Lebanese cuisine is known for its delicious and flavorful dishes, and the appetizer plate is no exception. The Lebanese appetizer plate, also known as a meze platter, is a colorful and diverse selection of small dishes, mostly vegetarian that are typically served before the main course.
Some popular Lebanese appetizers that one might find on a meze platter are as follows:
- Hummus: Made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic, hummus is a creamy and savory dip that is perfect for scooping up with pita bread.
- Baba ganoush: This smoky eggplant dip is made from roasted eggplant, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. It’s a delicious and healthy addition to any meze platter.
- Tabbouleh: This refreshing salad is made with parsley, tomatoes, onions, and bulgur wheat. It’s dressed with lemon juice and olive oil and is perfect for cleansing the palate between bites of richer dishes.
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Fattoush: Another salad that’s commonly found on Lebanese meze platters is fattoush, which is made with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and toasted pita chips. It’s dressed with a tangy and flavorful sumac dressing.
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Kibbeh: Kibbeh is a popular Lebanese dish made from ground meat (usually lamb or beef) that’s mixed with bulgur wheat and spices. It can be fried or baked and is often served with a yogurt dip.
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Sambousek: These little pastries are filled with spiced meat, cheese, or spinach and are often served as a finger food on Lebanese meze platters.
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Falafel: Made from ground chickpeas and spices, falafel is a crispy and flavorful vegetarian option that’s perfect for dipping into hummus or tahini sauce.
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Labneh: Labneh is a creamy and tangy dip that’s made from strained yogurt. It’s often served with olive oil and za’atar (a Middle Eastern spice blend).
This particular restaurant in my neighborhood serves a delicious and authentic Lebanese Mezze platter. The restaurant offers a wide variety of Lebanese dishes, but Mezze platter is truly one of their standout options. Tasting a Lebanese Mezze is a great way to sample a variety of different flavors and textures.
All of the Mezze dishes are made with the freshest ingredients and authentic Lebanese spices, ensuring that every bite is bursting with flavor. The Mezze platter is served with freshly baked pita bread, perfect for scooping up all of the delicious dips and spreads.