for a healthy breakfast, utilizing other whole grains like couscous, millet, amaranth, farro and quinoa will keep mornings from becoming mundane. Make a batch of couscous the night before, then simply add toppings like fruits, nuts, coconut and flaxseed for a five-minute healthy breakfast in the morning.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Couscous Breakfast Bowl

Spicy Eggs in Purgatory

Hot Italian sausages and a green habanero bring the heat to this breakfast dish. It’s filled with tomatoes, fennel, eggs, and flavorful spices like smoked paprika, and fans call it "absolutely magnificent."

Get the Recipe: Spicy Eggs in Purgatory

Chia Seed Pudding

Giada’s 5-star chia seed pudding is satisfying and packed with nutrients, and it couldn’t be easier: Whisk, rest, then eat!

Get the Recipe: Chia Seed Pudding

Avocado Toast with Blood Orange

When you have only five minutes in the morning, you have time to make this mouthwatering breakfast. Mashed avocado, shaved fennel and blood orange segments simply go better together, especially when multigrain toast is involved.

Get the Recipe: Avocado Toast with Blood Orange

Breakfast Parfaits with Fig Compote

This fig compote, sweetened with honey and filled with warm notes of cinnamon, is so good we won’t blame you if you eat it on these parfaits for breakfast and more throughout the day. Greek yogurt gives this dish staying power, and the nutty trail mix adds welcome texture.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Parfaits with Fig Compote