I first encountered the word mezze on a trip to Istanbul. A mezze is basically small plates for sharing, similar to tapas or canapés. In Greece, Turkey, and Jordan, it can be the entire meal.
The menu was kofta, (Turkish lamb meatballs), Spanakopita, red pepper hummus, olives, tabouleh, pita bread, halloumi tossed salad, dill yogurt and baklava for dessert.
The food went well with an already open bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
The kofta turned out pretty well. I simplified the recipe and later this year I’ll make a much more authentic version. Turkish meatballs, kofta, in particular, are distinguished by using bulgur instead of bread crumbs. 2/3’s of the meat and bulgur, with .5 c of onions and a spice mixture was ground to a paste in a food processor, then the rest of the ground lamb and bulgur was mixed into the paste. I used a 1/4 cup measure to created either bloated sliders or mini meatloafs. The kofta was cooked in a hot oven, 400 degrees for about 35 minutes. The spanakopita was a make ahead item. I pulled it from the freezer and cooked along with the kofta.
My favorite dish was the halloumi salad. Halloumi is similar but saltier with an earthier taste than burrata. It’s a semi firm cheese. Halloumi is very popular throughout the Middle East.
I sliced it and grilled it on a cast iron skillet. The salty flavor contrasted nicely with the watermelon and arugula (rocket lettuce if your speaking Australian). The dressing was a simple mix of olive oil, minced mint, pomegranate molasses and a bit of lemon The salad was fresh, tart, sweet and salty – great for a hot summer day.
Dessert was purchased at the local Persian delicatessen. Greek baklava is made with walnuts and honey, the Persian baklava was smaller and made with rose water and almonds. Your preference for baklava is probably similar to your preference for almonds or walnuts.
The dinner prep went very well, has I had spent sometime earlier in the week figuring out the optimal height for my adjustable refrigerator shelves. In the past, it always seemed the bowl was a bit to big. Part of the refrigerator review, included the purchase of two lazy Susan’s for the top shelf and an inventory of my freezer. My goal is nothing should be in the freezer more than eight months.
Hope everyone is healthy and enjoying the summer weather.