B E Travels

Bold, fresh, colorful—this is the perfect definition of Mediterranean cuisine, which easily wins hearts across the world. One part of Mediterranean dinners that many diners enjoy is the side dishes and appetizers that start your main course. From zesty dipping sauces to crisp salads, here are five Mediterranean side dishes and appetizers you definitely have to try at least once in your life.

Tabbouleh: This is a salad from the Levant; it consists of parsley with fine bulgur, chopped tomatoes, mint leaves, and onion. It is dressed in olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. This deliciously flavored, fresh-looking salad would be a perfect side dish or appetizer.

Baba Ganoush: A creamy dip prepared by finely roasting eggplant and combining it with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Roasted eggplant gives a smoky flavor, which tastes very well mixed with the nutty tahini and citrusy lemon juice—a truly luscious, flavorful spread.

Hummus: Hummus is likely one of the most popular Mediterranean dips which are made from mashed chickpeas combined with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Creamy, savory, and full of protein, it offers even more variety when used as a spread for bread or crackers, including inside a sandwich.

Moutabal: The dip is called moutabal but is generally also recognized as baba ghanoush. It resembles the preparation of Baba Ganoush although it is made using a somewhat different method; one chars the eggplant either by grilling or roasting it before mashing and combining it with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. It makes for great dipping with pita bread, a rich-flavored product that people scoop up in big mouthfuls.

Tzatziki: This Greek dip is one more instance of strained yogurt being the leading ingredient in a Greek dish. The low-fat yogurt is put together with olive oil, minced garlic, vinegar, cucumber, and every now and then scallions and spices. It is great for dipping bread or vegetables and is enjoyed enormously in Greece during summer.

If you are interested in sampling these side dishes and appetizers for yourself, you can find many of them at Manakish Oven & Grill, a Middle Eastern restaurant in San Jose, CA. Manakish Oven & Grill provides Mediterranean favorites to Silicon Valley, serving Middle Eastern food in San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Mountain View. The restaurant also provides catering for Mediterranean food in San Jose, CA and surrounding areas.