Middle Eastern Mezze Platter (Printable Version)

Vibrant shareable assortment of classic Middle Eastern appetizers featuring creamy hummus, olives, tangy cheese, and crisp vegetables.

# Ingredient List:

→ Hummus

01 - 1½ cups (400 g) cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - ¼ cup (60 ml) tahini
03 - 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
04 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
05 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
06 - ½ tsp ground cumin
07 - ½ tsp salt
08 - 2-3 tbsp cold water

→ Vegetables

09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
11 - 1 cup red bell pepper, sliced
12 - 1 cup carrot sticks

→ Olives & Cheese

13 - 1 cup mixed olives (green and Kalamata), pitted if desired
14 - 5.3 oz (150 g) feta cheese, cut into cubes or slices

→ Bread

15 - 4 pita breads, cut into triangles

→ Garnishes

16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
17 - 1 tsp sumac or paprika
18 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a food processor, combine chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, and salt. Blend until smooth, adding cold water a tablespoon at a time to reach desired creaminess. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
02 - Arrange the hummus in a shallow bowl or spread on a platter. Drizzle with extra olive oil and sprinkle with sumac or paprika.
03 - Artfully arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, carrot sticks, olives, and feta cheese around the hummus.
04 - Warm the pita bread if desired, then cut into triangles and add to the platter.
05 - Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when guests arrive.
  • It feels impressive but requires almost no actual cooking.
  • Everyone gets to build their own bites, which makes it fun and interactive.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day tucked into a wrap or eaten cold from the fridge.
02 -
  • If your hummus tastes bland, it probably needs more lemon juice and salt, not more tahini.
  • Cold water makes hummus creamy, but ice water makes it even fluffier and lighter in texture.
  • Warm pita straight from the package tastes like cardboard, so take ten seconds to heat it and everything changes.
03 -
  • Run your thumb along the edge of the carrot sticks after cutting to smooth any sharp angles that might scrape the roof of someone's mouth.
  • If your tahini is too thick, whisk in a spoonful of water before adding it to the hummus so it blends evenly and doesn't clump.
  • Use a wide, flat platter instead of a deep dish so guests can reach everything without awkward stretching or double dipping.
Go Back