11 Mouth-Watering North African Mezze Ideas You Need To Try
From Morocco and Libya to Tunisia and Egypt, North Africa is a region packed with rich culture and plenty of delicious dishes. The best way to sample them all? In a North African mezze platter!
In this article, we’ll detail the best North African mezze ideas to help you recreate these mouth-watering dishes at home. Prepare for shakshuka, tagine, and lots of delicious harissa. We’re ready — are you? Scroll down to unleash the flavours.
1. Shakshuka
Shakshuka originally comes from Tunisia, but it’s popular across North Africa and some parts of the Middle East.
It consists of fresh poached eggs mixed into a sauce of chilli peppers, tomatoes, onions, and spices (namely cumin). This mezze dish is perfect because it can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s always a good time for this plate.
Fun Fact! The name shakshuka comes from the Tunisian phrase for ‘a mixture’ or ‘shaken up.’ Try it for yourself on the Cafe LoveLife breakfast and brunch menu.
2. Chicken Tagine
Tagine is a stew made from spiced meat, vegetables, and dried fruit or nuts. It’s slow-cooked in a shallow dish with a unique tall and pointed lid to ensure it’s packed full of flavour.
This dish comes from Morocco, and you can really try any combination of ingredients. However, chicken tagine is a simple classic. If you’re veggie, swap the meat for butternut squash.
3. Moroccan Lamb Shanks
Another Moroccan classic, spicy lamb shanks are perfect for winter-ready North African mezze ideas. This hearty plate will warm you when it’s cold outside.
To perfect them, combine harissa, almonds, tomatoes, red wine, and mint, and slow-braise your lamb shanks for a tasty finish.
At Cafe LoveLife, we pair our signature lamb with harissa and mint labneh. See our menu here.
4. Beef, Barley & Bean Stew
Stews are a central part of North African cooking. So, embrace them!
Beef, barley, and bean stew are household staples that don’t hold back on nutrients or seasoning. Add plenty of cumin, cinnamon, and paprika to emulate the traditional spice-heavy style of North African cooking.
5. Harissa
Harissa is an aromatic paste found in many North African recipes. Like other dishes, it was created in Tunisia but has been adopted by many surrounding countries and regions.
Typical ingredients in harissa include red chillies, roasted red peppers, garlic, coriander, lemon, salt, cumin, and tomatoes.
Pair this paste with some fresh bread for an easy starter or mezze plate.
6. Loubia
Loubia is a Libyan dish made from stewed white beans and well-seasoned tomato-based sauce. Don’t hold back on the turmeric, ginger, or garlic.
You can serve loubia as a side, appetiser, or mezze plate. Combine with fresh bread so you can mop up the sauce.
7. Ful Medames
Let’s travel to Egypt now with a mouth-watering plate of ful medames.
Usually considered an Egyptian street food snack, this also doubles as an easy North African mezze recipe.
Mix mashed broad beans with olive oil and garlic, and serve with fresh pitas for dipping. Want to embellish? Add diced tomatoes, cucumber, and boiled eggs for a traditional finish.
8. Merguez
You can't skip merguez if you’re creating a North African mezze platter!
This is a type of spicy sausage from Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. The sausages are usually made from ground lamb or beef and have a vibrant red colour, which comes from the many spices, including paprika, harissa, and chilli pepper.
Taste test merguez without cooking. Our breakfast menu has lamb merguez sausages and chicken Cumberland sausages. Yum.
9. Flatbread Wraps
Flatbreads are a staple in Moroccan cuisine and an easy North African mezze idea. If you’re a newbie chef, you’ll want to recreate this.
Gather some fresh flatbreads, roasted veggies, and grilled meat (or tofu!) and bundle them into the flatbread. Remember to smother it with harissa or hummus beforehand.
10. Sambusaks
Sambusaks are small pastries filled with spinach, pinenuts, and ground lamb or beef. If you want a vegetarian option, you can swap the meat for feta cheese.
Golden pastries are always welcome on a mezze platter, and sambusaks are an Egyptian delicacy your diners will remember for years.
Plus, they showcase the Middle Eastern influence on Egyptian food — perfect if you’re trying to travel the world bite by bite.
11. Sfinz
Prefer the sweeter things in life? Make sure you save room for dessert.
Sfinz are small dough balls that are flattened to create a thin pastry layer. In Libya, they’re usually drizzled with honey, but you can also add an egg on top if you want a savoury edition.
Fall Head Over Heels For North African Mezze in Birmingham
Whether you don’t fancy cooking or simply want to get out of the house, Cafe LoveLife is here to bring you the best of North African mezze.
Our evening tapas menu combines the flavours of North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, allowing you to explore flavours without leaving Digbeth.
We also offer breakfast, brunch, and lunch options. Plus, our menu has halal, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan plates. No matter the time, you can join us for something a little different!
View all menus now. Or click here to book.