middle eastern appetizer

An easy and healthy Mediterranean mezze platter is a sure and healthy way to please a crowd!

Mezze: How to Build the perfect Mediterranean Party Platter

baby eggplants,

Salt

Olive oil

Traditional Creamy Hummus

Homemade Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

bell pepper, any color, cored

Homemade Greek Tzatziki store-bought tzatziki

Campari tomatoes, quartered

Persian (baby) cucumbers, sliced into spears

Pitted Kalamata olives

artichoke hearts

oz Greek feta cheese, cubed (not crumbled)

oz baby mozzarella cheese balls

prosciutto di parma

California fresh figs, halved (substituent: seedless grapes)

sumac

Pita bread bread

Place the eggplant slices on some paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Let the eggplants "sweat out" any bitterness for 20 minutes or so. Pat dry.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the eggplant slices on a lightly oiled baking pan, drizzle generously with olive oil. Roast for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, assemble the remaining ingredients on a large serving platters. Begin with the two hummus spreads on opposite sides. Place Tzatziki sauce in the cored bell pepper right at the center of the platter. Assemble the remaining ingredients on the platter to your liking. When the eggplant is roasted to a nice medium-brown, remove it from the oven and sprinkle with 1 tsp of sumac. Add the roasted eggplant to the platter.

You can cover and refrigerate this mezze party platter; take it out a few minutes before your guests arrive. Enjoy with warm pita and crostini or your choice of crackers!

Fantastic idea and recipe! This was so easy to assemble and was devoured by guests. Served with grilled shrimp and an orzo salad. Lovely, thank you!

This looks amazing and I'm making it tomorrow.  Can't figure out what kind of eggplant you used to get that shape from the slices.  Are they the Japanese eggplants and you sliced them vertically and then across?

For  Thanksgiving, I took my host what I thought was an appetizer tray based on charcuterie. I included cheeses, some grilled vegetables. grape tomatoes, olives, marinated artichoke hearts, a few random peppers I found at the olive bar (Peppadews, sweetie drop peppers), dolmas, and I can't remember what else.

Maybe I should have stuck with American, French, Latin, or Meditteranean "small plates", but frankly, it was fun to mix things up and include what I like!

I love your ideas, and look forward trying them

We usually do the antipasti platter (my family is from the Adriatic side of the Mediterranean) but I think I'll change it up this year and do the mezza platter instead!

Suzy, I am new to your site and LOVE it--your recipes, videos, notes &amp; tips, photos-- so well done!

For a small birthday / Mother's Day celebration, we enjoyed putting our mezzo platter together with most of your suggestions.....also made your best layered hummus dip alongside.  My guests took pictures of the table, which is not a routine occurrence in my kitchen!   Everything was so delicious and filling--and fun!--but not heavy or rich.   For dessert, your Greek yogurt parfait with kailua and nuts was perfection.

Thank you, thank you--your work is truly exceptional!  My only suggestion: the recipe index feature seems off (unless it's me?)  For example, when I enter "hummus", the layered hummus dip recipe doesn't arrive in the options.  Then again, it's definitely worth the search :)

https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/8AuyAoTJ.mp4

Learn How to Build the Perfect Mediterranean Mezze Platter

How to Build the Perfect Mezze Platter

This quick and easy appetizer is perfect for any occasion. A creamy, fluffy dip made with whipped salty feta, paired with a honey blend of chili flakes and garlic. Serve alongside crispy pita bread, crackers or a veggie platter for a delightful starter.

Whipped feta dip with spicy honey

200 g/7 oz feta

100 g/3.5 oz full fat ricotta

g/1.5 oz full fat sour cream

salt + black pepper (to taste)

tbsp honey

olive oil

garlic (finely

lemon juice

tsp crushed red chili flakes

chives (for topping (optional))

tsp za’atar (for topping)

tsp black & white sesame seeds (for topping)

pita chips (naan

Feta, ricotta and sour cream should be at room temperature.

Add feta, ricotta and sour cream to a food processor. Season with salt and pepper. Blend on high until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Taste, add salt and pepper.

In a saucepan, heat olive oil over low. Add garlic, sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Stir in honey, lemon juice and chili flakes. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve the whipped feta drizzled with spicy honey. Top with chives, za’atar, sesame seeds, some extra freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes.

Enjoy with pita chips, naan or on a veggie platter.

Leftovers can be used as a spread or a dressing.

feta ((without brine))

ricotta (full fat)

sour cream (full fat)

salt (to taste)

black pepper (to taste)

garlic (grated

pita chips (for serving)

naan (for serving)

raw veggies (for serving)

blending

sautéing

serving

Serve the whipped feta drizzled with spicy honey. Top with chives, za’atar, sesame seeds, some extra freshly ground black pepper and chili flakes. Enjoy with pita chips, naan or on a veggie platter.

This was absolutely to die for! I keep thinking about the flavors and how I might use this in other recipes. It’s that good!

This was a winning recipe! It was absolutely delicious. Rave reviews as well from guests. The only thing I struggled with is the honey mixture was quite runny and so made the dip a bit soupy. Is there a fix for this? I followed the recipe exactly so I’m not sure what I did wrong.

Very Easy, 10 out of 10,it's going to my next pot luck or dinner party.

Have made this dip before but this time after putting into serving dish, and spooning honey mixture, dip turned into a watery mess that would not even grab onto pita chips.  It was like I poured water into the dish.  Have no idea what could have cause this.  Has this happened to anyone else?  Please email me if it has or if you have any suggestions - love this dip!!

I made this and the taste was amazing. But the dip was very “liquidy.”  Then it did not look appealing. I wonder why?  Was it the consistency of the honey or any other ideas?  I do want to make it again with the correction. Thanks

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Mezze: How to Build the perfect Med...

Whipped feta dip with spicy honey

Whipped feta dip with spicy honey

Top 3 middle eastern appetizer recipes from across the web

The most viewed middle eastern appetizer recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Mezze: How to Build the perfect Med...

Whipped feta dip with spicy honey

Whipped feta dip with spicy honey

The most viewed middle eastern appetizer recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine