Mezze table

Yield: 8 People

Measure Ingredient
\N \N -Mideast
\N \N Pita; whole or wedges
\N \N Paperthin Lavash; whole or wedges
\N \N Olives, black
\N \N Cheese; goat and/or yogurt
\N \N Herbs, fresh; mint, chervil, cilantro, tarragon, & dill
2 \N Breads
3 \N Salads
3 \N Dips; or sauces
\N \N Baked Bulgur Patties
1 \N Bread; filled or flavored
3 \N Meats, grilled; or other substantial dishes
\N \N Bulgur Bread
\N \N Paperthin Lavash
\N \N Bedouin Barley Bread
\N \N Fenugreek Corn Bread
\N \N Moroccan Anise Bread
\N \N Afghan Homestyle Naan
\N \N Afghan Snowshoe Naan
\N \N Pebbled Persian Bread
\N \N Uighur Nan with Cumin & Onio
\N \N Lamb and Tomato Breads
\N \N Thyme Bread
\N \N Olive Salad
\N \N Bread Salad
\N \N Chickpea Salad with Spearmin
\N \N Sweet Onion Salad
\N \N Grilled Vegetable Salad
\N \N Hazelnut Spice Blend
\N \N Thyme and Sesame Blend
\N \N Pomegranate and Walnut Sauce
\N \N Grilled Marinated Chicken
\N \N Baked Bulgur Patties Stuffed
\N \N Marinated Lamb Kebabs
\N \N Chicken Street Kebabs
\N \N Georgian Walnut Sauce Casser

FLATBREADS & FLAVORS; ALFORD

BASICS

APPETIZER TABLE, ADD

MEZZE FEAST, ADD

BREADS

SALADS

SAUCES, CONDIMENTS, & DIPS

GRILLS & SUBSTANTIAL DISHES

Mezze, maza, meze, mezeler, mezedes, mezza, mezethakia, meza, al mezah: There are as many different names for mezze as there are languages along the eastern rim of the Mediterranean, and there are as many different mezze dishes as there are cooks to invent them.

Mezze is a way of eating; as with tapas or antipasti, almost anything that is small and tasty qualifies as a mezze dish, even main dishes if they can be served in small portions. Mezze dishes are often served as hors d'oeuvres to accompany drinks, or set out as a first course. But when served with plenty of fresh warm flatbreads, even the most humble array can instantly become a meal. And the mezze table is one of the all-time great ways of giving bread a central role in a meal, whether a simple home-style supper or a dazzling festive spread.

A basic mezze meal can be as simple as a basket of warm pita, a plate of fresh herbs, another of feta cheese or yogurt cheese, a dish of olives, and a pitcher of iced water. Add a dip or salsa, a salad or two, and a grill such as Grilled Marinated Chicken, and a simple light meal becomes a more elaborate dinner.

Keep in mind that whatever is served should be easy to pick up or to eat with flatbreads. Place all the breads and dishes on the table at the same time. There are no courses in a mezze meal, no rules about what must be eaten first and what later. Think of a long summer night on the Mediterranean with plenty of time to eat, to talk, and to eat some more. A mezze meal should be as informal and relaxing as it is delicious.

To give a mezze meal the status of a mezze feast, simply increase the number and variety of dishes, including perhaps a few heartier choices like kebabs or one or two bean dishes. When making your selections about what to serve, think also about how the table will be arranged, about colors and shapes, contrasts and complements.

Place a rich red salsa beside a pale cream-colored dip, a white feta next to the black olives, an orange or a carrot salat near a plate of fresh green herbs.

Nutritional information per serving: xx calories, xx gm protein, xx mg cholesterol, xx gm carbohydrate, xx mg sodium, x.x gm fiber, xx gm fat ( x gm sat, x gm mono, x gm poly), x.x mg iron, xx mg calcium, x% of calories from fat.

Tyops courtesy of Sylvia Steiger, SylviaRN (at) CompuServe (dot) com

Similar recipes