Starters/Nibbles: – Mezze Platter & Shawarma Skewers

A mezze platter is the perfect way to begin a Turkish-inspired meal. We used a selection of middle eastern inspired elements:

●      Homemade pita chips with olive oil and seasonings: – Homemade Pita Chips

●      Muhammara dip, seasoned with olive oil and crushed walnuts: – Muhamarra Dip

●      Hummus dip, seasoned with olive oil, crispy seasoned chickpeas and saffron: – Roasted Red Pepper Hummus   or Garlic Paprika Hummus

●      Fresh, herby tabbouleh: – Quinoa Tabbouleh

●      Veggies – cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, radishes, crispy baked brussels sprouts, marinated artichoke hearts

To complement this, the eggplant and zucchini shawarma skewers are delicious. Pickle the vegetables, then char-grill for a salty, smoky flavour. 

Mains: Turkish Beef Meatballs, Cauliflower Salad & Flatbreads with Raisin, Pine Nut & Caper Pesto

For the mains, we made a Turkish beef meatball dish, with all the classic Middle Eastern spices and flavours. Warming and delicious, it’s the perfect way to serve the protein element of the main meal.  

You can try either of these recipes: – Tuscan Meatballs or Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

The cauliflower salad uses a delicious combination of ingredients: roast cauliflower florets, celery, hazelnuts, parsley with a delicious Turkish-inspired spiced dressing. We have topped it with pomegranate arils for a pop of fresh sweet flavour. It’s an all-round winner. Warm Roasted Brassica Salad

Then for the flatbread, we did a slightly different take on pizza, using the sweet, salty, nutty flavours as the base, topped with crushed pine nuts, parmesan and greens. Serve it as individual flatbreads or serve as a tear and dip entrée with olive oil.

Sweet: Traditional Baklava

Ending on a sweet note, we have done a classic Middle Eastern dessert, baklava. Nutty, flaky, sweet and rich, it is the perfect way to end a Turkish food journey!

Styling Notes

We used woods, tan and raw platters to give the setting a warm rustic effect. We have also used tea towels for added texture.

Leather woven bench, wooden stool and platters are all from Coco Unika, based in Australia, definitely worth checking out their range – Cocounika