Tips For Assembling A Grazing Board
More than a cheese board, more than a charcuterie board, a grazing board is a lovely array of little bites that look inviting! Whether it’s just for you, or for guests, they are a healthy, fun, slow-food alternative to a traditional meal.
The following tips will guide you through the process of building an amazing board to wow your family and friends!
TIP 1 – NO PLATTER? NO PROBLEM!
So you don’t have a giant-wooden-cheese-board-especially-for-entertaining hidden in the back of the cupboard?
Other board options:
-Breadboard/chopping board – use two side by size to get the right size if needed
-Baking sheet/baking tray – line with parchment or foil
-Marble pastry board
TIP 2 – BOWLS FOR DIPS AND LITTLE THINGS
It might look artistic to lay everything out on a board like it came out of a magazine, but some things just lean themselves to bowls. Ramekins, glassware, saucers, shot glasses – pretty much anything you can find! A halved and deseeded bell pepper even works as a vessel to hold dips.
TIP 3 – A LITTLE BIT OF PREP GOES A LONG WAY
It’s a bit like Christmas, make a list then check it twice! With so many small ingredients to include, it can be easy to lose track when you’re shopping. When you are making your shopping list, here are a few things to take into consideration.
How many people will be grazing?
What size is your board/tray?
Any food intolerances or absolute loves, so you should buy extra?
What’s in season, what’s on sale?
TIP 4 – HOW MUCH CHEESE DO I NEED FOR MY GRAZING BOARD?
-For cheese – 2oz per person is a good rule of thumb (as an appetizer). You may need to increase this if this is a meal.
-A selection of three varieties, maybe one soft, one sharp, and one mild is good.
-Placing a small pot with raw honey and a dipper is an added treat.
TIP 5 – WHAT ELSE SHOULD I INCLUDE ON MY GRAZING BOARD PLATTER?
Dips, hummuses, relishes, fruit paste, chocolate, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, veggies, natural deli meats, olives etc. The possibilities are endless!
A few things to keep in mind though…
-Best to stick to things that are seedless (grapes, olives etc) that way no-one gets a nasty surprise.
-Bite-size is good, things like berries work well.
-Things like sliced apple and pear tend to go brown, a dip in some water and fresh lemon juice will keep them fresh.
-Keep grapes on the vine, cherries on the stem, cherry tomatoes on the vine – you get the picture. Keeps things looking natural, like mother nature made them!
-The more bright and colorful the better, people eat with their eyes!
TIP 6 – CRACKERS, CHIPS, BISCUITS, BREAD ETC…
Just like a selection of cheeses, a selection of different crackers is good too. Sliced baguettes or pita bread make a great addition as well.
When choosing crackers, keep in mind to have at least some that are fairly thick, so they don’t break off mid dip.
Don’t worry if you can’t fit enough on the platter initially, you can always replenish as you go, or place the excess in bowls to serve alongside board.
TIP 7 – FILL ‘ER UP!
Once you have your grazing board assembled with the large items, you will have some blank spots. These foods are a great way to make your board look really full and inviting!
-Nuts
-Pretzels
-Fresh herb sprigs
-Fresh arugula
TIP 8 – UTENSILS
Not just cheese knives, small spoons and forks, but the little touches that make things less awkward to eat. Toothpicks or disposable cocktail forks are great for picking up things that may be marinated in oil. Always provide napkins as well.
TIP 9 – I’VE GOT EVERYTHING FOR MY GRAZING BOARD, BUT WHERE DO I START?
1. Once you have picked out your board/tray, place your cheese down first.
2. Then place your bowls for dips and deli items like olives, marinated artichokes, stuffed mini peppers etc, moving them around until you are happy. When you are happy with your placement, fill the bowls.
3. Next, place large focal items like bunches of grapes or cherry tomatoes on the vine.
4. Add your crackers/bread in groups around the board, then fill in the gaps with your chosen fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, dried fruit, meats, etc…
Have fun putting one together, and enjoy grazing on your healthy masterpiece!