when entertaining, decorate the plate with ingredients such as kalamata olives, mint leaves, or cucumbers to bring color and texture to the presentation.
the staples...
-pita bread or naan
brush with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle za'atar (a mixture of middle eastern spices and herbs) on top. bake in the oven at 400 degrees for seven minutes or so. keep an eye on it.
-kalamata olives
three ways to dress it up:
(note: everything done to taste so experiment with your own version. you really can't go wrong.)
homemade tzaziki- mix plain strained greek yogurt with minced garlic, salt, shredded cucumbers, dried mint. the perfect dip.
or
buy crumbled feta cheese from your local grocer and add dried mint and a dab of extra virgin olive oil. stir. makes for a delicious topping.
try labneh, a yogurt cheese that can also be purchased at specialty stores. add salt, a little swirl of olive oil, dried mint and spread.
these spices and yogurts can be bought very inexpensively in big quantities at middle eastern grocers like sahadi's on atlantic avenue in brooklyn heights. thanks to my good friend joann who lives in the neighborhood and brings me all the dried mint and za'tar i could ask for.
(www.sahadis.com)