Main Dishes Advanced Su Succu di Busachi
Filindeu pasta baked in layers with fresh and aged pecorino in a saffron meat broth. An Epiphany dish from Busachi, Sardinia.
Browse 136 main dishes recipes from Mediterranean Joy, with Sardinian and Mediterranean home-cooking ideas and whole-food inspiration.
136 recipes
Main Dishes Advanced Filindeu pasta baked in layers with fresh and aged pecorino in a saffron meat broth. An Epiphany dish from Busachi, Sardinia.
Main Dishes Easy Red mullet cooked Sassari-style with garlic, tomato, parsley, and a little white wine. A quick pan recipe from northwest Sardinia.
Main Dishes Medium A no-fry eggplant parmigiana layered with tomato sauce, boiled eggs, basil, and parmesan, then baked until golden.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian-style baked stuffed calamari with bread, olives, capers, pecorino, egg, and chopped tentacles.
Main Dishes Easy Pollo alla birra with chicken drumsticks browned in olive oil, then braised with lager, rosemary, carrot, celery, and onion.
Main Dishes Medium Mezze maniche finished off the heat with pancetta, artichokes, pecorino, eggs, parsley, and saffron.
Main Dishes Easy Fresh culurgiones served over smooth zucchini cream with fried zucchini rounds, olive oil, and pecorino.
Main Dishes Easy Fregola with broccoli, pancetta, and ricotta salata, cooked risotto-style for a quick Sardinian pasta.
Main Dishes Medium Fregola ai porcini e Vernaccia cooked risotto-style with mushrooms, herbs, and Sardinian white wine.
Main Dishes Medium Ghisadu recipe for Sardinian beef stew braised slowly with tomato, Cannonau, saffron, mint, rosemary, and juniper.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian-style conger eel stew with onion, white wine, tomato, parsley, basil, olive oil, and a little chile.
Main Dishes Medium Handmade Sardinian semolina pasta tossed hot with fresh acidic pecorino, grated pecorino, olive oil, and herbs.
Main Dishes Medium Tubular Sardinian pasta dressed with sausage, tomato, saffron, basil, and pecorino in a Campidano-style sauce.
Main Dishes Medium Malloreddus with fresh tuna, cherry tomatoes, and basil pesto in the Carloforte island style.
Main Dishes Medium A summer Sardinian pasta of malloreddus, lemony tuna, zucchini, and grated bottarga.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian murici cooked in tomato sauce with garlic, lemon peel, chili, parsley, and basil.
Main Dishes Medium Mini baguettes filled with grilled octopus, sheep's ricotta, and arugula pesto for a Sardinian-style packed lunch.
Main Dishes Easy Sardinian sea bream baked with Vernaccia di Oristano, potatoes, green olives, bay, lemon, parsley, and garlic.
Main Dishes Advanced Sardinian panada filled with eels, potatoes, dried tomatoes, garlic, parsley, and olive oil inside a semolina crust.
Main Dishes Easy A quick Sardinian-style pasta with eggplant, tomato, basil, olive oil, and grated pecorino.
Main Dishes Easy Penne with zucchini, sheep's ricotta, parsley, garlic, olive oil, and pecorino for a simple Sardinian-style pasta.
Main Dishes Easy Bronze-cut penne tossed with zucchini, white onion, olive oil, black pepper, and grated Sardinian pecorino.
Main Dishes Medium Slices of polenta baked with tomato sauce, fresh sausage, onion, basil, olive oil, and grated pecorino.
Main Dishes Medium Soft potato gnocchi dressed with quick tomato sauce, basil, and grated pecorino or parmesan.
Main Dishes Easy Barbagia-style chopped pork cooked with lard, garlic, wild fennel, Vermentino, Cannonau, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Main Dishes Easy Carnaroli rice cooked with Sardinian sausage tomato sauce, Vernaccia, vegetable broth, saffron, olive oil, and pecorino.
Main Dishes Easy Carnaroli risotto with Vernaccia di Oristano, zucchini flowers, vegetable broth, butter, grated cheese, and bottarga.
Main Dishes Advanced Traditional Sardinian sausage made with pork shoulder, belly, wild fennel seeds, black pepper, and salt, cured or grilled fresh.
Main Dishes Easy Carnaroli risotto cooked with onion, Sardinian red wine, broth, butter, thyme, black pepper, and parmesan.
Main Dishes Medium Fresh egg ravioli filled with ricotta, saffron, lemon zest, nutmeg, and cheese, served with butter and pecorino.
Main Dishes Easy Thin pork scaloppine dredged in flour, browned, and finished with Ichnusa beer and onion for a quick Sardinian-style second course.
Main Dishes Easy Spaghetti tossed with fresh mussels, fish stock, garlic, parsley, olive oil, and Sardinian mullet bottarga.
Main Dishes Easy Sardinian-style spaghetti with shrimp, datterini tomatoes, Vernaccia, garlic, parsley, basil, lemon zest, and olive oil.
Main Dishes Easy Sardinian bread bake layered with tomato sauce, pecorino, and stale bread or pane carasau.
Main Dishes Advanced Partridge and sweet potatoes slow-cooked in a sealed copper pot over embers. A Barbagia hunter's dish from central Sardinia.
Main Dishes Easy Quick flour gnocchi made with boiling water, tomato paste, olive oil, and no potatoes.
Main Dishes Advanced Sardinian vegetable panada with eggplant, zucchini, chard, potato, peppers, dried tomato, parsley, and garlic.
Main Dishes Easy A Sardinian wild asparagus frittata with eggs, pecorino, olive oil, and tender spring shoots.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian wild boar braised with tomato, Cannonau, onion, carrot, celery, juniper, and herbs until tender.
Main Dishes Medium Bavette with blue crab, tomato passata, white wine, garlic, parsley, and chili in a Sardinian coastal style.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian lamb stew cooked slowly with white wine, saffron broth, garlic, and garden herbs until deeply tender.
Main Dishes Easy Malloreddus dressed with asparagus cream, milk, garlic, and plenty of pecorino. A quick Sardinian pasta with a spring feel.
Main Dishes Medium Malloreddus finished with a loose bottarga emulsion and crisp fried artichokes. A modern Sardinian pasta built on a short ingredient list.
Main Dishes Easy A layered pistoccu bake with tomato, mozzarella, tuna, onion, olive oil, and basil. Somewhere between pizza and crispbread panada.
Main Dishes Medium Rustic Sardinian semolina dumpling-pasta shaped by hand and served with fresh tomato, basil, olive oil, and grated pecorino.
Main Dishes Medium Handmade semolina ravioli filled with ricotta, cooked chard, and citrus zest, served with simple tomato sauce or butter and sage.
Main Dishes Easy Shrimp marinated with Filu e Ferru, olive oil, garlic, parsley, and lemon, then cooked quickly over fire, in the oven, or in a pan.
Main Dishes Medium Spaghetti finished with clams, garlic, chili, lemon, and a green spinach cream sharpened with clam liquor.
Main Dishes Medium A very simple Sardinian coastal pasta finished with sea urchin roe, olive oil, garlic, and parsley right at the end.
Main Dishes Medium Summer tomatoes filled with rice, herbs, and fresh pecorino, then baked until the tomatoes collapse and the rice cooks through.
Main Dishes Easy Tortiglioni with a quick meat sauce of blanched tomatoes, onion, garlic, red wine, basil, and pecorino.
Main Dishes Easy Tripe simmered with tomato, onion, garlic, mint, and pecorino. A straightforward Sardinian pan dish without saffron.
Main Dishes Advanced Gallurese chiusoni made from semolina dough, finished with red shrimp, wild asparagus, and a light shrimp bisque.
Main Dishes Easy Pan-fried Sardinian lamb meatballs with fresh mint, garlic, and onion. A quick, flavourful second course from the family table.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian roasted kid goat marinated with vinegar, then cooked with juniper, rosemary, sage, bay, olive oil, and butter.
Main Dishes Medium Handmade Sardinian ravioli filled with mashed potatoes, herbs, mint, and local cheese in tomato sauce. A rustic farmhouse primo.
Main Dishes Medium Small roast chickens stuffed with giblets, hard-boiled egg, sun-dried tomatoes, and stale bread. A farmhouse Sardinian second course.
Main Dishes Medium Goat involtini recipe for Sardinian baked kid goat rolls wrapped with lard or pancetta, myrtle, garlic, parsley, basil, and breadcrumbs.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian burrida with dogfish, walnuts, pine nuts, and vinegar. A cold coastal antipasto that needs a full day to rest.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian baked stuffed calamari filled with anchovy, parsley, garlic, and fresh bread crumbs. A coastal second course from the island's seafood tradition.
Main Dishes Medium Agnello alla mauritana is a Carloforte lamb stew served with fregula cooked in the same pot and finished with a deep sun-dried tomato base.
Main Dishes Easy Whole mullets briefly boiled in brine and wrapped in marsh grass. A traditional Sardinian preservation method from the Cabras lagoon.
Main Dishes Advanced Carloforte-style Sardinian couscous with chickpeas, fava beans, cabbage, cauliflower, fennel, and warm spices.
Main Dishes Easy Cubes of pork liver wrapped in caul fat with bay leaves and grilled until crisp. A direct Sardinian street food.
Main Dishes Easy Leftover pasta bound with eggs, tomato sauce, and three cheeses, then baked until golden. A Sardinian home-kitchen way to use yesterday's pasta.
Main Dishes Advanced Seafood culurgiones with potato and tuna filling, wheat-ear closure, cherry tomato, and bottarga.
Main Dishes Medium Rough spaghetti dressed with a wild-asparagus and egg-pecorino cream, no pancetta.
Main Dishes Easy Greek fasolakia with green beans, potatoes, tomato, onion, garlic, olive oil, and parsley cooked until soft.
Main Dishes Medium Classic spanakopita — flaky phyllo pastry filled with spinach, feta, and herbs. A Greek recipe that's crispy outside, creamy inside.
Main Dishes Medium Polpette di pesce with flaked white fish, breadcrumbs, and tomato sauce for tender Sardinian fish meatballs.
Main Dishes Easy Sardinian spaghetti tossed with a creamy walnut sauce made by soaking, peeling, and pounding walnuts with garlic, parsley, milk, and a hint of nutmeg.
Main Dishes Medium Handmade Sardinian ring pasta from Morgongiori with fresh sausage, saffron, and tomato — a traditional Campidanese Sunday dish.
Main Dishes Medium Traditional Sardinian wild boar stew slow-braised in red wine with black olives, garlic, and chili.
Main Dishes Medium Agnello al finocchietto is a Sardinian lamb stew braised with wild fennel, onion, and tomato until the meat is spoon-tender and deeply aromatic.
Main Dishes Easy Spaghetti tossed with lobster meat simmered in a simple tomato sauce. A Sardinian pasta dish that turns a small amount of lobster into a full meal.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinia's oven-roasted suckling pig, cooked low, salted mid-roast, and finished with crisp skin and fresh myrtle.
Main Dishes Easy Whole octopus threaded onto skewers and grilled slowly over charcoal, basted with olive oil, garlic, and parsley. A Sardinian coastal classic.
Main Dishes Medium Fregola with clams, peas, tomato, and saffron for a lighter Sardinian seafood pasta.
Main Dishes Advanced A Sardinian panada filled with lamb, potatoes, dried tomatoes, and herbs, sealed in a firm semolina crust and baked until golden.
Main Dishes Medium Whole sea bream baked with salted anchovies tucked into slashes in the back, deglazed with Vernaccia wine. A Sardinian roasting technique.
Main Dishes Medium A baked Sardinian fregula from the Barigadu area, mixed with meat sauce, pecorino, and hot lard for a dense, celebratory crust.
Main Dishes Advanced Traditional Sardinian hunter's pasta made by slow-braising hare in red wine with pancetta, herbs, and spices, then tossing it with spaghetti and pecorino.
Main Dishes Medium Pearl barley cooked risotto-style with mushrooms, white wine, parsley, and parmesan for a sturdy one-pot dinner.
Main Dishes Medium Braised artichokes with lemon, garlic, mint, parsley, olive oil, and white wine for a tender vegetable side.
Main Dishes Easy Bulgur pilaf with chickpeas, tomatoes, mushrooms, red pepper, cumin, smoked paprika, parsley, and broth.
Main Dishes Medium Sicilian caponata with eggplant, peppers, celery, tomato, olives, capers, and agrodolce. Serve cool or at room temperature.
Main Dishes Easy Thick roasted cauliflower slices with tahini-lemon sauce, garlic, parsley, mint, and optional pomegranate.
Main Dishes Advanced Sardinian culurgiones with semolina dough, potato, mint, garlic oil, cheese, and the classic wheat-ear seal.
Main Dishes Medium Fregola with clams, mussels, samphire, and shellfish broth for a briny Sardinian seafood pasta.
Main Dishes Easy Toasted fregola with roasted cherry tomatoes, feta, olives, basil, and mint. Serve it warm, room temperature, or packed as a salad.
Main Dishes Easy A build-your-own grain bowl template with farro, roasted vegetables, crispy chickpeas, and a bright herb sauce. Customizable and deeply satisfying.
Main Dishes Easy Malloreddus tossed with sausage, garlic, chili, Vermentino, saffron, and pecorino in a fast Sardinian pan sauce.
Main Dishes Easy The everyday Sardinian pasta: small ridged gnocchetti bathed in a golden saffron-tomato sauce. Simple, satisfying, and deeply traditional.
Main Dishes Easy A rich, savory plant-based ragù made with mushrooms and lentils. Deep umami flavor in a completely vegan sauce that satisfies like the meat version.
Main Dishes Easy A Sardinian comfort dish of pane carasau softened in broth, layered with tomato sauce and pecorino, and finished with a poached egg.
Main Dishes Easy Italian peperonata with red and yellow peppers, shallot, capers, oregano, and basil. Soft, glossy, and best after a short rest.
Main Dishes Easy A sheet pan of roasted Mediterranean vegetables—zucchini, peppers, onions, cherry tomatoes, and olives. Simple, flexible, and perfect for weeknight dinners.
Main Dishes Easy Roasted zucchini and eggplant slices drizzled with bright green salsa verde. A simple vegetable dish transformed by an herb-packed sauce.
Main Dishes Medium The Sardinian Sunday roast: lamb shoulder slow-cooked with wild herbs until falling-off-the-bone tender. Simple, aromatic, and made for gatherings.
Main Dishes Easy Classic Greek spinach rice—a simple, nourishing dish of rice, spinach, lemon, and dill. Comfort food that comes together in 30 minutes.
Main Dishes Medium Sicilian-style stuffed eggplant boats filled with tomato, herbs, and crispy breadcrumbs. Baked until tender and golden. Vegetarian, meal-prep friendly.
Main Dishes Easy Cabbage wedges slowly braised in tomato sauce with olive oil and herbs. A transformation of humble ingredients into something deeply satisfying.
Main Dishes Easy Fluffy whole wheat couscous with roasted vegetables and protein-rich chickpeas. A quick 20-minute meal that's perfect for weeknights or meal prep.
Main Dishes Easy A simplified pasta con le sarde—whole wheat spaghetti with sardines, lemon, and golden breadcrumbs. Nutritious, affordable, and deeply satisfying.
Main Dishes Easy Stuffed zucchini boats filled with a hearty chickpea and tomato mixture. Protein-packed, vegetarian, and perfect for meal prep.
Main Dishes Medium A Gallura bread bake made from beef broth, stale durum bread, peretta fresca, parmigiano sardo, parsley, and warm spice mix.
Main Dishes Easy Tripe slow-simmered with tomato and saffron in the Cagliari style, finished with fresh mint and grated pecorino.
Main Dishes Easy Malloreddus tossed in a saffron-infused pecorino cream sauce. A simple, rich Sardinian pasta that comes together in twenty minutes.
Main Dishes Easy Spaghetti dressed with canned tuna, lemon zest and juice, garlic, and parsley. A fast pantry pasta.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian lamb stew braised with potatoes, paprika, and aromatic herbs in a rich tomato-based sauce.
Main Dishes Easy Malloreddus in a slow-simmered ragu of crumbled sausage, ground veal, and porcini mushrooms with tomato paste and white wine.
Main Dishes Easy Quick-sautéed white beans and dark greens with garlic, chili, and olive oil. A 15-minute pantry staple from a Sardinian kitchen.
Main Dishes Easy Black-eyed peas simmered with tomatoes, onion, olive oil, herbs, broth, and vinegar for a simple one-pan meal.
Main Dishes Easy Chickpea and eggplant stew with cumin, coriander, tomato, lemon, and cilantro for a simple plant-based dinner.
Main Dishes Medium Panelle-style chickpea fritters made from chickpea flour, water, parsley, olive oil, and lemon, pan-fried until crisp.
Main Dishes Easy Chickpeas with tomatoes and spinach in a garlicky skillet sauce with cumin, paprika, lemon, and olive oil.
Main Dishes Easy Simple lentils with carrots, celery, parsley, olive oil, and vinegar for an everyday one-pot Mediterranean meal.
Main Dishes Medium Sardinian fregola with mixed seafood, tomato, parsley, and shellfish broth, cooked risotto-style so the pasta absorbs the sea.
Main Dishes Easy Spanish garlic shrimp cooked quickly in olive oil with sliced garlic, smoked paprika, chili, parsley, and lemon.
Main Dishes Easy Gigantes plaki recipe for Greek giant beans baked in tomato sauce with olive oil, onion, garlic, parsley, and oregano.
Main Dishes Easy Fresh sardines charred on the grill with a bright lemon-garlic dressing. A classic Mediterranean fish dish that's high in omega-3s and impossibly simple.
Main Dishes Medium Tender lentil meatballs in a rich tomato sauce. All the comfort of classic meatballs, entirely plant-based.
Main Dishes Easy Hearty lentil ragù with vegetables and herbs, served over farro or any whole grain. Comfort without heaviness—the vegetarian bolognese.
Main Dishes Easy Baked salmon fillets topped with a vibrant herb mixture of parsley, dill, and lemon zest. Simple, elegant, and ready in 20 minutes.
Main Dishes Medium Greek-style stuffed peppers with herbed rice, tomatoes, and olive oil. Baked until tender and caramelized. Vegetarian, meal-prep friendly.
Main Dishes Easy Plump mussels steamed in a garlicky tomato sauce with white wine and fresh herbs. Serve with crusty bread to soak up every drop of the broth.
Main Dishes Easy Spaghetti al pomodoro with garlic, basil, olive oil, and ripe tomatoes. A quick, stripped-back version finished directly in the pan.
Main Dishes Medium Classic French-Mediterranean vegetable stew with eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. Make a big batch and eat it all week.
Main Dishes Easy White fish, shrimp, and seasonal vegetables roasted together on one sheet pan. Fennel, orange, and olives create a distinctly Mediterranean flavor.
Main Dishes Easy Plump shrimp and orzo pasta cooked together in a garlicky tomato sauce with white wine. A one-pot Mediterranean meal that's ready in 25 minutes.
Main Dishes Easy Crispy, golden chickpea flour flatbread from Nice. Naturally gluten-free and perfect with rosemary and olive oil.
Main Dishes Easy A classic Southern Italian pasta where anchovies melt into the sauce, creating deep umami flavor. Topped with crispy garlic breadcrumbs for texture.
Main Dishes Easy A fast Sardinian pasta of spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, lemon, and grated bottarga. Minimal ingredients, strong sea flavor.
Main Dishes Easy Classic Greek-style chicken: juicy thighs with crispy potatoes, all roasted together in lemon, garlic, and oregano. One pan, minimal effort, maximum flavor.
Main Dishes Easy A simple, protein-rich dinner that comes together in one pan. Fresh white fish, potatoes, and olives roasted to perfection.
Main Dishes Easy Creamy white beans slowly braised in tomato sauce with garlic and herbs. A simple, satisfying Mediterranean dinner.