Explore the Mediterranean with recipes from ckbk

Can’t make it to the Med this summer? No problem. You can bring the flavors of the region to life in your own kitchen. Let ckbk inspire you with recipes for dishes from the diverse cultures that surround its waters.

• No trip to the Med would be complete without summery seafood. Try Jason Goodwin's Turkish fish stew, or for a different take, travel to southern Italy with Valentina Harris’s shellfish-studded Pugliese version. Tunisian-style fish couscous from Joyce Goldstein is another option, or this classic seafood fritto misto from Tessa Kiros will take you straight to Venice…

• Fire up the grill and summon the flavors of the Med with Berber-style lamb méchoui, go Turkish with lamb and eggplant kebabs, or try Greek-style grilled octopus, all from star of the grill Steven Raichlen. Or try these spicy Moroccan-style chicken skewers from Jennifer Newens.

• Eggs are used in all sorts of imaginative and delicious ways across the Med. Try Turkish-style poached eggs with yogurt or Israeli-style shakshuka with spinach.

• Cooling salads with a vegetarian focus are just right for August’s heat. A watermelon and cucumber salad and a classic parsley, mint and tomato tabbouleh will hit the spot – and neither need cooking.

• Honey is used to sweeten desserts all around the Med. Try this Catalan sweet-and-savory dessert from David Tanis, Peter Gordon's luscious pistachio-stuffed nectarines, or deep-fried, honey-drenched Greek and Cypriot loukoumades from Tessa Kiros.

• Lebanese cooks are revered for turning fresh, simple ingredients into sophisticated dishes. Try a classic, summery fattoush salad, then explore the cuisine in more depth with recipes from DC-based chef Kamal Al-Faqih.