A Guide to Mixed Grill: Choosing Meats, Mezze and Sides
Plan a mixed grill meal with a thoughtful mix of meats, bright salads, creamy mezze and rice, plus practical advice for ordering for a shared table.
Read the guideGrill & kitchen · 18 guides
A little fire. A lot of flavor.
Get to know the grilled favorites at the heart of a Middle Eastern table.
Explore grilled favorites, the ingredients behind them and ways to build a balanced shared meal. Find inspiration for your next order, from mezze to the main course.
Chicken Taouk: What to Expect and What to Order With It
Discover the appeal of chicken taouk, how its skewer format shapes the meal, and which salads, dips and sides make a satisfying restaurant order.
Read the guideKafta Kabab Explained: Texture, Seasoning and Table Pairings
Learn what makes kafta kabab distinct from cubed meat skewers, with practical ideas for pairing its seasoned ground meat with mezze, rice and salads.
Read the guideLamb Skewers or Lamb Chops? How to Choose Your Grill Order
Compare lamb skewers and lamb chops by texture, format and pairing potential, then choose the dish that suits your appetite and shared dinner plans.
Read the guideFilet Mignon at a Middle Eastern Table: Sides and Pairings
Explore how filet mignon fits beside Middle Eastern mezze, rice and salads, with tips for building a steak dinner that feels varied and easy to share.
Read the guideChicken or Beef Shawarma? A Guide to Choosing Your Plate
Compare chicken and beef shawarma by flavor, texture and accompaniments, then plan a plate or shared order with dips, vegetables, rice and bread.
Read the guideArayes Kafta: Crisp Pita, Seasoned Meat and Sharing Ideas
Get to know arayes kafta, the contrast of crisp pita and seasoned meat, and the dips, salads and ordering choices that complete this warm appetizer.
Read the guideBatata Harra: A Guide to Bold Potatoes on the Mezze Table
Explore batata harra as a warm potato mezze, including its flavor contrasts, ideal table companions and practical tips for planning a shared order.
Read the guideFalafel Texture and Pairings: Building a Better Mezze Order
Learn how crisp falafel, soft interiors, creamy dips and fresh vegetables work together, with tips for choosing a plate or sharing a mezze spread.
Read the guideFried Kibbeh Explained: Shell, Filling and Mezze Pairings
Discover the layered texture of fried kibbeh and how to pair this filled appetizer with dips, salads and mains for a thoughtful Middle Eastern meal.
Read the guideSambousek and Cheese Rolls: Choosing Filled Mezze Appetizers
Compare sambousek and cheese rolls by filling, wrapper and texture, with tips for pairing these warm appetizers and planning variety across the table.
Read the guideGrilled Halloumi: Texture, Pairings and Mezze Ordering Tips
Explore grilled halloumi's firm cheese texture and savory character, plus fresh salads, bread and mezze combinations that make the dish shine.
Read the guideWhole Cauliflower as Mezze: How to Build a Vegetable-Led Table
Make whole cauliflower the focus of a varied mezze order, with ideas for contrasting textures, dips, salads and sides around this vegetable dish.
Read the guideSoujouk and Makanek: Comparing Two Sausage Mezze Choices
Compare soujouk and makanek through seasoning, texture and accompaniments, with practical ideas for adding sausage dishes to a varied mezze order.
Read the guideMudardara: Rice, Lentils and a Thoughtful Mezze Table
Get to know mudardara, a rice-and-lentil dish, and discover how salads, dips and contrasting warm appetizers can build a varied meal around it.
Read the guideEggplant Stew on Rice: Flavor, Texture and Table Pairings
Explore eggplant stew over rice as a comforting main, with ideas for fresh salads, mezze and contrasting sides that keep a vegetable-led meal varied.
Read the guideWhy Rice Works With Grilled Meats: A Guide to Better Pairings
Plan rice with chicken, kafta, lamb or mixed grill, using texture, seasoning and fresh sides to build a plate that lets every component stand out.
Read the guideHow to Build a Varied Middle Eastern Grill Order for Your Table
Build a satisfying grill order by matching meats, mezze, fresh salads and sides to your group's preferences, appetite and plans for sharing dinner.
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