Mezze
A spread of small dishes across the Levant, Turkey and Greece, flavoured with sumac, za'atar and cumin.
Also: meze, mazza, small plates of the Levant, appetiser spread
Mezze is a style of eating: many small dishes shared at the table, with bread, olives, salads and dips. Hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, tabbouleh, fattoush, kibbeh, stuffed vine leaves, and grilled halloumi are typical. Spices lift each: sumac on onions and fattoush, za'atar on bread and labneh, cumin in hummus, Aleppo pepper on dips, allspice and cinnamon in kibbeh, nigella on cheeses. The spread serves as both starter and a whole meal, with arak, ouzo or raki. Variations extend through Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and the Caucasus. Seasoning at the table, with oils and spice, allows each eater to adjust.