7 holiday recipes you can recreate at home

Whether you're craving a taste of Italy or the fiery heat of Spain, we've got your summer holiday recipes here.

Even though trips abroad are precarious right now, you can still feel like you're on holiday and transport yourself to the Mediterranean by way of your kitchen.

Below, we’ve rounded up seven simple but evocative holiday dishes to tide you over until you can be seated at a harbour-side restaurant once again.

Mussel and bacon paella

Paella is said to have originated in Valencia, on Spain's eastern coastline, where it's traditionally made with meat and cooked on an open fire. This simple paella recipe uses a mix of meat, seafood and colourful veg for a lively combination of flavours and textures. Get the recipe, here. 

Greek spatchcock chicken

Once you learn the simple technique of spatchcocking a chicken, you will make it this way all the time. Removing the backbone flattens the chicken and helps it roast faster - the result is a juicy chicken with crispy skin. This recipe is loaded with Greek flavours like lemon and oregano and is simply delicious. Get the recipe here. 

Classic margherita pizza

No trip to Italy would be complete without a slice of true Neapolitan pizza. Although you could order a wood-fired pizza from one of Dublin's truly excellent pizzerias, half the fun is in making the dough! Get the recipe here. 

Aperol spritz

Making the cocktail of summer yourself couldn't be easier. For the perfect mix follow these easy rules:

1. Mix Aperol, prosecco and soda before adding the ice, that way it doesn't need stirring.
2. Add as much ice as the wine glass will allow.
3. Opt for a large orange wedge rather than a thin slice.

Get the recipe, here. 

Lamb moussaka

This Greek dish can be made with any meat, but is traditionally made with either lamb or beef, and is prepared by slow cooking the minced meat in a tomato sauce and layered with aubergines, eggplants, and creamy béchamel sauce. Get the recipe, here. 

Panzanella salad with mozzarella and pesto

File this recipe under 'perfect holiday lunch'. A no-cook, chuck-together salad is ideal for WFH lunches, socially distanced picnics or an afternoon spent down at the beach. Why not make this salad, even more, filing by adding in some leftover chicken? Get the recipe, here. 

Churros con chocolate 

This easy churros recipe is super simple and anyone can make it at home. All you need is a large pan for frying and a few simple ingredients. Get the recipe, here. 

Main image by Roberto Nickson 

This first appeared on our sister site irishtatler.com