The Mediterranean Mezze - Let’s Put Together the Ultimate Grazing Board

Looking for a new take on a charcuterie board? This Mediterranean Mezze takes the party platter to a whole new level of deliciousness. With an array of nutritious ingredients packed with a variety of flavors, this grazing board will impress any guest and the whole family can enjoy it too.

With a variety of colorful vegetables and dips like hummus or baba ghanoush, paired with whole grains, legumes, cheeses, and fruits and nuts, this grazing board is nutrient-dense, rich with fiber, and well-balanced.

Putting together the perfect mezze board does not have to be complicated. Here is a simple guide we have created at AFE to help you curate your own:

1) Pick a board - Finding the right grazing board is the first step in creating your mezze party platter. One large board, measuring around 18 to 24 inches in diameter or length (round or square), works particularly well for smaller parties of 10 or fewer guests. However, you can always make two or more platters if you are having a larger party.

2) Add your favorite dips and spreads to the platter - A great mezze board will always include several dips and spreads of various flavors served along with some warm pita bread. One of the dips at the top of the list is hummus, a smooth and creamy puree of cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), tahini sesame paste and some lemon juice. If you have extra time on your hands, you can make the hummus yourself, and add ingredients such as garlic or roasted bell peppers to make it uniquely your own. However, for a quick and easy time-saver, you can grab your favorite, quality hummus at your favorite store. 

Other dips and spreads to incorporate on your board include tzatziki sauce, baba ghanoush (eggplant dip), or labneh (a yogurt cheese) that will make your grazing board an absolute hit for your next gathering!

3) Vegetables are key - A true Mediterranean mezze includes plenty of colorful veggies that bring an array of nutrients to the table. As vegetables are low in calories, rich in fiber and high in nutrient content, they make for the perfect tool to dip into spreads and a great healthy alternative to the classic pita chip or bread option. 

For our board we sliced up some fresh Persian cucumbers, red bell peppers, and carrots for some freshly added crunch, as well as some cherry tomatoes on the vine and roasted cauliflower to fill the mezze with a variety of flavor and texture.

If you have extra time, try making a Mediterranean salad like tabouli, which can be a beautiful centerpiece to your board or even some roasted eggplant, hearts of palm, or marinated artichoke for some extra flavor, color, and nutrient-content. 

4) Add your favorite Mediterranean cheese(s) - Choosing the right cheese can really transform your grazing board to the ultimate party platter that will be the talk of the town. For this mezze, we chose to stick with the fan-favorite feta, but also ventured out and tried Haloumi cheese. It is a semi-hard, un-ripened, brined cheese that is made from cow, sheep or goat's milk, which is excellent when grilled or fried. This cheese ended up being the highlight of our board, and paired wonderfully with the rest of the mezze platter. 

Other great cheeses to incorporate into your Mediterranean charcuterie board may include Manchego, mozzarella, and goat cheese varieties. Even the spreads utilized on the board can be made from your favorite cheeses, such as a feta dip or protein-packed whipped cottage cheese dip to be the host or hostess of the year!

5) Add your heart-healthy olives  - Olives are very high in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants and have been found to be heart-healthy additions to the diet and may protect against osteoporosis and cancer. The healthy fats in olives are extracted to produce olive oil, one of the key components of the incredibly healthy Mediterranean diet that is utilized in so many delicious dishes. 

The key in building a great board is creating definition. Place your olives in a smaller dish on top of the board to create some variation in height to really impress your guests. For our board we used Manzanilla olives, however Greek kalamata or classic green olives would also make for a delicious option. With so many olive varieties it can be difficult to choose just one, so do not be afraid to put more than one type on your board! 

6) Fiber-rich legumes - As a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, chickpeas offer a variety of health benefits, such as aiding weight management, improving digestion, and reducing your risk of disease. Additionally, this legume is high in protein and makes an excellent replacement for meat in many vegetarian and vegan dishes. 

For this mezze, along with making a tasty hummus, we also roasted some chickpeas for this platter. By doing so, we brought in some crunch for a variety in texture for this Mediterranean board. For another great plant-protein option, try falafels (chickpea balls), as they pair well with all the flavors of the board as well. 

7) Fruits and Nuts - To bring in that subtle sweetness to a flavorful mezze, incorporate your favorite fruits and nuts to the mix. For our take on this nutrient-dense Mediterranean board we added some fresh grapes, fresh apricots, Medjool dates, Turkish figs, and dried apricots for some added color and a little something sweet to cleanse the palette.  We also sprinkled in some nutrient-dense pistachios for a nice added crunch and excellent pairing with all of the different fruits and cheeses.

8) Enjoy! - This nutrient-dense Mediterranean grazing board will not disappoint. Use this as a guideline for building your mezze platter, but feel free to get creative and try new products you might not have heard of before or have been waiting to try! 

Remember that when putting together your grazing board, you want to incorporate a variety of colors, heights and shapes to bring volume and definition to the board. All of these elements put together will help you create not only a delicious, but aesthetically pleasing board that everyone  will enjoy.

Here is a list of ingredients used to curate AFE’s take on a Mediterranean Mezze:

Mediterranean Grazing Board Ingredients:

• Pita Bread

• Hummus

• Tzatziki Sauce 

• Parsley (garnish)

• Halloumi Cheese

• Feta Cheese

• Cauliflower

• Chickpeas 

• Red Pepper

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Cucumbers

• Carrots

• Olives

• Dates

• Grapes

• Apricots

• Pistachios

All of these ingredients listed were easily found at Trader Joe’s. Create your own rendition and be sure to share with us how it comes out! 

We hope you enjoy this healthy take on grazing boards - from your friends at AFE!!

Erika Richter, MS