Mezze

 Mezze (also spelled meze or mezé) is a traditional spread of small dishes served as appetizers or light meals in many Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Balkan cuisines—especially Lebanese, Greek, Turkish, and Syrian.

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🧆✨ What Is Mezze?

• Mezze is about sharing, variety, and conversation.

• It’s often served before the main course, but in many cultures, it is the meal—especially when paired with bread, wine, or arak.

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🍽️ Typical Mezze Dishes (Especially in Lebanese Cuisine):

🥣 Dips & Spreads

• Hummus – blended chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic

• Baba ghanouj – roasted eggplant dip with tahini and lemon

• Labneh – thick strained yogurt, often served with olive oil and mint

• Muhammara – spicy red pepper and walnut dip

🥗 Salads

• Tabbouleh – parsley, bulgur, tomato, lemon, mint

• Fattoush – toasted bread, lettuce, cucumber, tomato, sumac

• Moutabbal – eggplant with tahini and garlic (thicker than baba ghanouj)

🧆 Warm Dishes

• Falafel – deep-fried chickpea patties

• Kebbeh – bulgur and minced meat shells stuffed and fried or baked

• Batata harra – spicy roasted potatoes with garlic and cilantro

• Sujuk or Makanek – spiced sausages sautéed in lemon or pomegranate molasses

🍞 Breads & Accompaniments

• Pita bread – essential for dipping and scooping

• Pickles & olives – tangy side items to cut through rich flavors

• Stuffed grape leaves (waraq enab) – filled with rice, herbs, sometimes meat

🧄 Garnishes & Sides

• Fresh mint, raw onions, radishes, lemon wedges, olive oil, chili paste

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🥂 Pairings

• Arak (anise liqueur) in Lebanon

• Rakı in Turkey

• Wine, beer, or fresh mint lemonade

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🌿 Mezze Spirit

It’s not just about the food—it’s about:

• Hospitality

• Leisurely eating

• Shared joy at the table