party platter

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

Sticky spiced wings make great finger food or canapés, and this version skips the deep-fried stage so they're healthier

Baked buffalo chicken wings

garlic cloves, crushed

olive oil

tbsp cider vinegar

paprika

Worcestershire sauce

tsp celery salt

tbsp pepper sauce (we used Frank's hot sauce)

tbsp honey

½kg chicken wing, halved at the joint

In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, olive oil, cider vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt, hot sauce, honey and a couple of cracks of black pepper. Add the chicken wings and toss around to make sure they’re fully covered in the marinade. If you have time, leave the wings to marinate for a couple of hrs in the fridge or ideally overnight.

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Drain and reserve the marinade, then spread the wings out on a very large baking tray. Bake for 30 mins, then pour off the excess oil, add the reserved marinade and toss well. Increase oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Return to the oven and cook for a further 30 mins, tossing a few times to coat in the glaze as they cook. They should be sticky and glazed with most of the marinade evaporated. Serve on a large platter alongside other party snacks.

This coleslaw uses a vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise to create a super healthy veggie salad dish

Winter slaw with warm celery seed dressing

green bean

white cabbage

white onion

carrots

sunflower oil

tbsp caster sugar

celery seeds

tbsp wholegrain mustard

Cook the green beans for 1 min in boiling salted water, then drain and rinse under a cold tap. Place in a large bowl with the cabbage, onion and carrot.

In a small saucepan, bring the dressing ingredients to the boil. Add a pinch of salt, remove from the heat, let cool for 5 mins, then toss with the salad before serving.

This tangy, creamy sauce makes a great centrepiece for a party platter but is versatile enough to go beyond crudités

Celery sticks with blue cheese dip

soured cream

mayonnaise

blue cheese

tbsp white wine vinegar

celery

In a medium-sized bowl, mix the soured cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and some seasoning. Pour into a serving bowl and use as a dip for the celery sticks.

The perfect way to kick-off a party is an epic cheese board! Use this recipe/guide to make the perfect cheese board. Be whimsical and have fun!

How to Make the BEST Cheese Board: A Complete Guide

Hard Cheeses: Parmagian Reggiano and Sharp Cheddar, for example

Cheeses: Greek Feta

Semi Soft Cheese: Sliced Swiss

Other: Sliced cheddar

Proscuitto di Parma

Salami (hard

Coppa or Hot Capicola

Crackers and small-sliced breads

vegetables

Sweet: dried figs; and honey or jam

Tangy: olives and other marinated items like artichokes

Personal favorites (I added homemade hummus and a bowl of EVOO

herbs

On  a large wood board or serving platter of your choice, place one ingredient in the center of the board and 4 others on each of the corners to create shape to the board. I placed my hummus bowl in the center of the board, and in the 4 corners, a round of brie; square of aged cheddar; a bowl of olives; and a bowl of creamy crumbled feta.

From there, fill in the board from the center to the corners with the remaining cheeses, meats, and accompaniments. Take a look and see where the gaps are, add more items as needed. Garnish with fresh herbs.

This epic cheese board will make such an elegant centerpiece at a holiday party! Thanks for all the great tips!

Thanks for all the details and pro tips.  I feel ready to attack a cheese plate now!

This looks great, will make this for the holidays! thanks

This is such a beautiful informative post, and everyone want to make an awesome cheese board. I love the variety of colors and textures and that brie with the jam is calling my name! Would love to be at a party snacking on this with friends.

This looks so perfect! Cheese boards are one of my favorite parts of all the holiday parties. This one looks next level!

So many fantastic ideas for my next party!! Such a great variety!

I made this for Christmas, was amazing!!!!

No imagination , one does not put meats on the same dish as cheese. A good cheese board should  consist of 6 cheeses. Ranging from soft to hard . 
A blue, a goats, maybe a creamy Kaltenberg  or a mimosa. I have NEVER had Parmigiano on a cheese board, ever.. the mistakes are too many to mention.

Muhammara is a Middle Eastern vegan dip that's made with walnuts, roasted red peppers, breadcrumbs, olive oil and spices - easy to make in ONE simple step!

Homemade Muhammara Dip

walnuts

breadcrumbs

red bell (drained)

extra virgin olive oil (divided plus extra to finish)

Pomegranate molasses

garlic

cumin

cayenne pepper

salt

Pita bread or pita chips (for serving)

In a small skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and toast the walnuts until they are lightly toasted, stirring often, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool. (this step is optional)

In the same skillet, toast the breadcrumbs over medium heat until they become golden, stirring often, about 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool. (this step is optional)

Place all the ingredients in a high speed food processor and blend until all the ingredients are well incorporated and mixture is smooth.

Transfer to a small serving bowl and chill before serving. Garnish with parsley, drizzle olive oil, and serve with pita chips, if desired.

https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/ksOeEbqe.mp4

Top 6 party platter recipes from across the web

The most viewed party platter recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

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Mezze: How to Build the perfect Med...

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Top 6 party platter recipes from across the web

The most viewed party platter recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Mezze: How to Build the perfect Med...

Baked buffalo chicken wings

Winter slaw with warm celery seed d...

Celery sticks with blue cheese dip

How to Make the BEST Cheese Board: ...

Homemade Muhammara Dip

The most viewed party platter recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine