TIME FOR A PICKLED MEZE
“Meze” (mezzaeh) is a typical style of eating, which is very popular in Greece. Meze is actually a selection of hot and cold dishes, typically served as an hors d’oeuvre served with alcohol like Tsipouro, Ouzo, Raki, Beer or Wine. Meze is very similar to the Tapas culture. In meze culture, often Greeks do not proceed to the main course and they stay with a multi-course meal of small quantities.
Pickled foods are great for cold Meze plates, as you can always keep them in your fridge and use them when the time is right!
Pickling is the process of preserving or expanding the lifespan of food by either anaerobic fermentation in brine or immersion in vinegar. The resulting food is called a pickle, or, to prevent ambiguity, prefaced with pickled.
I have collected some caper leaves and kritama from an amazing stony beach in Medieval Mani, in Peloponnese. The scenery is breath taking!
Kritamo (kritama is just plural) is a kind of sea fennel and in English, it is known as the rock sapphire.
Quick tips
- Wash your sea fennel tenderly and separate your caper leafs
- Boil water and after it boils bring the kritamo in and boil for about 7-10 minutes (my ingredients came from close to the sea and were already salty. Thus I did not add any extra salt).
- Drain them well.
- Put them in a container that you can close airtight.
- Fill the bowl with vinegar until you cover your greens.
- Add garlic and/or whatever you like.
- If you wish to have olive oil with it you can serve it afterward or just add oil during the pickling process -about half of the amount you used for vinegar (vinegar:oil=2:1).
- Close your pickled food well and airtight and keep it in the fridge. After about 6-8 hours your Meze will be already strong in taste and ready to be served!
Our Meze is ready!
Meze can be any small dish you prepare with love and care! In meze culture, the way you serve the dishes is very important! Go for simplicity and tradition! Any food, chopped in small pieces can be in the philosophy of the Greek Meze! Time to serve some olives and some cold tsipouro! Check out how to create unique accessories as a host 🙂
The best meze, is when you have it with other precious creatures! Gia mas!
Check out how to paint furniture 🙂 Paint on wood!
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