AS part of Greek tradition, it is typical for people to enjoy a glass of ouzo, an aperitif that tastes like anise, while dining on mezedes.
Mezedes are small plates of food served with ouzo and you will never find it served without one or the other. Ouzo tends to be a powerful drink, which is why food is served with it. The food helps mitigate the effects of the drink, with ouzo meant to be drunk slowly. Because mezedes are so popular, you can find serving ideas in many Greek recipes cookbooks.
So, what exactly goes into this plate of food? You'll quickly discover that there is no official cooking guide to tell you. This is because it is based on where in Greece you happen to be at the time or what food you have in your house to serve with the ouzo. If you should happen to be by the Mediterranean, the mezedes will probably contain seafood, while the mountain region of Greece will serve cheeses, sweetbreads and lamb. Indeed, you will not find the same dish served in two different regions.
Greece has recently seen the resurgence of ouzo drinking and mezedes eating, enough so that 'ouzeries' are appearing throughout the country. These are small restaurants that specialise in ouzo and mezedes. You can actually find a variety of mezedes dishes in them as it is becoming common for other regional snacks to complement local dishes. For example, pork recipes that are eaten in the south could appear in a mezedes in the north. Even salads are served as a mezedes, as some of the smaller places in Greece simply serve with their ouzo whatever was prepared on the day.
Essentially, just about anything edible and Greek can appear on a mezedes platter. You only have to get some Greek recipes and try them out to see how this tradition works with your friends and families. Serve the plate of food with a glass of wine if you do not have ouzo to hand. You will get the same effect as mezedes are as much about eating while enjoying a drink as the occasion is about the fellowship among the people who are sharing the drink with you.
Mezedes made of different fishes, both salted and fresh, are very common throughout Greece. You could be served a plate that includes fresh, seasonal sardines that were caught and salted the same day. Usually, they are served with lemon and olive oil.
Marinated anchovies are another popular food served as mezedes. You can usually find these small fish all over Greece and they are typically marinated in a combination of lemon, oregano and olive oil. Marinated tuna, fresh clams and mussels, grilled octopus, fried octopus and shark in garlic are just some of the other delicacies that could easily be served on a mezedes platter. Many ouzeries in Greece that have fresh fish available to them will also offer their guests a variety of platters with different fish, especially if they order a carafe of ouzo. On these platters you will usually find the fish that is season mixed with anchovies; shrimp, sardines and smelt. They all could be fried or grilled depending on the place at which you are dining and your own personal taste.
However, fish is not the only thing you will encounter in a mezedes platter as you travel through Greece. Saganaki, a type of fried or grilled cheese, is a mezedes that you can make at home just as easily as you can have it served to you. This dish is basically a piece of Greek cheese that has been seasoned with lemon or deep fried. Other types of this cheese plate will be served with tomato sauce and mixed with the fresh fish of the day. If you prefer not to have grilled or fried, it could be made in a casserole dish and baked in the oven. These dishes are typically served with bread, lemon and olive oil.
Fried foods are popular in Greece for mezedes platters, including a wide variety of 'fried balls'. Fried balls can range from tomato balls to chickpea and zucchini varieties. Whatever vegetable is in season and can be turned into a ball and fried is fair game in Greece. You can also get your hands on fried meatballs that have been made with mint and onions. Basically, if you can roll it, it can be made into a ball of food that is fried and served with ouzo.
Speaking of meat, sausages and smoked beef are usually the meats that are served on mezedes platters in a region where fresh seafood is scarce. They are accompanied by olives, cheese and pita bread. Depending on where you are, you may even get a type of small pies made with meat, cheese or fresh vegetables that have been wrapped in phyllo dough. These are a type of pastry and are usually very delicious. If you have not tried any with grape leaves, you need to do so before you leave Greece.
It's very apparent that you can find any type of mezedes in Greece. It all depends on where you are in the country. You should definitely take the chance and try these food platters with a glass of ouzo to get a true Greek experience. It will give you ideas on new types of food to serve at your next get-together and it is a way to introduce other people to some of the great food that originates from Greece.
You don't have to be at a fancy Greek restaurant to enjoy mezedes. If you can pack a small basket of cheese, fresh fish, pasties, fried cheese and vegetables, you basically have your own mezedes. These meals are light, portable, and great for sharing with friends and family. With the holidays approaching, people are always looking for ideas for those family get-togethers. Instead of making the same meal year after year, invest in a Greek cookbook and make some of the things mentioned here.
