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{{Short description|Small dish in Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines}}
{{redirect|Mezze|the suburb of Damascus|Mezzeh}}
{{about|the selection of dishes|the canton in France|Canton of Mèze|the commune within the aforementioned canton|Mèze|the Romanian audio electronics company|Meze Audio}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox food
| name             = ''Meze''
| image            = [[File:Petra metzes.jpg|250px|A large plate of Jordanian ''[[mezze]]'' in [[Petra]], [[Jordanian cuisine|Jordan]].]]
| caption          = A large ''meze'' platter in [[Petra]], [[Jordanian cuisine|Jordan]]
| alternate_name   = ''Mezze''
| region           = 
| creator          = 
| course           = 
| type             = 
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = 
| variations       = Numerous
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}
'''''Meze''''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|z|eɪ}} {{respell|MEZ|ay}}; also spelled '''''mezze''''' or '''''mezé''''') is a selection of small dishes served as appetizers in [[Eastern Mediterranean]] cuisines. It is similar to [[Spanish cuisine|Spanish]] [[tapas]] and [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] stuzzichini.<ref>Weir, Joanne. ''From Tapas to Meze: Small Plates from the Mediterranean''. United States, Ten Speed Press, 2004.</ref> A ''meze'' may be served as a part of a multi-course meal or form a meal in itself. ''Meze'' are often served with spirits such as ''[[Arak (drink)|arak]], [[rakia]], [[Rakı|raki]], [[Oghi (drink)|oghi]], [[ouzo]],'' or ''[[grappa]]''<ref name="Arditi">{{Cite news |last=Arditi |first=Talya |date=29 December 2015 |title=How to drink raki: A crash course in Türkiye's signature drink |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/turkey-signature-drink-raki/index.html |access-date=18 June 2019 |work=CNN Travel |language=English |agency=CNN}}</ref> at [[meyhane]] and [[ouzeri]] or at regular restaurants.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Albala |first=Ken |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p7rOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA313 |title=Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia |date=2011-05-25 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-0-313-37627-6 |pages=I:313 |language=en}}</ref>

The word ''meze'', used in all the cuisines of the former [[Ottoman Empire]], is borrowed from the [[Turkish language|Turkish]] {{lang|tr|meze}} ({{gloss|appetizer}}), which was in turn borrowed from the [[Persian language|Persian]] {{lang|fa|مَزه}} {{transliteration|fa|maze}} ({{gloss|taste}} or {{gloss|relish}}).<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Speake |editor-first1=Jennifer |editor-link=Jennifer Speake |editor-last2=LaFlaur |editor-first2=Mark |title=The Oxford Essential Dictionary of Foreign Terms in English |chapter=Meze |chapter-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199891573.001.0001/acref-9780199891573-e-4337|year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=13 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=معنی مزه {{!}} لغت‌نامه دهخدا {{!}} واژه‌یاب |url=https://vajehyab.com/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=واژه یاب |language=fa}}</ref>

==Common dishes==
[[File:Meze.jpg|right|thumb|Simple Greek ''meze'': cheese and olives ([[feta]] cheese drizzled with [[olive oil]] and sprinkled with [[oregano]], served with [[Kalamata (olive)#Cultivars|kalamata olives]] and bread)]]
[[File:Nje_pjate_meze.jpg|thumb|''Meze'' plate in Albania]]
[[File:Meze_Lido_Restaurant_Adalar.JPG|thumb|Different ''meze'' plates from Turkey]]
[[File:Tzatziki Greek meze or appetizer, also used as a sauce.jpg|thumb|''[[Tzatziki]]'', a popular ''meze'' in Greece]]

In [[Greece]], [[Cyprus]], [[Bulgaria]], ''mezé'', ''mezés'' or ''mezédhes'' (plural) are small dishes, hot or cold, spicy or savory. [[Seafood]] dishes such as grilled [[Octopus as food|octopus]] may be included, along with salads, sliced hard-boiled eggs, garlic bread, [[Kalamata (olive)|kalamata olives]], [[fava (Greek dish)|fava]] spread, fried vegetables, ''[[melitzanosalata]]'' (eggplant salad), ''[[taramosalata]]'', fried or grilled cheeses called ''[[saganaki]]'', and sheep, goat, or cow cheeses. 

In Turkey, ''meze'' often consist of ''[[beyaz peynir]]'' 'white cheese', ''kavun'' (sliced ripe [[melon]]),<ref name="Arditi"/> ''acılı ezme'' (hot pepper paste often with walnuts), ''[[haydari]]'' (thick strained yogurt with herbs), ''patlıcan salatası'' (cold [[eggplant]] salad), ''beyin salatası'' ([[brain (food)|brain]] salad), ''kalamar tava'' (fried [[calamari]]), [[Stuffed mussels|midye dolma]] and ''midye tava'' (stuffed or fried mussels), [[enginar]] ([[artichoke]]s), ''[[cacık]]'' (yogurt with [[cucumber]] and garlic), ''[[pilaki]]'' (foods cooked in a special sauce), ''[[dolma]]'' or ''[[Sarma (food)|sarma]]'' (rice-stuffed vine leaves or other stuffed vegetables, such as [[bell pepper]]s), ''[[Arnavut ciğeri]]'' (a liver dish, served cold), octopus salad, and ''[[çiğ köfte]]'' (raw meatballs with [[bulgur]]). A selection of mezes can be served as appetizers in a multi-course dinner, or as snacks accompanying drinks such as [[rakı]].

Popular ''meze'' dishes include the following:

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Arabic
! Greek
! Turkish
! Armenian
! class="unsortable"| Image
! class="unsortable"| Description
|-
| [[Arayes]] 
[[lahmacun]](pronounced lahm biajeen) 
|
|[[Lahmacun]]
|Lahmajoun, misahats
| <!--[[File:EXAMPLE|124px|center]] -->
| Barbecued [[flatbread]] filled with lamb meat, onions, tomatoes and spices
|-
| Asbe sawda
| Sykotákia
| [[Arnavut ciğeri]]
|
| [[File:Albanian_liver.jpg|124px|center]]
| A liver dish
|-
| [[Baba ghanoush]] <BR> (Moutabal)
| [[Melitzanosaláta]]
| [[Patlıcan salatası|Patlıcan ezmesi]] <BR> (Babagannuş)
| Mutabal 
| [[File:Baba_Ghanoush.jpg|124px|center]]
| Mashed eggplant (aubergine)
|-
| Burek
| [[Bouréki]]
| [[Börek]]
| Boureg
| [[File:Su_Böreği.JPG|124px|center]]
| Phyllo/yufka-based filled pastries
|-
| Wara Enab 
| Dolmathákia
| [[Sarma (food)|Sarma]] <BR> (Yaprak sarma)
Dolma
|Sarma
| [[File:Yarpaq_dolması.jpg|124px|center]]
| Leaves (mostly grape leaves) rolled around rice-based filling
|-
| [[Falafel]]
|Revithokeftédes
| Falafel/Felafel
| Baklayov kyufta
| [[File:Falafel.JPG|124px|center]]
| A deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both
|-
| Fasuliya
| [[Gigantes plaki]]
| [[Pilaki|Fasulye pilaki]]
|Fasoulia
| [[File:Pilaki.jpg|124px|center]]
| 
|-
| [[Fattoush]]
| 
| Fettuş
|
| [[File:Fattoush_mixed-salad.jpg|124px|center]]
| Salad of vegetables and toasted or fried pieces of pita bread
|-
|
| [[Fava (Greek dish)|Fáva Santorínis]]
|
|
| [[File:Greek_fava.jpg|124px|center]]
| [[Lathyrus clymenum]] seeds boiled and mashed into paste, with olive oil and chopped onion
|-
| [[Ful medames|Ful (Mdammas)]]
| Koukiá
| [[Fava (Turkish dish)|Fava]]
|
| <!--[[File:EXAMPLE|124px|center]] -->
| Fava beans mixed with seasonings
|-
| [[Hummus]]
| Hoúmous
| [[Hummus|Humus]]
|Homus
| [[File:Hummuswithpinenuts.jpg|124px|center]]
| A dip or spread made from cooked, mashed chickpeas
|-
| 
| Kalamarákia tiganitá
| Kalamar tava
|
| <!--[[File:EXAMPLE|124px|center]] -->
| Fried squid (calamari)
|-
| Khyar Bi Laban
| [[Tzatziki]]
| Cacık (read:jah-juck; soupy or dry variations), [[Haydari]](dry; no cucumber and strained yoghurt)
| Jajik
| <!--[[File:EXAMPLE|124px|center]] -->
| Cucumber, yogurt, herbs (mostly mint), seasonings(garlic optional), served thick as a dip in Greece and thin like a cold soup in Turkey and Arabic countries 
|-
| [[Quibe|Kibbeh]]
| Koúpes 
| İçli köfte
| Ishli Kyufta
| [[File:Kibbeh3.jpg|124px|center]]
| Meatballs made of bulghur, chopped meat, filled with meat, pine nuts and spices
|-
| Kafta / Kufta ([[Kofta]])
| Keftédes
| Köfte
| Kufteh
|
|Meatballs made of chopped meat, onion, parsley, and spices
|-
|
|
| [[Şiş köfte]]
|
|
|[[Kebab]]-style köfte
|-
| [[Kibbeh nayyeh]]
|
| [[Çiğ köfte]]
| Chi Kufte, Hoom Kufteh
| [[File:Kibbeh_Nayyeh.jpg|124px|center]]
| Raw meat dish
|-
| [[Tabbouli|Tabboule]]
| 
| [[Kısır]]
| Eech
| [[File:Kisir.jpg|124px|center]]
| Bulgur salad with finely ground parsley, and tomato paste
|-
| 
| Kolokythoanthoí gemistoí
| Kabak çiçeği dolması
| 
| [[File:Kolokythoanthoi_gemistoi_me_giaourti.jpg|124px|center]]
| Stuffed [[squash blossom]]
|-
| [[Labaneh]]
| 
| Labne
Süzme Yoğurt
|Lebni
| [[File:Labneh01.jpg|124px|center]]
| Yoghurt that has been strained to remove most of its whey, resulting in a thicker consistency than unstrained yoghurt
(Seasoning such as garlic and herbs are sometimes added)
|-
| Ljit kousa
| Kolokythokeftédes
| [[Mücver]]
| 
| [[File:Zucchini_Fritters_-_Lunch_at_Yanyali_Fehmi_Lokantasi_(6421047753).jpg|124px|center]]
| Zucchini fritters
|-
|
|Maintanosaláta
|
|
|
|Dip made from finely chopped parsley mixed with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and a base of either bread or potatoes
|-
| [[Muhammara]]
|
| Cevizli Acılı Ezme <BR> (Acuka)
|
| [[File:Tanoreen_muhammara.jpg|124px|center]]
| A hot pepper dip with ground walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, lemon juice, and olive oil
|-
| 
| 
| [[Piyaz]]
|
| [[File:Piyaz 01.jpg|124px|center]]
| Salad made from any kind of dry beans with onion, parsley and sumac
|-
| Salatit Jarjīr
| Róka Saláta
| Roka
[[Arugula]]
|
| 
| Rocket salad 
|-
| 
| 
| [[Şakşuka]]
|
| [[File:Eggplant_and_green_pepper_şakşuka_(shakshuka).jpg|124px|center]]
| Vegetables cooked in olive oil
|-
| Sikh lahme (for lamb or beef), [[Shish taouk]] (for chicken)
| [[Souvlaki]]
| [[Şiş tavuk]] <BR><BR> [[Çöp şiş]]
| [[Shish kebab]], Khorovats
| [[File:Shish_taouk.jpg|124px|center]]
| Bite sized meat cubes (lamb is very common), grilled on a skewer over charcoal
|-
| [[Sujuk]]
| Soutzoúki
| [[Sucuk]]
| Sojoukh
| [[File:Sucuk_(1).jpg|124px|center]]
| Dry, spicy sausage 
|-
| [[Tabbouleh]]
|
| Tabbule or Arap salatası
|Tabuleh
| [[File:Flickr_-_cyclonebill_-_Tabbouleh.jpg|124px|center]]
| Bulgur, finely chopped parsley, mint, tomato, spring onion, with lemon juice, olive oil and seasonings
|-
| 
| [[Taramosalata]]
| [[Tarama]]
|
| [[File:Taramosalata01.jpg|124px|center]]
| Dip made from ''tarama'', the salted and cured roe of the cod, carp, or grey mullet (''bottarga'') mixed with olive oil, lemon juice and a starchy base of bread or potatoes or sometimes almonds
|-
| Tajin
| 
| 
|
| 
| Dip made of fish and Tarator ([[Tahini]] and lemon)
|-
| 
| Gemistá
| [[Dolma]]
| Dolma
| [[File:Gemista.jpg|124px|center]]
| Peppers, eggplants, or courgettes stuffed with rice and meat
|-
|}

Other ''meze'' dishes include cheeses (such as ''[[halloumi]]'', ''[[labneh]]'', ''[[Tulum cheese|tulum]]'', or ''[[shanklish]]'') or meat dishes (like ''[[afelia]]'', ''[[lountza]]'', or ''[[pastirma]]''), fish (like fried [[whitebait]], [[calamari]]).

In [[Greece]], meze is commonly served as a plate of snacks to accompany drinks such as [[ouzo]] and [[tsipouro]].

In [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], [[Jordan]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], [[Cyprus]], and [[Israel]], ''meze'' is often a meal in its own right. There are vegetarian, meat or fish ''mezes''. Groups of dishes arrive at the table about four or five at a time (usually between five and ten groups). There is a set pattern to the dishes: typically olives, tahini, salad, and yogurt will be followed by dishes with vegetables and eggs, then small meat or fish dishes alongside special accompaniments, and finally more substantial dishes such as whole fish or meat stews and grills. Establishments will offer their own specialties, but the pattern remains the same.  Naturally the dishes served will reflect the seasons. For example, in late autumn, [[Snails as food|snails]] will be prominent. As so much food is offered, it is not expected that every dish be finished, but rather shared at will and served at ease. Arak and Beer are often drank with mezze, especially if meats are ordered.

In [[Southeast Europe]], ''meze'' is very similar to an [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] [[antipasto]] in that cured cold-cuts, cheese and salads are dominant and cooked foods are not included. In [[Greece]], [[Albania]], [[Serbia]], [[Croatia]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]], and [[Montenegro]] it includes hard or creamy cheeses, ''[[kajmak]]'' (clotted cream) or ''[[Smetana (dairy product)|smetana]]'' cream, [[salami]], [[ham]] and other forms of ''suho/suvo meso'' (cured pork or beef), ''[[kulen]]'' ([[paprika]] flavoured, cured sausage), cured bacon, ''[[ajvar]]'', and various savory pastries. For Muslims, ''meze'' replaces pork products with ''[[sujuk|sudžuk]]'' (dry, spicy sausage) and the ''[[pastirma]]''-like cured beef ''[[suho meso]]''. In southern Croatia, [[Herzegovina]], and Montenegro, cured meat such as ''[[Prosciutto|pršut]]'' and ''[[Pancetta|panceta]]'' and regional products like [[olive]]s are common. [[Albanian cuisine|Albanian-style]] ''meze'' platters typically include ''[[prosciutto]]'' ham, salami, and brined cheese, accompanied with roasted bell peppers (''capsicum'') or green olives marinated in olive oil with garlic. In [[Bulgarian cuisine|Bulgaria]], popular ''mezes'' are ''[[lukanka]]'' (a spicy sausage), ''[[soujouk]]'' (a dry and spicy sausage) and ''[[sirene]]'' (a white brine cheese). The Bulgarian-made [[Shopska salad|''shopska'' salad]] is also a very popular ''meze''. It is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, peppers, and ''sirene''. ''[[Ajvar]]'' and ''[[pindjur]]'' are popular ''mezes'' in North Macedonia. In [[Romania]], ''mezelic'' means a quick appetizer and includes ''[[zacuscă]]'', cheeses, and salamis, often accompanied by ''[[tuică]]''.

==See also==
{{portal|Food}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Aahaan kap klaem]]''
* ''[[Anju (food)|Anju]]''
* [[Antipasti]]
* ''[[Banchan]]''
* [[Dim sum]]
* [[List of hors d'oeuvre]]
* ''[[Sakana]]''
* [[Smörgåsbord]]
* [[Tapas]]
* ''[[Thali]]''
* ''[[Zakuski]]''
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|title=Mediterranean vegetables: a cook's ABC of vegetables and their preparation in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, and north Africa with more than 200 authentic recipes for the home cook|url=https://archive.org/details/mediterraneanveg0000wrig|url-access=registration|first1=Clifford A.|last1=Wright|edition=Illustrated|publisher=Harvard Common Press|year=2001|isbn=9781558321960}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Meze}}

{{Navboxes|list1=
{{Cuisine of the Levant}}
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}}

[[Category:Meze| ]]
[[Category:Appetizers]]
[[Category:Balkan cuisine]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern cuisine]]
[[Category:Serving and dining]]
[[Category:Snack foods]]
[[Category:Lebanese snack foods]]
[[Category:Drinking culture]]