Fresh Garden-Themed Grazing Board
A vibrant and easy-to-assemble grazing board featuring fresh vegetables, assorted cheeses, crunchy crackers, and flavorful dips, perfect for casual gatherings and light meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes (optional for toasting bread)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Cherry tomatoes (preferably heirloom for color variety)
- Cucumber (sliced into ribbons)
- Multicolored radishes (thinly sliced)
- Baby carrots (washed, peeled if needed)
- Sugar snap peas (trimmed)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Mint sprigs
- Dill fronds
- Edible nasturtium or pansy flowers (optional)
- Soft goat cheese (creamy, tangy)
- Aged cheddar (cubed)
- Fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
- Wedge of herbed cream cheese
- Assorted crackers (water crackers and whole grain)
- Lightly toasted baguette slices
- Spiced nuts (smoked almonds or candied pecans)
- Kalamata olives (pitted)
- Cornichons
- Sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed, drained)
- Hummus (roasted red pepper or classic)
- Pesto (fresh basil or arugula-based)
- Honey or fig jam for drizzling
- Lemon wedges
- Flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Wash and prep vegetables: rinse all fresh veggies under cold water and pat dry. Trim ends of radishes and carrots. Slice cucumbers into long ribbons using a vegetable peeler, and thinly slice radishes. Arrange baby carrots and snap peas ready to go.
- Prepare cheeses: slice aged cheddar into bite-sized cubes. Drain fresh mozzarella balls. Scoop softened goat cheese and herbed cream cheese into small bowls or leave in wedges, adding a cheese knife or spreader for easy serving.
- Arrange dips and extras: spoon hummus and pesto into small ramekins. Place olives, cornichons, sun-dried tomatoes, and nuts into separate bowls. Have honey or fig jam ready for drizzling.
- Toast bread and crackers (optional): lightly toast baguette slices in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes or until golden for crunch and warmth.
- Build the board: start by placing bowls of dips and olives spaced evenly. Arrange cheeses around the board, leaving room for veggies. Fill gaps with cucumber ribbons, radishes, carrots, snap peas, and tomatoes. Add crackers and toasted bread slices last so they stay crisp. Garnish with fresh herbs and edible flowers. Drizzle honey or jam over cheeses right before serving. Sprinkle flaky sea salt for extra flavor.
- Add lemon wedges around the board for guests to squeeze over veggies or cheese if they like. Take a step back and admire your creation.
Notes
Prep veggies just before serving or store wrapped in damp paper towels in airtight containers to keep crisp. Toast bread while prepping veggies to save time. Avoid overcrowding the board for easy serving. Use edible flowers and fresh herbs for visual appeal. For gluten-free, use almond flour crackers. For vegan, substitute cheeses with plant-based alternatives and use vegan dips.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/6 to
- Calories: 25030
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 8
Keywords: grazing board, garden vegetables, fresh herbs, cheese platter, easy entertaining, party appetizer, healthy snacks, vegetarian, gluten-free options