If you would like to try out something new to entertain your guests, why not prepare the Meze instead? It’s the Turkish version of Tapas and it will definitely wow your guests.
Ingredients:
(For the Bread)
- Grilled Pittas or Crackers
(For the Veggies)
- Pickled Cucumbers
- Olives (green and black), pitted
- Roasted red peppers
- Zucchini
- Carrot
(For the Dips)
- Hummus or Tzatziki sauce
(For the Salads)
- Tabbouleh
(For the Cheese Selection)
- Feta Cheese
- Bocconcini (mini Mozarella Balls)
(For the Meat)
- Salami
- Lamb Meatballs
- Prosciutto
- Smoked Beef Ham
Preparation Method:
- On a large bowl, arrange smaller containers and leave a space in the middle to place the bread or crackers. You can also serve the Meze on a large chopping board.
- Pick some or all of the ingredients from above and place them in separate bowls.
- To prepare the grilled veggies, heat a pan under medium heat, slice the Zucchini and Carrot for about 1-inch thick and cook them in the pan for about 2 minutes until you get some charring. You can also add green onions and some salt and pepper to taste.
- To prepare the dips, you can either use store-bought hummus and Tzatziki or use homemade one.
- To make the hummus, soak chickpeas overnight and blend them with olive oil and Tahini until it is smooth. To make the Tzatziki sauce, mix plain yoghurt, lime juice, minced mint leaves, finely chopped cucumber, minced garlic, minced dill and salt to taste. Mix until the sauce is thoroughly combined.
- To make the Tabbouleh Salad, soak a cup of Bulgur until tender then combines it with finely diced cucumber, minced parsley, minced fresh mint, minced garlic, finely diced tomatoes, olive oil, salt to taste and lemon juice to feel. To ensure ingredients are thoroughly combined and have the right texture, use a blender to mince the ingredients.
- Cook the lamb meatballs by heating the pan at medium heat and cook the meatballs for about 5 minutes, making sure to turn the meatballs continuously to ensure even cooking. Set aside and drain any excess oil.
- Proceed to add your cheese selection and meat selection to the serving bowl and serve immediately.
Pro-Tip: You can quickly get all the ingredients in Middle-Easter speciality stores and even supermarket chains like Cold Storage if you do not want to make any of the parts from scratch.