Quick & Easy Dinner: Mediterranean Meze Platter
It’s been awhile since I featured a quick and easy meal (see: hamburgers/veggie burgers, bratwursts/Field Roast, taco salads …) – so I thought it was time I shared another favorite easy dinner for our mixed carnivore/vegetarian household.
Meze is essentially a variety of Middle Eastern appetizers – several items served up small-plate style. Ours generally include veggies, pitas, hummus, olives, and a variety of other Mediterranean goodies.
We find meze platters the perfect dinner around here because it’s super easy to pick and choose your food. The carnivores grab some meat, the vegetarian (me) does not. And then the vegetarian (me) grabs extra olives. Because: olives!
Meze platters make a terrific party spread, too, especially when you’re going to be serving folks with a variety of dietary preferences or restrictions.
Another thing I like about them? You can buy everything at the store! As much as I love making stuff from scratch, it’s not always realistic. Meze platters can be as easy as visiting the olive bar and deli section at your local grocery store, then getting home, opening a few containers, and slicing up a few things. No cooking, no massive prep. Easy, delicious.
To make your own platter, just mix and match foods to your liking. Here are some ideas to get you started. This is by no means a complete list, by the way – nor is it faithful to any particular cuisine’s version of meze. It’s just a bunch of good stuff, that together makes a great – and easy – dinner!
Breads
- Grilled pitas
- Crackers
- Lavash bread
Veggies
- Sliced cucumbers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Grilled zucchini and other veggies
- Pickled vegetables
- Peppadew peppers
- Pickled peppers
- Fried potatoes with lemon
- Roasted red peppers
Dips & spreads
Salads
- Tabbouleh
- Roasted pepper & feta salad
- Fattoush
Cheeses
- Marinated feta (or plain)
- Halloumi
- Bocconcini (small mozzarella balls)
Meats
- Salami
- Summer sausage
- Dolmades (with meat)
- Lamb meatballs (which my guy doesn’t eat these, but I thought I’d mention them because they’re a fairly traditional meat addition)
Other goodies
- Mixed olives
- Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) (vegetarian)
- Falafel
- Spanakopita
- Marinated artichoke hearts
Serve with your favorite wine or some ouzo and you’re good to go for an easy One Dish, Two Ways dinner!
Mediterranean Meze Platter
Mix and match small plates of veggies, dips, cheeses, and other appetizers for the perfect easy dinner that’s sure to suit a variety of diets at once.
Ingredients:
Choose one or two items from two or three categories:
Breads
- Grilled pitas
- Crackers
- Lavash bread
Veggies
- Sliced cucumbers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Grilled zucchini and other veggies
- Pickled vegetables
- Peppadew peppers
- Pickled peppers
- Fried potatoes with lemon
- Roasted red peppers
Dips & spreads
Salads
- Tabbouleh
- Roasted pepper & feta salad
- Fattoush
Cheeses
- Marinated feta (or plain)
- Halloumi
- Bocconcini (small mozzarella balls)
Meats
- Salami
- Summer sausage
- Dolmades (with meat)
- Lamb meatballs (which my guy doesn’t eat these, but I thought I’d mention them because they’re a fairly traditional meat addition)
Other goodies
- Mixed olives
- Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) (vegetarian)
- Falafel
- Spanakopita
- Marinated artichoke hearts
Directions:
Choose a few items from the list above and add to bowls, plates, and platters. Serve with beverages of choice.