cover image Mezze Modern: Delicious Appetizers from Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey

Mezze Modern: Delicious Appetizers from Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey

Maria Khalife. Interlink Publishing Group, $24.95 (128pp) ISBN 978-1-56656-713-8

Khalife, founder and owner of the first food channel in the Arab world, Soufra Daimeh Food Network, and author of more than 70 cookbooks, puts her considerable experience to work in this winning collection of over 90 recipes for Mediterranean-style starters. With most dishes calling for just a handful of ingredients, even inexperienced cooks will be able to prepare appetizers such as the Lebanese Potatoes in Oil and Lemon Dressing, Beirut-Style Chickpea Dip, Walnut Dip and basic salads in a matter of minutes. More confident cooks will want to try their hand at one of the many croquette recipes scattered throughout the book, with fillings such as split peas, zucchini, and beef and nuts as well as heartier fare such as her many stuffed pastries. Mussels stuffed with an exotic mix of rice, currants, pine nuts and a bevy of spices is sure to satisfy, as are more familiar dishes such as Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and marinated lamb shish kebabs. There are enough simple, flavor-packed dishes for just about any appetite or gathering, giving cooks plenty of tasty ways to expand their palates without breaking the bank or spending an entire day in the kitchen.