Meze platter for a Christmas party

Invited to a Danish julefrokost, or hosting your own Christmas or New Year party in Copenhagen? A meze platter for a Christmas party is an easy way to bring something different to the table. Turkish meze fits the Danish Christmas lunch tradition surprisingly well: lots of small dishes that are shared, passed around and grazed on for hours. Here is how much to plan per person, what to include and when to order so everything arrives on time.

What is meze, and why does it work at julefrokost?

Meze are small cold and warm dishes eaten together at the start of a meal, or as the whole meal, in Turkey and across the eastern Mediterranean. The Danish julefrokost works the same way: a long table, many small plates, plenty of time. Meze slots right in, and because most dishes are vegetable based, there is always something for vegetarian guests too.

Building your meze platter for a Christmas party

Aim for a mix of creamy, fresh, salty and, at the end, sweet. You do not need a dozen dishes to make it look generous.

Dips and cold dishes

• Hummus: chickpea purée with tahini and lemon. Everyone knows it, and it always disappears first. Try the hummus from Mønten.
• Cacık: Turkish yoghurt with cucumber and garlic, similar to tzatziki. It is a fresh contrast to heavy Christmas food. Get it as Mønten cacık.
• Baba ganoush: smoky aubergine purée with a deep, rich taste.
• Kısır: a spiced bulgur salad with tomato, parsley and pomegranate molasses. It adds colour and substance.
• Mercimek köftesi: little patties of red lentils and bulgur, served cold, ideally wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a squeeze of lemon. Perfect finger food.

If you want a shortcut, the Mønten meze box is a good base. Add extra tubs of the dips your guests like most.

Cheese

Two Turkish cheeses with different characters are enough:

• Ezine: a white, brined cheese, firmer and more refined than feta. Cube it, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with isot, a smoky Turkish chilli flake.
• İzmir tulum: a crumbly, mild, slightly tangy cheese that is lovely with bread and honey or grape molasses.

You will find both in our Charcuterie section, alongside the rest of our Turkish deli range.

Something warm: börek

One warm dish makes the table feel complete. Börek is crispy layered pastry, for example filled with spinach and white cheese. You can order it home-cooked from Chef on Call and warm it in the oven for a few minutes before guests arrive.

Something sweet

Next to (or instead of) the Danish risalamande, serve baklava. Pistachio or walnut, it is an easy crowd-pleaser. For a big party a full tray of 54 pieces is practical, see the pistachio baklava tray, or browse all desserts.

How much per person?

It depends on whether the meze is a starter or the whole meal. As a rule of thumb:

• As a starter or part of a bigger buffet: about 150–200 g of meze per person in total, across 3–4 kinds.
• As the main meal: about 350–450 g per person, across 5–7 kinds, plus cheese and bread.
• Cheese: around 50 g per person.
• Baklava: 2–3 pieces per person is plenty after a long meal.

Do not forget bread. Pita, simit or a good sourdough stretches the dips and cheese and keeps everyone happy.

When to order before the Saturday delivery

We deliver on Saturdays between 09:00 and 13:00 and on Mondays between 17:00 and 21:00 to selected postcodes in and around Copenhagen. Saturday delivery suits a Saturday evening party well: the food is in your fridge hours before guests arrive. Keep an eye on the deadlines:

1. Meze, cheese and deli (Mønten Menu and Charcuterie): order by Friday 20:00 for Saturday and by Sunday 20:00 for Monday.
2. Baklava and Chef on Call (such as börek): order by Thursday 14:00 for Saturday. For Monday: baklava by Friday 14:00, Chef on Call by Saturday 14:00.
3. Mixed basket: the latest deadline applies to the whole order. If your basket includes baklava or börek, order everything by Thursday 14:00, otherwise the order moves to the next delivery day.

Delivery is 49 kr and free from 749 kr, which a party-sized meze order reaches quickly. Pay on delivery by cash or card, or with MobilePay. Check the postcodes on our delivery page.

Party on a different day, or ordering late? You can pick up in our shop at Tagensvej 77 st, 2200 København N. Meze and deli items are ready one hour after you order (Sundays included).

Serving tips

• Serve dips in small bowls topped with a swirl of olive oil, a pinch of paprika or isot and some parsley.
• Take dips and cheese out of the fridge 20–30 minutes before serving for the best flavour.
• Group the bowls so people can reach from both sides of the table.
• Add small labels so guests know what cacık and kısır are. It is a great conversation starter.

A Turkish twist on the Christmas table takes no more effort than the classic version. Order in time, set the table and let your guests explore.