Mediterranean Mezza Platter (Printable Version)

Colorful Mediterranean appetizer with dips, cheese, olives, fresh herbs, and olive oil drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dips & Spreads

01 - 1 cup classic hummus
02 - 1 cup baba ganoush
03 - 1 cup tzatziki

→ Cheeses

04 - 5.3 oz feta cheese, cut into rustic cubes

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced into rounds
07 - 1 cup assorted olives (Kalamata, green, Castelvetrano)
08 - 1 roasted red bell pepper, sliced
09 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Breads

10 - 2 large pita breads, cut into triangles (use gluten-free flatbread if needed)

→ Garnishes

11 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
12 - 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, torn
13 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
14 - 1 tsp sumac or zaatar, optional
15 - Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Extras (Optional)

16 - 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts
17 - 1/2 cup dolmas (stuffed grape leaves)
18 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

# How to Make It:

01 - Arrange the hummus, baba ganoush, and tzatziki in small, distinct mounds around a large serving platter.
02 - Place rustic cubes of feta cheese in a small cluster on the platter.
03 - Arrange the cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, assorted olives, roasted red pepper, and red onion in loose, organic mounds around the dips and cheese.
04 - Add bread triangles in a separate pile or fanned around the edge of the platter.
05 - If using, scatter artichoke hearts, dolmas, and pine nuts in small clusters.
06 - Generously drizzle extra-virgin olive oil over the dips, cheese, and vegetables, then sprinkle chopped parsley, torn mint, sumac or zaatar, and season with sea salt and black pepper.
07 - Serve immediately, allowing guests to help themselves.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 35 minutes with zero cooking stress, leaving you time to actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • The beauty of this platter is that it works for almost any dietary preference—vegetarian, vegan adaptations, gluten-free options—everyone finds something to love.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about a platter where everyone can customize their own bites, creating their perfect flavor combination with each handful.
  • The ingredients are naturally healthy, colorful, and taste even better when you use quality olive oil and fresh herbs.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd think—take feta and cheeses out of the cold a few minutes before serving so they're creamy and flavorful, not stiff and muted.
  • The olive oil truly is the glue that brings everything together. A mediocre oil will taste like you cut corners; a good one makes the whole platter sing.
  • Assemble this no more than 2 hours before serving. The vegetables stay crisper and the herbs stay bright when they're not sitting too long.
03 -
  • Chill your platter in the freezer for 10 minutes before assembling if it's a hot day—cold ceramics or wood keep ingredients fresher longer.
  • Arrange your platter on something beautiful that you don't mind leaving on the table—an old wooden board, a large ceramic platter, even a slate tile elevates the whole experience and becomes part of the story.
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