List of Middle Eastern & Meze (or Meza) Recipes

These recipes are primarily from Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey and have much in common with recipes from Greece and other Balkan countries. They include abundant use of spices, herbs, nuts, olive oil, and yogurt. I also include a few Persian recipes.

Meza (or Meze) is a presentation of appetizers that together can make a meal. The Mediterranean Dish (2) calls it a “Party Platter)

(Photo from Wikimedia Commons)

See also:

• Lamb Menu
• Mediterranean Menu (Greek, Italian, Spanish)
• See below for Middle-Eastern Meza (Dips, Salads, Appetizers & Sauces)

Appetizer, Bread, Condiment, and Dip Recipes:

• Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant Dip)
• Bissara (Fava Bean Dip)
• Hummus (Garbanzo Dip)
• Lavash (or Lavosh): Armenian or Turkish Flatbread
• Lebneh (Lebanese Yogurt Sauce)
• Pita (Middle Eastern Flatbread)
• R’ghayaf: Moroccan Semolina Flatbread (2 versions)
• Spinach Pie (Lebanese) one of my favs!
• Tabouli (Tabbouleh)
• Tsatziki (Cucumber Dip)

Main Course & Sides

• Basic Braised Lamb Shank or Leg of Lamb; one of my favs!
• Basic Roast Leg of Lamb with Herbs; one of my favs!
• Bulgur Pilaf
• Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Lamb & Bulgur
• Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Chickpeas & Bulgur (Syrian)
• Chicken Sauté with Middle Eastern Flavors
• Chicken, Roasted with Persian Sweet & Sour Stuffing
• Fava Beans, Cooked
• Falafel (chickpea and/or fava)
• Ful Mudammes (or Foul Medammes)
• Kafta: Middle-Eastern Burgers, Ovals or Sausages; one of my favs!
• Lamb Chops with Mint Gremolata
• Lamb & Cucumber Souvlaki, with Feta Sauce
• Lamb Roast with Garlic & Rosemary, and Optional Mint Sauce
• Lamb Slow-Roast with Cumin & Coriander Spice Rub, and Spicy Yogurt-Mint Sauce
• Lebanese Favas
• Moroccan-Style Lamb Pilaf
• Pot-Roast Leg of Lamb, Greek Style, with Lemon & Oregano, and Roasted Potatoes;  one of my favs!
• Spinach Pie (Lebanese); one of my favs! (see also Greek Spanikopita)
• Tabouli with Grilled Lamb and Chick Peas

Dessert & Treat Recipes

• Orange Semolina Cake

Meze (or Meza)

Meze is like a Middle Eastern Smorgasbord, or buffet.  But of course, the flavors are distinctly Mediterranean.  In addition to these recipes, other Meze sides include pita, hummus and other dips, olives, wedges of fresh lemon or lime, grilled meats (chicken, fish, lamb or beef), sausage, and other middle-Eastern preparations).

Beverages:

• Lassi: Sweet or Salty (Ayran) Turkish Yogurt Beverage
• Dahi, an East-Indian Yogurt Beverage

Accompaniments, Appetizers, Breads, Dips, Salads, Sauces

• Baba Ghanoush (Eggplant Dip)
• Bissara (Fava Bean Dip)
• Black-Eyed Pea Salad
• Bulgur Pilaf
• Cabbage Rolls Stuffed with Chickpeas & Bulgur
• Chicken Sauté with Middle Eastern Flavors
• Falafel (chickpeas and/or favas); one of my favs!
• Favas, Lebanese Style
• Fresh Favas, Sauteed
• Ful Mudammes (or Foul Medammes)
• Greek Salad Pita Sandwich; one of my favs!
• Greens Salad, with Chickpeas
• Horiatiki (Greek Village Salad and Dressing); one of my favs!
• Hummus (Hommos; Garbanzo Dip)
• Kafta (Lebanese Lamb Burgers/Sausages); one of my favs!
• Lamb & Cucumber Souvlaki, with Feta Sauce
• Lebneh (Yogurt sauce)
• Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmades) with Rice and Herb; see also Grape Leaves (About)
• Pita (Middle Eastern Flatbread) one of my favs!
• Spanakopita (Greek Spinach Pie); one of my favs!
• Spinach Pie (Lebanese) one of my favs!
• Tabouli (tabbouleh): 2 versions; one of my favs!
• Tabouli with Grilled Lamb and Chick Peas
• Taratour Sauce (Tangy Sesame Tahini)
• Tsatziki (Cucumber Dip) one of my favs!
• Yogurt & Garlic Dressing
• Other Sites:
• Roasted Beet Huhammara, an alternative to Hummus (Fine Cooking)
• Shredded Romaine & Cucumber Salad with Yogurt Dressing (Fine Cooking)
• Snap Peas with Turkish Tarator Sauce (Fine Cooking)
• Epicurious Middle Eastern recipes
• Sprouted Buckwheat (Kaska) Tabouli

Related sites: 1. Epicurious Middle Eastern recipes (1)

Meze Menu Ideas

Use these menus to get ideas for your own meza:

• Al Amir, Portland, OR (3) [Note: What used to be SW Stark St in Portland is now SW Harvey Milk St; Al Amir is located in the old Bishop’s House.] This was one of my fav restaurants in Portland, when I lived there.
• The Middle East Club, Boston, MA (4)
• The Cedars of Lebanon, Salt Lake City (5)
• The Cedars of Lebanon, New York City (6) or check out The Mediterranean Dish blog (2)

See also The Mediterranean Dish blog’s page on Mezze (2)

References:

1. Epicurious Middle Eastern recipes
2. themediterraneandish.com/mezze-how-to-build-the-perfect-mediterranean-party-platter/
3. alamirportland.com/
4. mideastoffers.com/ (formerly mideastclub.com/restaurant)
5. The Cedars of Lebanon in Seattle: cedarsseattle.com
6. The Cedars of Lebanon in New York City:  menuism.com/restaurants/cedars-of-lebanon-new-york-37916