Mediterranean Mezze Hummus Platter

An all-vegetarian Mediterranean meal. The Vegan Mediterranean Mezze Hummus Platter is an ideal sharing dish, featuring vibrant textures, robust flavors, and fresh ingredients. This colorful dish combines marinated olives, warm pita, crisp vegetables, creamy hummus, and a flavorful dip that evokes the Mediterranean. This Vegan Mediterranean Mezze Hummus Platter is healthy, filling, and completely plant-based, with a perfect balance of fiber, protein, and healthy fats to keep you full and energized.

STATS FOR THE RECIPE OF MEZZE HUMMUS PLATTER

• Cuisine of the dish: Mediterranean or Middle Eastern
• Size of a portion: ~One-sixth of the platter
• Cook time: Ten minutes, or roasting or warming
• Time for prep: Twenty-five(25) minutes
• Active working time(total): Thirty-five(35) minutes
• Course: Snack platter, appetizer, or main
• Diet category: Vegan, Mediterranean
• Yield: 1 big platter serves 4-6 persons
• Complexity level: Simple and easy

TOOLS

• Mixing bowls
• Cutting board
• Serving spoons or tongs
• Blender or food processor
• Serving bowls for dips, small
• Sharp knife
• Wooden board or serving platter
• Baking tray (for roasted items)

INGREDIENTS

HUMMUS

• 2 cloves of garlic
• Salt, to taste
• 15 ounces of chickpeas
• Ground cumin, half a tsp.
• 3 tbsps. of tahini
• Cold water, 2-3 tbsps.
• 2 tbsps. of olive oil
• Juice of a lemon

PLATTER

• 1 cucumber, round slices
• A cup of olives
• 1 cup of halved cherry tomatoes
• Paprika and olive oil
• 1 cup of red bell pepper strips
• Fresh mint and parsley
• 1/2 cup of artichoke hearts
• Pita chips or pita bread wedges, one cup
• 1 cup of chickpeas
• Baba ganosh or vegan tzatziki, half a cup

INGREDIENT NOTES

OIL

• Olive oil that is extra-virgin will provide a rich taste to your platter. It contains heart-healthy fats. Use aquafaba instead of olive oil to lower the calories.

VEGAN TZATZIKI

• The regular version of tzatziki is made up of yogurt, which you can replace with almond or coconut yogurt. The yogurt is mixed with dill, cucumber, Lemon juice, and garlic to form the tzatziki. Baba ganouush can also be a good option.

CHICKPEAS

• We will require a fifteen-ounce can of cooked chickpeas as a base component of hummus. We need to drain and rinse them well before using. You can also cook them, but canned ones will make your work easier.

OLIVES AND ARTICHOKES HEARTS

• These two elements are Mediterranean staples that give texture and saltiness. Read the label carefully for any non-vegan additives.

PITA BREAD

• Use either warm gluten-free flatbread wedges or whole-grain pita wedges to serve the hummus with. Serving it with fresh veggie sticks keeps it low in carbs.

TAHINI

• Tahini is the paste of sesame seeds, and it gives hummus its signature creaminess. You can also use butter of sunflower seed or almond instead of tahini.

GARLIC AND LEMON

• Garlic, along with lemon, adds a classic flavor to the platter by adding depth and brightness. Roast the garlic before use for a milder flavor.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add lemon juice, tahini, garlic, chickpeas, olive oil, salt, and cumin to the blender jug.
2. Blend all the items well, adding cold water gradually, till you get a smooth and creamy paste.
3. Preheat the empty oven at 200 °C and cover a baking tray using a parchment liner.
4. Spread the chickpeas and red bell pepper strips on the lined tray.
5. Drizzle the olive oil lightly on them.
6. Insert the tray in the oven for ten minutes.
7. Now, spread the hummus in the center, directly on the platter.
8. Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle paprika. artichoke hearts, and olives
9. Arrange cherry tomatoes, roasted chickpeas, cucumber slices, pita wedges or chips, bell pepper strips,
10. artichoke hearts, and olives around the hummus.
11. Place small bowls of vegan tzatziki or baba ganoush.
12. Garnish with fresh mint or parsley and lemon wedges.
13. Serve this nutritious, delicious, and aesthetically pleasing Vegan Mediterranean Mezze Hummus Platter immediately.

TIPS

• If you don’t like the chunky hummus, remove the skins of the chickpeas.
• Include different color veggies like purple cabbage, orange carrots, yellow, and red bell peppers to make your platter visually appealing.
• Add smoked paprika or roasted garlic to upgrade the flavor.

STORAGE DIRECTIONS

FRIDGE

• Pack the veggies, bread wedges, remaining dip, and hummus in separate locked bowls and refrigerate them for five days. We prefer the fresh bread and veggies to avoid the crispness.

FREEZER

• Transfer the hummus to a freezer-friendly vessel and cover it with a thin layer of olive oil. Tightly close the lid and freeze for 90-100 days.

FAQs

What vegetables work best for dipping?

• Snap peas, carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, celery sticks, etc., are all the best choices to pair with the hummus and dips.

Will excluding tahini make the delicious hummus?

• The flavor will be slightly different but still creamy when you replace tahini with almond or sunflower seed butter, or even plain vegan yogurt.

Is that possible to make it earlier?

• Yes, prepare all the items and keep them individually covered in the fridge. You only need to quickly assemble them right before serving for maximum crunch and freshness.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS PER SERVE

Calories per portion: ~265 kcal per slice of gingerbread cake
Total carbs: 24 g
Fiber: Six grams
Net carbs: Eighteen grams
Proteins: 10 g
Fats: Thirteen grams
Sodium: 310 mg
Size of a portion: ~1/6 of the big platter
Sugar: Four grams