Pine Forest Winter Mezze

Featured in: Rustic Cozy Dinners

This winter mezze board brings the essence of a pine forest to your table with a mix of roasted beets, fennel, Brussels sprouts, and marinated mushrooms. Creamy herbed labneh and a zesty pine nut & olive tapenade add layers of flavor. Accompanied by fresh baby carrots, pickled onions, dried cranberries, and pomegranate seeds, this sharing platter balances earthy, bright, and festive elements, perfect for cozy gatherings and easy assembly.

Updated on Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:35:00 GMT
A vibrant Pine Forest Winter Mezze Board, showcasing roasted vegetables and creamy labneh for a holiday feast. Save
A vibrant Pine Forest Winter Mezze Board, showcasing roasted vegetables and creamy labneh for a holiday feast. | pecangroove.com

A stunning winter mezze platter inspired by the flavors and colors of a pine forest featuring robust flavors earthy vegetables and festive touches perfect for cozy gatherings

This mezze board brings warmth to winter meals and has become a family favorite during holiday get-togethers

Ingredients

  • Roasted Vegetables: 2 small beets peeled and cut into wedges 1 small fennel bulb sliced 1 cup Brussels sprouts halved 2 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper to taste 2 tsp fresh rosemary chopped
  • Herbed Labneh: 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp fresh dill chopped 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped 1/2 tsp salt
  • Marinated Mushrooms: 1 cup cremini mushrooms quartered 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic minced 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves Salt and pepper to taste
  • Pine Nut & Olive Tapenade: 1/3 cup green olives pitted and chopped 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted 1 tbsp capers rinsed 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped 2 tsp lemon zest 1 tbsp olive oil
  • Accompaniments: 1 cup baby carrots raw 1/2 cup pickled red onions 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup fresh pomegranate seeds 1/2 cup assorted crackers or flatbreads Sprigs of fresh rosemary and pine for garnish not for eating

Instructions

Roast Vegetables:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) Toss beets fennel and Brussels sprouts with olive oil rosemary salt and pepper Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes turning once until tender and golden Let cool
Prepare Labneh:
Stir together Greek yogurt lemon juice dill parsley and salt Spoon into a bowl and drizzle with olive oil if desired
Marinate Mushrooms:
Combine mushrooms olive oil balsamic vinegar garlic thyme salt and pepper Let marinate for at least 20 minutes
Make Tapenade:
Mix chopped olives pine nuts capers parsley lemon zest and olive oil in a small bowl
Assemble Board:
Arrange all items artfully on a large wooden board roasted vegetables herbed labneh marinated mushrooms tapenade raw carrots pickled onions dried cranberries pomegranate seeds and crackers Garnish with fresh rosemary and pine sprigs for a forest effect ensure pine is not consumed
Serve:
Serve immediately encouraging guests to mix and match flavors
Save
| pecangroove.com

Sharing this board around the table always sparks lively conversations and delighted smiles among my family

Notes

Add smoked cheese or charcuterie for non-vegetarian guests Wine pairing Try a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a light Pinot Noir

Required Tools

Baking sheet Mixing bowls Chefs knife Serving board platter Small serving bowls

Allergen Information

Contains dairy (Greek yogurt) Contains tree nuts (pine nuts) Contains gluten if using wheat crackers use gluten-free options if needed Always check product labels for hidden allergens

View this delicious Pine Forest Winter Mezze Board, filled with colorful ingredients for a vegetarian appetizer platter. Save
View this delicious Pine Forest Winter Mezze Board, filled with colorful ingredients for a vegetarian appetizer platter. | pecangroove.com

This mezze board is a vibrant celebration of winter flavors sure to impress your guests time and again

Recipe Questions & Answers

How do I prepare the roasted vegetables?

Toss beets, fennel, and Brussels sprouts with olive oil, fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper. Roast at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes until tender and golden.

What ingredients give the labneh its fresh flavor?

Greek yogurt is mixed with lemon juice, fresh dill, parsley, and a pinch of salt to create a bright and herby labneh spread.

Can I make the mushroom marinade ahead of time?

Yes, marinate cremini mushrooms with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper for at least 20 minutes to enhance flavors.

What is in the pine nut and olive tapenade?

The tapenade combines chopped green olives, toasted pine nuts, capers, parsley, lemon zest, and olive oil for a zesty, nutty spread.

How can I adapt this board for vegan guests?

Substitute the Greek yogurt labneh with a plant-based yogurt option to keep the creamy texture without dairy.

Pine Forest Winter Mezze

A colorful winter mezze board with roasted veg, herbed labneh, marinated mushrooms, tapenade & festive garnishes.

Prep Duration
30 min
Cook Duration
20 min
Overall Time
50 min
By Pecan Groove Holly Emerson

Recipe Group Rustic Cozy Dinners

Skill Level Medium

Culinary Tradition Mediterranean-Inspired

Portions 6 Number of Servings

Diet Concerns Vegetarian-Friendly

What You'll Need

Roasted Vegetables

01 2 small beets, peeled and cut into wedges
02 1 small fennel bulb, sliced
03 1 cup (90 g) Brussels sprouts, halved
04 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
05 Salt and pepper, to taste
06 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped

Herbed Labneh

01 1 1/2 cups (340 g) Greek yogurt
02 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
03 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
04 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
05 1/2 tsp salt

Marinated Mushrooms

01 1 cup (72 g) cremini mushrooms, quartered
02 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
03 1 tbsp (15 ml) balsamic vinegar
04 1 clove garlic, minced
05 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
06 Salt and pepper, to taste

Pine Nut & Olive Tapenade

01 1/3 cup (50 g) green olives, pitted and chopped
02 1/4 cup (30 g) pine nuts, toasted
03 1 tbsp (15 g) capers, rinsed
04 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
05 2 tsp lemon zest
06 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil

Accompaniments

01 1 cup (128 g) baby carrots, raw
02 1/2 cup (65 g) pickled red onions
03 1/2 cup (60 g) dried cranberries
04 1/2 cup (87 g) fresh pomegranate seeds
05 1/2 cup (50 g) assorted crackers or flatbreads
06 Sprigs of fresh rosemary and pine (for garnish, not for eating)

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 01

Roast Vegetables: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss beets, fennel, and Brussels sprouts with olive oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes, turning once halfway, until tender and golden. Allow to cool.

Step 02

Prepare Herbed Labneh: Combine Greek yogurt, lemon juice, dill, parsley, and salt in a bowl. Stir well and transfer to a serving dish. Optionally drizzle with olive oil.

Step 03

Marinate Mushrooms: In a separate bowl, mix cremini mushrooms with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let marinate at room temperature for at least 20 minutes.

Step 04

Make Pine Nut & Olive Tapenade: Combine chopped green olives, toasted pine nuts, rinsed capers, parsley, lemon zest, and olive oil in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly.

Step 05

Assemble Mezze Board: Artfully arrange roasted vegetables, herbed labneh, marinated mushrooms, tapenade, raw baby carrots, pickled onions, dried cranberries, pomegranate seeds, and crackers on a large wooden serving board. Garnish with fresh rosemary and pine sprigs, avoiding consumption of pine.

Step 06

Serve: Serve immediately, encouraging guests to combine flavors as desired for a festive shared dining experience.

Tools Needed

  • Baking sheet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Chef's knife
  • Serving board or platter
  • Small serving bowls

Allergy Details

Always check each item for allergens and reach out to your doctor if unsure.
  • Contains dairy (Greek yogurt).
  • Contains tree nuts (pine nuts).
  • Contains gluten if wheat crackers are used; opt for gluten-free crackers to avoid gluten.

Nutrition Details (per serving)

Nutrition info is a guide; don't substitute for professional advice.
  • Calorie Count: 270
  • Fat content: 15 g
  • Carbohydrate: 28 g
  • Protein Amount: 7 g