Happy Fri-Yay!

It’s time for another Wine Down recipe roundup.  Today we’re focussing on Mezze from Greece and I promise you’ll love these Mediterranean flavors. Opa!

Don’t have time to read it now?  Pin it for later!

The Cocktail

Have you heard about the exclusive Mastiha liqueur produced only on the Greek island of Chios? This special spirit is made using resin from the Mastic tree, which gives it a delicate taste of pine or cedar. Using resin in a drink might sound fascinating, and I’m interested in trying it. Bernice from Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen has kindly shared the recipe for a Mastical Maia cocktail that showcases this exotic ingredient.

2 highball glasses with mystical maia cocktail and sprigs of rosemary
Dish 'n' the Kitchen - get the recipe

The Board

Aleka, from Aleka’s Get Together, creates the perfect Greek mezze platter on a board (boards are all the rage these days, aren’t they?). She includes various classic Greek dips and an abundance of vegetables and breads. For your gluten-free guests, you could opt for gluten-free pita bread and crackers. The board is stunning and will certainly impress your guests, making you the ultimate host or hostess.

a wooden board toped with cheese, veggies, bowls of various dips, grape leaves, artichoke hearts, olives, roasted peppers and breads
Aleka's Get Together - get the recipe

The Veggie

Everyone loves Greek salad, but have you tried it on skewers? The Lazy Dish’s Lilly has reimagined the classic salad as an easy-to-eat finger food, perfect for any mezze spread.

a skewer with a block of feta cheese, a grape tomato, a cucumber round and a black olive dripping with herb vinaigrette
The Lazy Dish - get the recipe

The Protein

Who doesn’t love meatballs? Especially when they’re paired with a fresh romesco sauce. And the best part? This recipe is both Whole 30 and Paleo-friendly. Elizabeth from Bowl of Delicious has done an amazing job of making traditional dishes healthier. For this particular recipe, she swaps out the traditional lamb for beef, but I’m sure either protein would be delicious.

A plate of greek meatballs with romesco sauce for dipping
Bowl of Delicious - get the recipe

The Pinwheel

Pinwheels are a delicious addition to any Big Fat GrΣΣk menu. Carly from Mommy On Purpose has put a Greek twist on the classic turkey pinwheel. Be sure to try this recipe!

a plate of turkey and hummus pinwheels
Mommy On Purpose - get the recipe

The Sweet

Ending a menu with a sweet treat is always a great idea. Greek cuisine offers a variety of classic desserts, such as rice pudding, semolina cake, and Greek yogurt with thyme honey. If you’re looking for something simple yet delicious, try Ali’s recipe for mini Baklava morsels from Gimme Some Oven. Don’t forget to indulge in something sweet!

mini filo dough cups with baklava filling
Gimme Some Oven - get the recipe

I hope you enjoy this trip to Greece and entertain your family and friends in style. And don’t forget to get everyone dancing the Sirtaki in your kitchen! See you next Friday for another round of Wine Down.

Keep Dancing, Darlene