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Home›Appetizers & Sides

🥗 Appetizers & Sides

Start your feast with creamy hummus, smoky baba ganoush, Greek saganaki, Indian samosas, and Moroccan zaalouk - small plates with big flavor.

190 recipes

easy
Greek · Appetizers
Saganaki (σαγανάκι) — Greek Pan-Fried Cheese with Lemon
Saganaki is a beloved Greek meze where firm cheese is pan-fried until deeply golden, then finished with bright lemon. Served sizzling in tavernas, it’s a simple ritual that highlights Greece’s love of bold dairy and citrus.
16 min 4 285 cal

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Moroccan Chicken Briouat — Crispy Phyllo Rolls with Chicken and Vermicelli - authentic moroccan recipe

medium

Moroccan · Appetizers

Moroccan Chicken Briouat (بريوات) — Crispy Phyllo Rolls with Chicken and Vermicelli

Moroccan briouat are crisp pastry parcels served at celebrations and family gatherings, often alongside mint tea. This chicken-and-vermicelli version balances warm spices, herbs, and a bright lemon finish inside shatteringly crisp phyllo.

80 min 6 520 cal

Maakouda — Moroccan Spiced Potato Fritters - authentic moroccan recipe

Moroccan · Appetizers

Maakouda (معقودة) — Moroccan Spiced Potato Fritters

Maakouda are beloved Moroccan potato fritters, crisp outside and fluffy within, often sold by street vendors and served with harissa or tucked into sandwiches. Warm spices and fresh herbs make them a staple for casual family meals and gatherings.

50 min 6 285 cal

Briouats — Moroccan Crispy Phyllo Triangles with Spiced Lamb - authentic moroccan recipe

Moroccan · Appetizers

Briouats (بريوات) — Moroccan Crispy Phyllo Triangles with Spiced Lamb

Briouats are iconic Moroccan pastries, folded into neat triangles and fried until shatteringly crisp. This savory version pairs warmly spiced lamb with herbs and a touch of lemon for a classic mezze-style bite served at gatherings and celebrations.

75 min 6 520 cal

Chicken Pastilla Filo Rolls — Moroccan Crispy Chicken and Almond Rolls - authentic moroccan recipe

Moroccan · Appetizers

Chicken Pastilla Filo Rolls (بسطيلة) — Moroccan Crispy Chicken and Almond Rolls

Inspired by Morocco’s celebratory pastilla, these filo rolls wrap saffron-scented chicken, cinnamon, and toasted almonds in shatteringly crisp pastry. They deliver the classic sweet-savory contrast in a hand-held, party-ready form.

100 min 8 410 cal

Dolmades — Greek Stuffed Grape Leaves with Rice and Herbs - authentic greek recipe

Greek · Appetizers

Dolmades (Ντολμάδες) — Greek Stuffed Grape Leaves with Rice and Herbs

Dolmades are classic Greek mezze: tender grape leaves wrapped around fragrant rice, herbs, and olive oil. Served at room temperature with lemon, they’re a staple of family tables and festive spreads across Greece.

115 min 6 320 cal

Pani Puri — Indian Crispy Hollow Shells with Spiced Water - authentic indian recipe

Indian · Appetizers

Pani Puri (پانی پوری) — Indian Crispy Hollow Shells with Spiced Water

Pani Puri is a beloved Indian street snack of crisp, hollow puris filled with potato-chickpea mash and dunked in tangy, minty spiced water. Each bite balances crunch, heat, and sweet-sour notes that define chaat culture across India.

70 min 6 330 cal

Pakora — Indian Crispy Vegetable Fritters - authentic indian recipe

Indian · Appetizers

Pakora (پکوڑا) — Indian Crispy Vegetable Fritters

Pakora are beloved Indian fritters made by coating vegetables in spiced chickpea flour batter and frying until crisp. Often served with chai during monsoon season, they’re a classic street snack across North India and beyond.

40 min 4 360 cal

Samosa — Indian Crispy Fried Pastry with Spiced Potato Filling - authentic indian recipe

Indian · Appetizers

Samosa (समोसा) — Indian Crispy Fried Pastry with Spiced Potato Filling

Samosa is a beloved Indian street snack: a crisp, flaky pastry stuffed with warmly spiced potatoes and peas. Served with chutneys and chai, it’s a festive staple from tea stalls to family gatherings across the subcontinent.

75 min 12 235 cal

Fatayer bil Sabanekh — Lebanese Spinach Hand Pies with Tangy Sumac - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Fatayer bil Sabanekh (فطاير بالسبانخ) — Lebanese Spinach Hand Pies with Tangy Sumac

Fatayer bil Sabanekh are classic Lebanese spinach hand pies, folded into neat triangles and baked until golden. The filling is bright with lemon and sumac, a familiar flavor in Levantine home baking and bakery trays.

63 min 12 215 cal

Sambousek — Lebanese Fried Pastries with Savory Filling - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Sambousek (سمبوسك) — Lebanese Fried Pastries with Savory Filling

Sambousek are crisp Lebanese half-moon pastries, traditionally served as mezze during gatherings and holidays. This version includes two classic fillings—spiced meat and tangy cheese—wrapped in a simple homemade dough and fried until golden.

85 min 24 165 cal

Arnabeet Mekli — Lebanese Fried Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Arnabeet Mekli (قرنبيط مقلي) — Lebanese Fried Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce

Arnabeet mekli is a beloved Lebanese mezze of crisp fried cauliflower, often finished with lemon and served with creamy tahini. It appears on family tables and mezze spreads alongside pickles, herbs, and warm bread.

45 min 4 430 cal

Makdous — Lebanese Stuffed Baby Eggplants Preserved in Olive Oil - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Makdous (مكدوس) — Lebanese Stuffed Baby Eggplants Preserved in Olive Oil

Makdous is a beloved Levantine pantry preserve: baby eggplants are blanched, salted, pressed, then stuffed with walnuts and garlic before being sealed in olive oil. It’s traditionally made in autumn and served as a mezze with bread at breakfast or supper.

115 min 24 210 cal

Kibbeh Nayyeh — Lebanese Raw Lamb and Bulgur Tartare - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Kibbeh Nayyeh (كبة نية) — Lebanese Raw Lamb and Bulgur Tartare

Kibbeh nayyeh is a celebrated Lebanese mezze of finely pounded raw lamb blended with soaked bulgur and warm spices. Traditionally served very fresh with olive oil, onions, and herbs, it reflects Levantine butchery craft and hospitality.

35 min 6 292 cal

Sfiha — Lebanese Open-Faced Lamb Pastries with Tangy Spices - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Sfiha (صفيحة) — Lebanese Open-Faced Lamb Pastries with Tangy Spices

Sfiha are beloved Lebanese open-faced pastries topped with spiced lamb, onion, and bright pomegranate molasses. Often served at gatherings and bakeries, they balance tender dough with a savory-tangy meat topping in every bite.

63 min 12 235 cal

Makanek — Lebanese Spiced Lamb Sausages with Pomegranate Molasses - authentic lebanese recipe

Lebanese · Appetizers

Makanek (مقانق) — Lebanese Spiced Lamb Sausages with Pomegranate Molasses

Makanek are classic Lebanese mini sausages, traditionally pan-seared then glazed with pomegranate molasses for a sweet-sour shine. Often served as a warm mezze, they balance warm spices, garlic, and tangy molasses in a way that feels unmistakably Levantine.

55 min 4 430 cal

Sambosa — Afghan Crispy Fried Pastry with Spiced Potato Filling - authentic afghan recipe

Afghan · Appetizers

Sambosa (سمبوسه) — Afghan Crispy Fried Pastry with Spiced Potato Filling

Afghan sambosa are crisp, triangular pastries often enjoyed as a street snack and a Ramadan iftar favorite. This potato-filled version is warmly spiced, brightened with herbs, and fried until shatteringly golden.

60 min 12 210 cal

Çerkez Tavuğu — Turkish Circassian Chicken in Garlic-Walnut Sauce - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Çerkez Tavuğu (Çerkez Tavuğu) — Turkish Circassian Chicken in Garlic-Walnut Sauce

A beloved Turkish meze with Circassian roots, Çerkez Tavuğu pairs poached, shredded chicken with a creamy walnut-garlic sauce and spiced butter. It’s traditionally served cool, making it ideal for gatherings and holiday tables.

60 min 6 410 cal

Haydari — Turkish Thick Strained Yogurt Dip with Herbs - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Haydari (Haydari) — Turkish Thick Strained Yogurt Dip with Herbs

Haydari is a classic Turkish meze built on very thick strained yogurt, bright herbs, and garlic, often finished with olive oil and a hint of mint. It’s served chilled alongside rakı tables and grilled dishes across Turkey.

15 min 6 165 cal

Acılı Ezme — Turkish Spicy Tomato & Pepper Meze - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Acılı Ezme (Acılı Ezme) — Turkish Spicy Tomato & Pepper Meze

Acılı ezme is a classic Turkish meze of finely chopped tomatoes, peppers, and herbs bound with pepper paste and pomegranate molasses. It’s served across Turkey alongside kebabs and rakı tables for a bright, spicy, tangy bite.

20 min 6 110 cal

Midye Dolma — Turkish Stuffed Mussels with Spiced Rice - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Midye Dolma (Midye Dolma) — Turkish Stuffed Mussels with Spiced Rice

Midye dolma is a beloved Turkish street food, especially along the Aegean and Marmara coasts. Mussels are filled with fragrant spiced rice, steamed until tender, then eaten with bright lemon—one by one, straight from the shell.

80 min 6 384 cal

Karnabahar Kızartması — Turkish Fried Cauliflower with Garlic Yogurt - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Karnabahar Kızartması (Karnabahar Kızartması) — Turkish Fried Cauliflower with Garlic Yogurt

A beloved Turkish home-style meze, karnabahar kızartması pairs crisp fried cauliflower with cool garlic yogurt. It’s especially common in winter when cauliflower is at its sweetest, served warm with a bright, tangy topping.

40 min 4 360 cal

Yaprak Sarma — Turkish Stuffed Vine Leaves with Rice and Herbs - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Yaprak Sarma (Yaprak Sarma) — Turkish Stuffed Vine Leaves with Rice and Herbs

Yaprak sarma are classic Turkish vine leaves filled with herbed rice, olive oil, and warm spices. Often served at room temperature as part of a meze spread, they balance bright citrus with the perfume of dill and mint.

100 min 6 330 cal

Sigara Böreği — Turkish Crispy Rolled Cheese Pastry - authentic turkish recipe

Turkish · Appetizers

Sigara Böreği (Sigara Böreği) — Turkish Crispy Rolled Cheese Pastry

Sigara böreği is a beloved Turkish meze of thin yufka sheets rolled around a salty cheese-herb filling, then fried until shatteringly crisp. It’s common at breakfast tables and rakı spreads, prized for its quick prep and irresistible crunch.

45 min 6 392 cal