Mezze Board
Here's how to build a beautiful, satisfying mezze board. This recipe is very flexible, so you can include as many or as few of these elements as you like, and incorporate others to suit your preference and your crowd. The quantities here will serve eight people as a main course or 16 as a grazing board — feel free to scale up or down. Just be sure to choose a platter that barely contains your ingredients, to give it an abundant feel regardless of size.
Calories: 452kcal
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (454 grams) halloumi cheese
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) safflower oil
- 10 ounces (280 grams) hummus
- 8 ounces (227 grams) tzatziki
- 16 pieces falafel
- 16 stuffed grape leaves
- 12 ounces (340 grams) charred padrón peppers
- 1 large English cucumber sliced on the bias
- 12 ounces (340 grams) bite-sized tomatoes
- 12 ounces (340 grams) figs, halved
- 12 ounces (340 grams) good pita or other flatbread
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon za'atar
- Flaky sea salt such as Maldon, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Cut the halloumi into 16 slices. Heat the safflower oil in a 12-inch frying pan over medium-high. Arrange cheese slices in a single layer and cook until the underside is golden-brown. Flip once and cook until the second side browns. Drain on paper towels
- Begin by arranging the hummus and tzatziki on the platter. You can use bowls if they are on the thinner side, or place them directly onto the platter if they're on the thicker side.
- Next, layer on the falafel, grape leaves, and peppers. I like to create two to three placements of each ingredient in various places around the board.
- Layer on the cucumber slices and tomatoes.
- Cut the pita into wedges and arrange them on the board.
- Layer in the figs.
- To finish the platter, drizzle each dip with a tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle them with za'atar and a bit of flaky sea salt.
Notes
- Safflower oil is my high-smoke-point, neutral-tasting vegetable oil of choice. You can substitute another oil that has similar properties, such as canola, sunflower, peanut, corn, or vegetable oil blend.
- Many of the elements for a mezze platter can be made in advance. If that's important to you, you can certainly choose ingredients that do well with advance prep or purchase. I recommend assembling the board shortly before serving. Store leftover elements in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 452kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 755mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g