How to Make a Perfect Gluten-Free Mezze Platter – 23 Recipes

We make it easy for you to create the ultimate gluten-free mezze platter with this comprehensive collection of recipes. We have included a variety of delicious, easy-to-prepare dishes, some of our own and others from some of our favorite chefs.

Whether at home or in restaurants, we love shared dining and strive for a Mediterranean diet that meets our dietary restrictions. Therefore, a gluten-free mezze platter usually hits the spot.

Over the years, we’ve both created and gathered tons of recipes filled with mezze platter ideas. These range from dips to finger foods, bread to veggies, but they all come together in a lovely shared evening with friends.

Below is our list of options. They are the favorite recipes we pick from, never making them all, as each meal turns into a unique culinary adventure.

What is a mezze platter?

A mezze platter is a traditional selection of small dishes, often served in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions.

It’s not just about the food; it’s an experience meant to be savored, shared, and leisurely enjoyed with friends or family.

When crafting a Mediterranean mezze platter, the key is variety and balance. A gluten-free mezze platter is the same, with a few substitutions. The essential components create a colorful display and include:

• Dips like hummus, baba ganoush, or tzatziki
• Gluten-free pita or crackers
• Finger foods
• Fruits and vegetables

Mezze platter dips

Mezze platter dips are usually the star of the show. Depending on your dipping options, they add flavor, color, textures, and a bit of fun.

Traditionally, hummus, baba ganoush, and tzatziki are the most popular. Fortunately, all three are naturally gluten-free (but always check labels if you don’t make it yourself).

The first two can always be found on our vegetarian mezze platter, as they are personal favorites. The third, tzatziki, only sometimes, as I am dairy-free, and it is not.

Hummus (Chickpea dips)

We include at least one hummus on any Mediterranean mezze platter we create. We use a delicious, creamy, gluten, and dairy-free hummus recipe contributed to Kibitz Spot from Esther that is super quick and easy to make.

However, when we are feeling more creative or need some pink or reddish color in our assortment, we will turn to either this homemade beetroot hummus or this easy red pepper hummus.

Eggplant dips

We also like to have an eggplant dip as a part of every Mediterranean mezze platter, and we have two clear favorites.

• Baba ganoush (with tahini)
  My long-term favorite, baba ganoush, is a popular Middle Eastern dish. The recipe we love, a gluten-free baba ganoush recipe from Chef’s Pencil, is what I imagine an eggplant hummus would taste like due to the tahini. Traditionally, I think baba ganoush is made without tahini, but once you taste this one, you will be hooked.
• Melitzanosalata
  This one is a yummy Greek eggplant dip. It’s a tasty eggplant, garlic and olive oil dip that your guests will love. It’s from GypsyPlate, and we always add the chili flakes that she recommends. Check out the melitzanosalata here.
  

More dip ideas

Here is where each platter we create becomes a unique work of art. We prefer no more than 3-4 dips on the total platter, and we already have two from the above, yet we still have loads of delicious options. We generally pick from these recipes, each from a different amazing food blogger.

• Tzatziki
  Our favorite tzatziki recipe is by Chef Denise, as she takes it a healthy step further with her fat-free tzatziki option. Cool and refreshing, tzatziki is made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, lemon, and spices.
• Za’atar labneh
  If we don’t have cucumber, this is our go-to: a smooth, creamy Middle Eastern Greek yogurt dip called za’atar labneh. It’s created by Masala Herb and loaded with flavor from an exciting selection of spices.
• Olive tapenade
  This is a personal favorite we often just have in the fridge. Jeff has tweaked the standard recipe a bit to one we love. You can find our olive tapenade recipe here.
• Muhammara
  This lovely Middle Eastern dip is made with walnuts and roasted red peppers. It traditionally has bread crumbs, but The Forked Spoon offers a gluten-free muhammara recipe here that adds some new flavors in a colorful dip
• Courgette dip
  Courgette is just the French word for zucchini, but regardless of what you call it, this recipe from Cinnamon and Kale creates an easy, healthy, and tasty courgette dip that is perfect for spreading and dipping.

Crackers and breads

You’ll need something to scoop up the mezze platter dips, and traditionally, that is pita bread wedges. As we are building a gluten-free mezze platter, we need an alternative. Here are a few of our top picks – two different breads followed by two unique crackers.

• Gluten-free pita bread
  We thought we would start with the obvious: a gluten-free version of classic pita bread. Our favorite recipe from Natasha’s Home is Lebanese bread.
  And while pita is always better from scratch, we can buy prepackaged GF pita and ready to go. Either way, we cut the pita pockets into wedges, either 6 or 8 per pita, depending on their size.
• Italian flatbread (from chickpea flour)
  This one is perfect for those with lots of dietary restrictions, as it’s not only free from grains but also nuts, dairy, and a bunch more. Cook Me Free lists it all, along with the Italian flatbread recipe.
• Seeded crackers
  We also like to add a few crackers, some for dipping, but our favorite is a homemade stand-alone seeded cracker made from sunflower, pumpkin, chia, and flax seeds with a hint of rosemary.
• Tigernut flour crackers
  Quick, easy, crispy, and satisfying, these delicious grain-free savory Italian tigernut flour crackers from Strength and Sunshine are another great addition to a mezze platter.

Cheese and other finger foods

I probably should have called this section toothpick foods, although any of them could be eaten with your fingers. These are often single-bite items like cheeses, stuffed grape leaves, or olives.

Cheeses
We typically add brie and smoked havarti, as those are our personal favorites, but feta and goat cheese are probably the most common. If we are going with a feta, we love this marinated feta with its garlic and lemon flavors from A Little and A Lot.

Falafel
Hannah likes to make her falafel using chickpea flour. Quick and easy, we often eat these for a meal on their own. They are differently shaped than the traditional ones made from chickpeas but equally as delicious.

Dolmades
I have been a fan of rice-stuffed grape leaves since the first time I tried them, and that was a long time ago. While we can buy them, they are so much better when made with this vegan rice stuffed dolmades recipe from Strength and Sunshine. She adds eggplant, olives, and herbs to the mix.

Marinated mushrooms
This one couldn’t be easier; add a bowl of mushrooms marinated in white wine vinegar, herbs, and garlic to your platter with this simple marinated mushroom recipe from What a Girl Eats.

Olives
Marinated Olives are quickly and easily made. They are packed full of flavor, infused in a blend of warmed extra virgin olive oil, citrus peels, garlic, chili, and dried oregano. It could not be easier to prepare these homemade marinated olives from It’s Not Complicated.

Meats
To be honest, we make a vegetarian mezze platter. But if you want to add a few meats, consider gluten-free cured meats like salami or prosciutto. These add a rich, savory element that pairs beautifully with cheeses and bread. One amazing sounding option are these prosciutto wrapped dates stuffed with goat cheese from Go Gluten Freely.

Fruits and vegetables

We like to add some fruits to our finger food assortment section for a sweet, refreshing, and often colorful contrast to the savory flavors. Figs, grapes, dried apricots, and slices of pear are excellent choices. While we often add raw figs, when our tree is abundant, and the figs are nearly ripe, we like to roast our figs with balsamic vinegar and honey.

Our mezze platter isn’t complete without a vibrant array of vegetables. Think of sliced cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, celery, and cherry tomatoes. Plus, we add a few cooked veggies, usually eggplant:

• Saksuka
  By now, I am sure you have figured out that we love eggplant, and saksuka is another eggplant dish. This one, originating in Turkey, is made with fried eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. We use this saksuka recipe from Cooking Gorgeous.
• Sautéed eggplant
  Considered a comfort food by its creator, Hannah, this sautéed eggplant recipe takes only 15-20 minutes to prepare and contains eggplant, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and spices.

Can I prepare a gluten-free mezze platter ahead of time?

Absolutely! Many components of a Mediterranean mezze platter, like dips and marinated vegetables, actually taste better when prepared ahead of time, as this allows the flavors to meld.

Cover and refrigerate everything made in advance.

We prefer to arrange the platter just before serving to maintain the freshness of items like fruits and vegetables.

Pin and share on social media this for when you are ready to make your mezze platter

Did you get some good mezze platter ideas?

More Mediterranean ideas. . .

Photo Credits

Photos on this page are either shot by our team and watermarked as such, supplied with the recipes and used with permission, or some stock photos are from DepositPhotos.