17 Meze Dishes Dying to Be on Your Table
Not 7, not 10, but a full 17 meze (small appetizer dishes) worthy of your carefully set New Year's table — each one bursting with flavor, color, and aroma to suit every palate. Let's dive right in.
You've cooked an incredible spread of dishes and set your table with loving care. Perhaps you're even breaking out the plates, glasses, and linens you've been saving for a special occasion.
You've already added a floral flourish with a Stunning Salad to this beautiful table. And your New Year's Eve Dessert is ready to close out the meal. Now it's time for the meze (small appetizer dishes)…
A BALKAN FAVORITE BELOVED BY THE WHOLE NATION
We love it hot, cold, with onions, without onions — every version has us coming back for more. It always has a place of honor at our table: Arnavut Ciğeri (Albanian-Style Fried Liver)
A GIFT FROM THE SEA
We dressed this mineral-rich beauty with garlic and olive oil — and it looked right at home on our table: Sea Purslane Salad
THE FAVA BEAUTY THAT INSPIRES POETRY
The fact that it was Atatürk's favorite meze elevates it to an entirely different level. From ancient times to the present day — the finest expression of the noble fava bean: Fava (Turkish Broad Bean Purée)
THE PERFECT CURE FOR AEGEAN NOSTALGIA
Once you try this zucchini, you'll never look at regular zucchini the same way again. Make room for the most elegant dish on the table: Cretan Stuffed Zucchini Dolma (Girit Kabağı Dolması)
THE UNDISPUTED STAR OF THE TABLE
No glass can be raised at a table without it. Every sip would feel incomplete without it…
The one dish no spread can do without: Haydari (Turkish Strained Yogurt Dip)
THE MOST NATURAL ANTIDEPRESSANT
It's been sparking debates across the Middle East lately. Let them debate all they want — we're inviting it to our table. The Middle East's beloved breakfast staple: Hummus
WE'D GO ALL THE WAY TO MARAŞ — OR EVEN LEBANON — FOR YOU
Let's be honest — we absolutely adore these and would follow them anywhere. But this New Year's Eve, we're staying home: İçli Köfte (Turkish Stuffed Meatballs)
IF YOU'RE NOT DUNKING BREAD, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG
You'll dip your bread in, and the melted kaşar cheese (Turkish semi-hard cheese, similar to mild cheddar) on top will stretch on and on. There's simply no other way to enjoy it: Shrimp Casserole (Karides Güveç)
A PERFECT COMPANION TO EVERY DISH ON THE TABLE
Make room for something light and refreshing at your table. Enjoy every bite: Roasted Eggplant Salad (Közde Patlıcan Salatası)
DO YOU TURN YOUR NOSE UP AT ZUCCHINI? STEP RIGHT UP.
Then get ready for a flavor that will put a big smile on your face. You'll never get tired of eating these: Mücver (Turkish Zucchini Fritters)
GREEN BEANS AT THEIR ABSOLUTE MEZE BEST
Skeptical? Set your preconceptions aside and take just a small portion. So — what do you think now? New Year's Eve at home just like the old days: Vinegar-Dressed Green Beans (Sirkeli Ayşekadın)
A GUEST FROM GAZIANTEP AT YOUR NEW YEAR'S TABLE
Equally delicious served warm or cold. Steeped in the wonderful fragrance of the grill: Söğürme (Antep-Style Roasted Pepper and Eggplant Salad)
WE'RE DEFINITELY STARTING OUR DIET IN THE NEW YEAR
This has nothing to do with that old song lyric. It's simply eggplant at its very finest. Let's clear a generous space on the table: Şakşuka (Turkish Fried Eggplant and Vegetable Meze)
FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN TO YOUR TABLE
The king of dipping sauces, the perfect match for crispy shrimp. More exciting than any countdown: Shrimp with Tarator Sauce (Taratorlu Karides)
FROM NORWEGIAN FISHERMEN TO YOUR TABLE
If you have a fish-averse loved one, get ready to change their mind. Your guests will be green with envy: Mackerel Balls (Uskumru Topları)
A NEW YEAR'S TABLE IS UNTHINKABLE WITHOUT SOMETHING FRIED
A flavor that appeals to every palate, young and old alike. The healthiest take on fried food: Oven-Baked Yogurt-Coated Fritters (Yoğurtlu Fırında Kızartma)
EAT YOUR BEANS AND DO A HAPPY DANCE!
Could you really imagine shelled fava beans without artichokes? We love them every which way: Broad Beans in Olive Oil (Zeytinyağlı İç Bakla)
We wish you a Happy New Year with our warmest wishes, and hope that 2019 is the most delicious year you've ever had.
