Preparing for a new year at home with family is a perfect chance to enjoy delicious food and quality time together. This year, alongside the traditional turkey, why not try some new, colorful, and tasty mezze dishes to brighten your table?
1. Pezzik
A traditional mezze made with beetroot, bulgur, and red pepper.
Ingredients: diced beets, bulgur, red bell peppers, onions, olive oil, tomato paste, and garlic yogurt with parsley.
Instructions: Boil the diced beets. Sauté the chopped onions in olive oil, then add the bulgur and tomato paste. Add the roasted red peppers and beets, along with enough beet cooking water to cover. Simmer until the water is absorbed. Serve with a garlic yogurt topping mixed with parsley.
2. Vartabit
This mezze of white beans and toasted bread cubes is easy to prepare and full of flavor.
Ingredients: boiled white beans, lemon juice, tahini, salt, garlic, toasted bread cubes, red pepper flakes, and olive oil.
Instructions: In a bowl, mix lemon juice, tahini, salt, and mashed garlic until smooth. Add the boiled beans and combine well. Place the beans on a plate, then add the toasted bread cubes and drizzle with red pepper-infused olive oil before serving.
3. Yogurt Potato Salad
A quick, familiar salad made with mashed potatoes, cucumber, and yogurt.
Ingredients: boiled potatoes, olive oil, grated cucumbers, strained yogurt, garlic, and oil for drizzling.
Instructions: Mash the boiled potatoes, mix with olive oil, and let cool. Grate the cucumbers and add them to the potatoes. Spread the mixture on a serving plate, top with garlic-yogurt, and finish with a drizzle of hot oil.
4. Mamzana
A vegetable-based mezze similar to baba ghanoush with a unique twist.
Ingredients: eggplants, green and red bell peppers, vinegar, garlic, olive oil, and parsley.
Instructions: Roast the eggplants and peppers until soft, then dice. Combine the vegetables with vinegar, minced garlic, and olive oil. Top with chopped parsley for added freshness.
5. Winter Mezze
A seasonal mezze with carrots and celery root.
Ingredients: grated carrots and celery root, olive oil, strained yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic, and crushed walnuts.
Instructions: Sauté the grated carrots and celery in olive oil until softened. Let cool, then mix with yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic, and walnuts. Let it chill in the fridge for about 2 hours before serving.
Enjoy these simple yet flavorful mezze dishes and create a memorable New Year’s Eve feast!
