If you have people over soon and don’t know what to serve, I’ve got you covered with this how-to guide for the perfect grazing board.
The perfect grazing board caters for all
When you are having people over for an aperitif and don’t know what to serve, if they eat dairy, meat, gluten-free, etc, building a food board allows you to have a multitude of foods that will please everyone.
That’s why I love a good grazing platter. You can have a bit of everything, taste so many different flavours and textures. You can ensure to have something for the vegan guests, the meat-eaters, the peckish ones and the starving ones. No ones controls how much you eat or if you really liked their food.
Also it’s always a bit awkward when someone cooks for you, and you don’t want to eat their food. It happens to me when I don’t really want to eat meat and all my French family serves lamb or duck without thinking of checking if you eat everything.
You can easily get all your macros
Macros are the food categories like fats, protein and carbs, as opposed to micros which are minerals and vitamins. Put simply, for an optimum health, you need a variety of each.
To prepare a fabulous platter that is nutritious, be sure to include healthy fats, protein and lots of fruits and vegetables.
My favourites healthy fats are: olives, nuts in all shapes and form, cheeses (high in protein as well)
Favourite proteins: more nuts, hard and soft cheeses, some cured meats – even though I’m not a big fan of cooked meat anymore, I enjoy those -, my best hummus recipe.
Favourites F&V: olives, raw veggies like carrots, broccoli and radishes, cucumber, cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes. Grapes and figs, berries, cut apples and peaches. Cottage cheese-filled Romano peppers.
I always add some grains like seeded crackers, rosemary breadsticks, breads made with various flours. You can get creative and add chocolate from different origins or with nuts and fruits inside.
Without realising it, this grazing board can become the healthiest meal your guests have had in a few days.
How to place the ingredients
Make sure to have a big wooden board or serving platter. Or you can make multiple ones, depending on how many people you’re catering for.
Place the biggest items in a centre-stage position, like a big bunch of grapes or a round soft cheese. It can also be a spread that you put in a small bowl or container. You can have two big items. You will then place the rest of the items around these big items.
To be attractive visually – and you feast with your eyes first – be bold with the colours here and there. That can be the vegetables, meats, or an atypical small cheese.
Remember that each food has to be picked up with fingers or a toothpick, before being put on a plate (or the hand, depending on how casual this is).
Ready for your first grazing board ?
I do love a grazing board because it means that people aren’t sat down. They’re mingling and can talk to everyone, leave or stay when they want. They can eat as much or as little of something as they like. It can be as fancy or casual as you want, you set the tone. And mainly you can try many different foods at once.
What do you have on your food platters? Is it more of a summer or winter type of setting for you? I’d love to know in the comments !
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My 5 Favourite Healthy BBQ Recipes
How to Make a Healthy Breakfast
