Ingredients
Scale
Pickled Veggies:
- 1 jar pickled carrots
- 1 jar pickled beets
- 1 jar pickled cucumbers (dill or bread-and-butter style)
- 1 jar pickled bell peppers
- 1 jar pickled radishes
- 1 jar pickled green beans
- Optional: Pickled onions, pickled cauliflower
Cheeses and Meats:
- 1 block aged cheddar cheese
- 1 block brie cheese
- 1 handful of fresh goat cheese or chèvre
- 1 small selection of cured meats (salami, prosciutto, or chorizo)
- 1 small block of soft blue cheese
Crackers, Bread, and Accompaniments:
- Assorted crackers (water crackers, multigrain, and herbed)
- Baguette slices or crusty bread
- Olives (green and Kalamata)
- Nuts (such as almonds, pistachios, or walnuts)
- Fresh fruits (grapes, figs, or apple slices)
Instructions
Prepare the Base
- Choose Your Board: Select a large cutting board, wooden platter, or a marble slab for the base. The size will depend on how many people you’re serving and the number of ingredients you have.
- Arrange the Pickled Veggies: Start by placing the jars of pickled vegetables around the board. You want them to be easily accessible, so aim for an even distribution. For a fun twist, place some of the jars open and some closed so guests can interact with the food. You can also serve them in small bowls for a more elevated presentation.
Add Cheeses and Meats
- Place the Cheeses: Arrange the cheeses in clusters on your board. For a more dynamic look, slice the cheddar into wedges and leave the brie and goat cheese whole so guests can spread it with crackers. You can even add some small cheese knives or spoons to make it easier for guests to serve themselves.
- Add the Meats: Roll or fold slices of salami, prosciutto, and chorizo, and place them beside the cheeses. Their savory richness will contrast beautifully with the acidity of the pickled veggies.
Add Crackers, Bread, and Accompaniments
- Bread and Crackers: Line the edges of the board with baguette slices or crusty bread and scatter crackers in different sections. Mix up the textures to create visual interest and variety.
- Nuts and Fruits: For a touch of sweetness and crunch, scatter fresh fruits (grapes, figs, or apple slices) and a handful of nuts like almonds or pistachios around the board. The fruits balance the acidity of the pickles, and the nuts add a lovely texture.
- Olives: Add a few small bowls of olives to the board. They provide a salty, briny contrast to the other elements and add another layer of flavor.
Final Touches
- Garnish: Finish off the board with a few sprigs of fresh herbs, like rosemary or thyme, to add a fragrant and visually pleasing touch. You can also include some edible flowers for an extra pop of color.
- Serve: Place small tongs or spoons next to each jar of pickled veggies to make serving easy and hygienic. Arrange the rest of the items to encourage grazing and sharing.
- Prep Time: 30 min.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6-8 servings
- Calories: 200 calories (varies based on ingredients)
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g