Give me a board and I’ll feast for hours: Cheese board, mezze board, dessert board – they’re all winners in my book. This mezze board is a mix of dips, fresh veggies, olives, pita and crackers, for an epic grazeable snack board.
What is a mezze (or meze)? A mezze is an assortment of small dishes that are eaten as appetizers or a light meal. Its contents do vary by region, but the overall concept of grazing on a board filled with savory goodies remains the same. & with Halloween tomorrow and the holidays fast approaching, what better than to throw together an epic board to graze on. Mezze boards are meant to be shared with good conversation and lots of lingering at the table – isn’t that what the holidays are all about?
So how do you get started in making a Mezze Board you ask? Similar to a cheese board or a themed board there are different categories to include. I’ll take you through it step by step, but the truth is you can really make it all the things YOU like and enjoy. I’ll just give you a few tips to guide you along the way.
How To Build An Epic Mezze Board
- Fresh Veggies– I threw on radish, tomatoes, and cucumbers. You could include grilled zucchini, eggplant, and artichokes. The more colors the better!
- Olives/Pickled Veggies – Olives are a great addition here and there’s so many different varieties you can include. I also included pickled beets. Not often a fan of beets, but the pickled ones I can tolerate. Marinated artichokes and mushrooms work well here too!
- Cheese/Meats– I actually forgot to include the cheese I had and the only feta I had was already crumbled. Feta works well as does baby mozzarella. You could include meats like Prosciutto or salami as well – remember include the little bites YOU like and enjoy. Figs or grapes can be used as well for a little something sweet to cleanse the palette.
- Dips/Spreads– If you can make some of these homemade, do so. And if not, simply find some quality brands that are your go-tos! I used marinated chickpeas here instead of hummus, but hummus is basically a must! Tzatziki and labneh (yogurt cheese) are other options to include. And then the bright red there is the muhammara – a walnut, roasted red pepper spread.
- Bread – Pita, pita, and more pita! You can always use store bought, but if you’ve never had a fresh pita, either make them homemade or run to your local shop to grab some! Crostini and crackers work too. Whatever works to spread those dips, add cheese, and soak up all that olive oil!
Tips For A Beautiful Mezze Board
I always say this, but how do you write out a ‘recipe’ for something that’s completely personal preference? Let’s call this tips/tricks in case you’re new to the ‘making a snack board game’. As always, make it your own, have fun, and show me your pics!
- All The Colors. This makes a dietitian happy when I see all the colors of the rainbow. Not only is it nutritious, but they CAN (& should) be delicious! Include all the veggies you can. If they’re there people will eat them. And add a dip/spread and of course they’ll be eaten!
- Load It UP!: You’ve heard the phrase, more is more? Right? That’s what you’re looking for. This is perfect for feeding a crowd, snacks that can basically be a meal! Remember, grazing and socializing!
- All the Textures: Variety really is the spice of life. If you have soft, pillowy pita, a crunchy crostini might work really well. Sure, you want to build a board you like but remember others might like the crunchy vs the soft bread.
- Cheers! Serve with your favorite glass of wine. Enjoy this mezze board with friends, food and fun!
OTHER RECIPES FOR GRAZING!
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How To Build An Epic Mezze Board
Give me a board and I’ll feast for hours: Cheese board, mezze board, dessert board – they’re all winners in my book. This mezze board is a mix of dips, fresh veggies, olives, pita and crackers, for an epic grazeable snack board.
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Ingredients
- 10–oz store-bought Hummus or homemade
- 1 recipe Muhammara
- 10-oz container store-bought Tzatziki
- 1/2 cup labneh
- 1 small block feta cheese, cubed or marinated
- 6–8 Persian cucumbers, cut into sticks
- 8–10 radish, quartered
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 8 ounces olives (whatever are your favorites!)
- 8–12 grape leaves
- 4–6 Pita rounds, quartered
- fresh herbs, optional
Instructions
- Prepare – if making homemade dips, prepare according to directions.
- Dish out on a large serving platter with a large spoon, dish out the hummus, muhammara, tzatziki, and labneh into separate rounds throughout the board, leaving space for your other items. Alternatively you can put the dips into separate ramekins and place them staggered on the board. You can also add the cheese here, since it is a bit larger and you want to make sure it has a place.
- Slice up your veggies and arrange them around the dips/spreads/ramekins.
- Prep – if you have grape leaves or a prepared salad, i.e. tabbouleh, you either place it right on the board or also dish it out into a ramekin as well.
- Place your warm pita bread or crackers into the empty spots. Add in olives and even almonds into any remaining spots.
- Add on any fresh herbs you have on hand, fresh mint, parsley, rosemary to add some extra flavor!
- Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
*Mezze boards are based on your personal preferences – that’s what makes them so fun – feel free to use whatever veggies, dips and spreads you prefer!
*Store-bought is always an option if you’re not able to make the dips/spreads/bread homemade. Some of these items on this board are from Trader Joe’s, that’s what inspired me to throw this one together!
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: snacks
1 thought on “Mezze Board”
Love the idea of changing up the ‘board’ concept. & using a few store bought items makes it seem more feasible! Thanks for the great idea!