Mezes-Inspired Dinner Party

It's been a really long time since I threw a proper dinner party. I think the last one was actually New Year's Eve! It's nice to get back in the game.


Button mushrooms sauteed with thyme and pepper flakes, served cold. I added the cucumbers for color, and also so we could dip the cucumbers in hummus and yogurt.

Blanched, chilled asparagus spears wrapped in rare roast beef and topped with a lemon dressing. My sister usually doesn't like asparagus, but she liked this because she loves rare beef and lemon!

Hummus from Sunnin, which we went a friend to buy. Thank you!

Giant white beans. I love these because of the soft, almost potato-like centers. They're so big one person thought they were bird eggs! I simmered these until they were soft. In a seperate pan, I sauteed onions and garlic until soft, added thyme and oregano, diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper. I should have remembered some white wine or vermouth. The beans were stirred in and simmered for a few minutes at the end.

Tiger prawns marinated in olive oil, salt, pepper, onions, and garlic, broiled for 3 minutes per side and topped with onions and lemon zest.

Seared snapper filets smothered in a sauce of sun-dried tomatoes, capers, pitted Kalamata olives, olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. I topped it with olives and lemon zest.

Flatbread from Trader Joe's. I was going to make bread but when I saw a pack of it at TJ's I couldn't resist the temptation to skip all that hassle.

Seared scallops. I wanted to get these to the table as quickly as possible so I took the picture while the second side was browning.

My own little plate, all filled up and ready to be eaten.