18 Mediterranean Diet Inspired Easter Menu Ideas

Whether Easter for you tends to be full of traditional dishes or more focused on egg hunts and bunny decor, we are sharing some of our favorite Mediterranean diet inspired Easter Menu Ideas. Plenty of fresh, spring recipes that work for all types of celebrations.

Easter Food Traditions around the World

Growing up in a household that was not very traditional when it came to holidays or religious celebrations, Easter was more about the plastic eggs, brightly colored baskets and morning egg hunt than anything else.

Perhaps that’s why I found these Surprising Easter Traditions from Around the World so interesting. I love learning what other countries and cultures traditionally eat and do when it comes to holiday celebrations.

Some traditional Easter dishes around the world include –

• Roasted Lamb – popular and served on Easter in many cultures
• Greek Tsoureki – a braided bread that features a red dyed egg and is a tradition in Greek Orthodox Easter
• Hot Cross Buns – popular in Christian cultures around the world, these rolls are traditionally filed with dried fruit and feature icing in the shape of a cross on top
• Baked Ham – a tradition in many western households, typically served with all the fixings
• Spring vegetables – spring produce is seen on many traditional easter menus around the world ranging from asparagus to spring peas

Check out this April Seasonal Produce Guide

Mediterranean Diet Tips for Easter

Since the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle isn’t a set of strict rules (hallelujah right?), it can work seamlessly into your real life, which means celebrations.

Along with the focus of what to include in your diet, the Mediterranean diet also places a strong emphasis on enjoying food and sharing that enjoyment with others. Eating is seen as a social event, instead of just a way to fuel your body.

Some of the ways I love trying to “Mediterranean-ize” my food related celebrations include –

• Leaving traditional dishes the same and enjoying the story and memories surrounding them
• Looking at the menu as a whole and seeing what is lacking in terms of food groups like fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans, etc
• Finding ways to add value to the meal by increasing “plant based’ foods like fruits, veggies, seeds, nuts, etc.

Some practical examples as reference –

• Adding a salad filled with spring veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds and even whole grains that complements your meal
• Making a vegetarian appetizer that is full of flavor and fiber, to help keep you full until meal time
• Adding plenty of fresh fruit, nuts and seeds to a cheese board for extra topping ideas
• If the celebratory meal is at dinner, making sure not to skip my usual breakfast and lunch and trying to ensure they are filled with heart healthy veggies, whole grains and fruits

Easter Menu Ideas by Meal

Everyone’s celebrations are unique and take place at different times of the day and different meals. Some have an Easter Brunch, others a larger lunch, or a family filled Eater dinner celebration. Whatever your tradition looks like (even if it’s different this year because of social distancing), we truly hope you find the joy!

Don’t forget about all those leftover hardboiled eggs after the holiday is over. Check out this post – 8 Ideas for Leftover Easter eggs.

Easter Breakfast & Brunch Ideas

We love a good brunch and this is typically the meal my family chooses for holiday celebrations. Mainly because we all have multiple sides of our family to celebrate with, so brunch is a good way to pack in multiple celebrations.

Check out these 26 Mediterranean diet Brunch Ideas

Other popular recipe ideas include –

Vegetarian Frittata

Frittatas are a lifesaver for brunches because you can let the oven do the work! Not having to stand over a stove cooking up eggs to order and missing out on all the fun (or mimosas!). A Spring Frittata with seasonal asparagus and goat cheese would be perfect for Easter.

Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowls

The topping choices are endless when it comes to this brunch favorite. Set up a “build your own bowl” greek yogurt station with assorted berries, almonds, pistachios, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, granola, honey, banana, peanut / nut butters, shredded coconut flakes, dark chocolate chips, etc.

Spinach and Tomato Egg Muffin Cups

Another great time saver because you can cook 12 at at time in the oven and then can also be prepped in advance.

Nordic Breakfast Toast

An easy, filling and bright meal, these Nordic Breakfast Toasts are so spring forward and would be great on any Easter Brunch or Breakfast table.

Easter Inspired Appetizers

One of our favorite ways to add something new to holiday meals is by including a new appetizer. There are so many great ideas out there and it doesn’t have to be anything time consuming or difficult.

A simple Mediterranean diet inspired appetizer we love is a cheese board with fresh, seasonal fruit, a little bowl of honey for drizzling, assorted nuts like walnuts, almonds or pistachios and dried fruit like apricots or cranberries.

Some of our other favorites include –

• Whipped Feta Dip
• Vegetarian Wonton Bites
• Marinated Olives with Feta

Spring Soups and Salads

One of our favorite spring salads – Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Quick Green Goddess Salad is bursting with flavor and so easy to make in advance.

There is nothing we love more than a seasonal themed salad. Some of the ones we love this time of year include –

• Greek Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette – this lettuce free salad is a week staple in our house
• Tuscan Arugula Salad – so light and fresh, plus easy to make and a only a few ingredients
• Farro Salad with Blueberries – a hearty salad that is bursting with fresh fruit and greens
• Spring Leek and Asparagus Soup – bright, creamy soup made with spring leeks and asparagus

This White Bean & Artichoke Antipasto Salad is full of fresh flavors and uses a lot of canned goods to make it easy and budget friendly to prepare.

The Main Event Inspiration

One of my favorite things to do when we have family over for dinner is serve a traditional entree but also a second option as well. This allows us the flexibility to try something new when it comes to the main dish.

Roasted Lamb and Baked Ham are popular Easter dishes in many homes. I’ve made lamb a few times and have an amazing Grilled Lamb with Pistachio Olive Tapenade recipe in my Mediterranean Diet Made Easy cookbook.

I also think this Grilled Lamb Loin Chops recipe from Nourish with Lamb looks and sound incredible!

If you are looking for some fresh and new Easter menu ideas, I think these would be perfect –

• Baked Salmon with Pineapple, Garlic & Herb Sauce – light, fresh and boasting all sorts of Healthy Seafood Benefits, this salmon dish would be a hit and just beautiful on the table
• Chicken Florentine – a delightful spring dish that is a family favorite! Tender pieces of chicken are topped with fresh tomatoes and spinach and all topped with delicious, melted cheese.
• Deconstructed Eggplant Parmesan Pasta – a great choice if you have any vegetarians in your family or just anyone that loves the classic flavors of Eggplant Parm in a unique form.
• The Easiest Air Fryer Chicken – a perfect choice if your oven is full but you need a delicious and juicy chicken recipe.

Don’t Forget the Sides

Don’t forget those yummy side dishes to compliment your Easter Meal. This is also a great way to pack in some veggies.

These Spring Asparagus Recipes are some of our favorite ways to enjoy that spring asparagus. The thin stalks are our favorite and they look beautiful and festive on any Easter table.

• Air Fryer Parmesan Brussels sprouts – a crowd favorite and so easy!
• Sautéed Garlic Mushrooms – these would pair perfectly with lamb
• Lemon Ginger Potato Salad – if you are having a brunch or lunch based celebration, this mayo free potato salad is zesty and can be made in advance

Finishing Touches

No holiday would quite be complete with a sweet treat right? Easter at my house tends to be a bit candy heavy so we look for desserts that involve fresh fruit. Some favorites include –

• Mini Key Lime Bites
• Strawberries with Olive Oil Whipped Cream
• Grilled Peaches with Ice Cream and Thyme

Happy Easter from our family to yours.