A wedding celebrates more than just the union of two individuals; it’s also a cultural extravaganza. Traditions of the homeland are relived, reimagined, and shared between families and guests.
Whether or not your family hails from the Mediterranean region, a wedding is a wonderful opportunity to explore cultural traditions and culinary flavors.
There’s no single set of traditions or foods that represent the Mediterranean, but there are a number of dishes that resonate with many of the region’s peoples.
Would you love to add some Mediterranean flavor to your big day? Let’s explore some classic Mediterranean-themed treats to include in your wedding menu.
What Foods Represent the Mediterranean Region?
There are 21 countries with coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea, including Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Mediterranean cuisine is often viewed as three blended yet distinct culinary regions:
| Culinary Regions of the Mediterranean | |
| Eastern Mediterranean | Turkey, Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Israel, Egypt |
| Southern Europe | Italy, Spain, and Southern France |
| North Africa | Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya |
In the Eastern Mediterranean you’ll find lots of yogurts, feta cheese, parsley, mint, lemon juice, and pita bread. The most common meats include lamb, goat, and poultry, sometimes served in kebabs or gyros.
Southern Europe is fond of wine, both as a beverage and a cooking ingredient. Other standards include tomatoes, garlic, capers, mustard, pasta, rice, and leavened breads.
Down in North Africa, things get spicy with cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, and paprika providing a flavor profile for typical meals throughout much of the region. Dried fruits, lemon, couscous, and meat or vegetable stews are a few staple North African ingredients in meals.
Mediterranean food comes from ingredients, ideas, and people that have crossed borders for countless generations, creating a rich tapestry of flavor.
If you’d like to feature Mediterranean foods at your wedding, why not showcase dishes from several lands?
Here are a few regional favorites to get you started:
| Mediterranean-Themed Wedding Treat Ideas | |
| Eastern Mediterranean | Greek Spanakopita Bites |
| Southern Europe | Spanish Patatas Bravas |
| North Africa | Tunisian Almond Fingers |
First up, a crisp and cheesy classic from Greece.
Eastern Mediterranean Region: Greek Spanakopita Bites
One of the nation's most recognizable dishes, spanakopita, is a mash-up of some top Greek ingredients, such as spinach, feta cheese, and filo dough.
This Greek pie can serve as a side dish or a main course as it’s not too light or heavy, and full of flavor.
The recipe involves baking feta and spinach inside layers of filo dough. Onions, scallions, egg, and seasonings round out the traditional filling ingredients.
Alternately, a vegan version of the dish contains a few more veggies and some olive oil, with no egg or cheese. This variant was traditionally eaten in Greece during Lent, when the Greek Orthodox faith forbade the eating of meat, eggs, and dairy.
Cut into little squares or triangles, spanakopita makes a delightful finger food—perfect for a wedding buffet spread, equally tasty either hot from the oven or at room temperature.
Southern Europe Region: Spanish Patatas Bravas
Patatas bravas is one of the most well-known Spanish tapas. Tapas are small plates of food, usually served as appetizers or as bar snacks with beer or wine.
The name means spicy potatoes, which neatly sums up this simple yet beloved dish.
Patatas bravas consist of white potatoes cut into small cubes, which are then fried in oil and served with a warm and spicy sauce.
Every Spanish restaurant and household has its own take on patatas bravas.
The potatoes can be fried on their own, or along with some combination of onion, garlic, and pepper. As for the sauce, the traditional version is tomato-based and has lots of zest.
You can also use aioli, a garlic mayonnaise that’s full of flavor. It also works well as a second topping, as aioli contrasts perfectly with the tomato sauce.
The sauces are often drizzled atop the potatoes, but work just as well on the side to allow guests to pick and choose their toppings, particularly at buffets.
Fried potatoes are a global classic, so with patatas bravas, your guests get to sample a fresh take on a familiar favorite.
North African Region: Tunisian Almond Fingers
Tunisia belongs to the North African Mediterranean region. The nation’s cuisine is incredibly diverse having been inhabited by a variety of ethnic groups, with each bringing fresh gastronomic traditions.
Middle Eastern, European, and African influences combine to form a culinary tradition that’s uniquely Tunisian.
You can really wow your guests if you turn to this part of the world for your dessert selection. Sweets from these lands are varied, delectable, and function perfectly as finger foods.
If you want to play it safe, you can go with a well-known North African favorite: baklava.
For a more unique offering, serve up a tray of exquisite Tunisian almond fingers.
”I have reordered almond cigars a few times, it’s my guilty pleasure! These are delicious works of art and just scrumptious to boot.”
— Valerie M., ★★★★★ Verified Layla’s Delicacies Reviewer
Almond fingers, also known as almond cigars, are traditional treats in Morocco and Tunisia.
At Layla’s Delicacies, we craft almond fingers with a blend of almond and hazelnut held together with syrup and rolled up in crisp brik filo sheets. Yum!
Almond fingers area breakfast item that pairs well with Turkish coffee but also look good on an evening dessert spread.
As the night slows down, sweet and nutty delights will provide your guests with a perfect dose of comfort and energy.
Tunisian Sweets for Your Wedding’s Dessert Table
You can’t go wrong featuring a few Mediterranean culinary classics.
For the sweeter portion of your wedding feast, Layla’s Delicacies has many options that your guests will adore.
”These desserts are perfection! If you love bite-size, elegant, quality desserts these are absolutely adorable and delicious delicacies. I loved them!”
— Xhilda K., ★★★★★ Verified Layla’s Delicacies Reviewer
Consider a few of these North African treats:
- Samsa Pistachio
- Baklava El Bey
- Almond Fingers
- Kaak Warka
At Layla’s Delicacies, we believe that aesthetics are as important as flavors, so all of our treats are beautifully made, befitting the splendor of a wedding feast.
Our gift boxes come in several sizes to accommodate large or small guest lists. Many of our treats are 100 percent vegan. Thanks to the creative use of several types of nuts, our offerings pack more protein and less sugar than typical confections.
Visit the Layla’s Delicacies blog for more foodie insights, and contact us any time to discuss your order.
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