Mediterranean Mezze Platter

A tasty mezze platter is a cornerstone of any Mediterranean party. Learn how easy it is to build a Mediterranean mezze platter that will impress your guests and delight your taste buds!

Appetizers and mezzes are among our most-loved Mediterranean recipes. From classic hummus and baba ganoush to muhammara and tzatziki and everything in between, a large mezze platter is great for entertaining.  It’s so simple to prepare and ensure that there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes!

Thank you Lantana Foods for sponsoring this post.

The Basics

Mezze (or meze) is a selection of Mediterranean small dishes. It’s commonly served with dinner across the Mediterranean and the Balkans. This Mediterranean platter consists several small dishes that compliment each other very well. The word mezze comes from Persian, in which “mazze” means taste or snack.

Growing up in Iran, we used to serve a classic Persian appetizer platter very often. It would contain cheese, herbs, and watermelon or grapes. Then, when I moved to Istanbul, Turkey, mezze was an integral part of almost every meal at a sit-down restaurant. The waiter would come with a very large tray with lots of small dishes and we would choose everything that looked good to us. If we were lucky, we might get a one or two free additional mezzes with our meal. Ah, those were good days!

Elements of an amazing platter

This is the part of the process where you can use your imagination. The items that can go on a platter are endless. I usually opt for two types of hummus, which is so easy to do thanks to Lantana’s delicious flavors of hummus. Other items that go on a hummus platter are:

• Bread: Pita chips or homemade pita is a good option but you can also use crackers or lavash bread.
• Fresh vegetables: Cucumbers and fresh tomatoes add freshness to the platter and they’re great for dipping.
• Dolmas: You can get prepared stuffed grape leaves at supermarkets. You can also make homemade dolmas if you prefer.
• Cheese: Feta and labneh are great choices. Mozzarella balls also work well.
• Marinated vegetables: Artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and marinated olives are a great combination for any platter.
• Grilled vegetables: I love serving roasted red peppers on my platter. You can also serve roasted zucchini, fried eggplant, or even grilled asparagus.
• Nuts: I always add a handful of walnuts to add a nice crunch to the platter. Be sure to try feta with walnuts. It’s a truly great combination!
• Bite size food: It’s common to have some bite size foods such as falafels and meatballs.
• Salads: Fattoush and tabbouleh are good additions to your mezze platter if you like serving salads. You can also serve some Turkish white beans salad (Piyaz): it’s tasty and easy to make.

Preparation Instructions

Choose you platter

First of all, choose the right size platter. The bigger, the better. You can use almost any kind of platter: oval, rectangular, or round.  Even a cutting board or baking sheet will do. It’s best if the platter has a large flat surface so you can arrange the food easily. 

Assemble the platter

Start by plating the hummus. I like to place one flavor of hummus at each end of the platter so everyone has access to the good stuff. Next, place the roasted red peppers and cucumbers in the center. Continue with feta and mozzarella cheese on both ends of the platter. You can either use mozzarella pearls or slice up a ball of mozzarella.

Next, place marinated olives and dolmas on the platter and proceed with the addition of fresh and sun-dried tomatoes. Finish with marinated artichokes, walnuts, a few peppadew peppers and some sliced pita bread.

Wasn’t it easy to put together such a beautiful assortment?

Is everything on a mezze platter vegetarian?

Not necessarily. Stuffed grape leaves (dolmas) can be made with meat or meatless so make sure you check the ingredients if you buy them. You can always serve meatballs and other meats such as beef salami on the platter. If the main course includes meat, I usually keep the hummus platter vegetarian.

Planning a Mediterranean feast?

You can serve this platter with delicious Mediterranean dishes such as:

• Greek Chicken Souvlaki 
• Kofta Kebab
• Homemade Falafel
• Moussaka
• Greek meatballs (Keftedes)

Can I prepare this ahead of time?

That’s the best part! Yes! You can easily prepare this platter ahead of time, cover it tightly with a plastic wrap and serve it when you’re ready. Everything on the platter will keep fresh for hours.