Meze are small plates of Greek cuisine, commonly served as appetizers with a variety of dishes, including salsas, tapenades, olives, pickled vegetables, and crumbled Greek cheeses. They can also be more substantial with meatballs, sausages, salads, and small pastries. Meze is often served with wine or liqueurs and is a common tradition in Mediterranean nations.
Meze, or “small plates,” are appetizers in Greek cuisine. Meze are common with large meals and are a traditional offering in Greek restaurants and bars. There are numerous examples of meze, from the famous dolmades that are popular in many parts of the world to delicate phyllo-based desserts filled with ingredients such as cheeses and meats. Like other aspects of Greek cuisine, meze is heavily influenced by Mediterranean foods such as olives, fish, whole grains, cheeses, and fresh vegetables.
Typically, a meze spread includes a large number of these starters, shared by a group. Salsas and tapenades are very common, as are dishes based on olives and pickled vegetables. Sliced bread is also commonly offered, as are platters of crumbled Greek cheeses such as feta. Among the many dipping sauces are bean, artichoke or eggplant purees, a cucumber-yoghurt dip called tsatsiki, hummus, and crushed roasted peppers or garlic.
Meze can also be more substantial. Many restaurants offer kofte or meatballs, along with rice-stuffed peppers or squash, sausages, tabbouleh, fried and stuffed zucchini flowers, and sometimes fried or grilled fish or octopus. Salads are also a common part of a meze dish, made with greens, pickled beets, cheeses, melon, potatoes, or lightly marinated cabbage. Bean salads are also not uncommon. Plain yogurt is also usually made with meze for flavoring food or just eating.
Small pastries such as phyllo dough wrapped in meat or vegetables and dumplings are common in many regions. In some cases, small bowls of soup may also be offered with appetizers, although they can also be saved for a main course. Traditionally, mezes are offered with wine or liqueurs such as retsina. In bars, no night of drinking is complete without a selection of meze, which can sometimes be offered with compliments on the house to encourage customers to drink more.
Depending on the venue, the meze can be simple and hearty, or more delicate and refined, taking cues from the cuisine in places like France. The tradition of meze or a sort of appetizer spread is common to many Mediterranean nations, some of which share appetizers with each other. Hummus, for example, is served in many parts of the Middle East, alongside tabbouleh, and the tradition of stuffed grape leaves likely emerged in Turkey. Meze also offers great snacks for those on the go who want a reasonably healthy meal without much effort.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
