All it takes is 3 steps to create a stunning vegetarian grazing platter. We’ve partnered with BC Blueberries to make a vegan ‘goat cheese’ that party guests will swoon over.
Just gonna put it out there: I love the grazing platter/board/table trend! Waltz into any party with one of these platters and you’ll be swarmed with guests gushing “wow that looks amazing!” I guarantee it.
Grazing platters are like the flamboyant sibling of the humble cheese board. They’re overflowing with goodies beyond basic cheese and crackers. Calling it a grazing platter automatically justifies eating all night long. My friends and I are grazers so we feel like this type of dinner (yes we can make a meal out of cheese and wine) was designed for us. We’re the type to eat a minimum of two rounds of dinner, sometimes up to four, because we often make too much food and end up nibbling throughout the night and into the next morning.
Grazing platters are beautiful to look at and delicious to eat (when is bread and cheese not a winning combination?) but are also a breeze to build because there’s no cooking involved. Unless you’re in the mood to make certain components from scratch. I made my own crackers and ‘goat’ cheeze here! There is so much room for creativity and you can build your platter around seasonal flavours or match it to a theme. Whatever the occasion, whether it’s Thanksgiving or Canada Day, movie night or Saturday morning brunch, there is a unique grazing platter to be made. Regardless of your culinary skill level or taste palette, grazing platters are the secret to becoming the hostess with the most-ess.
In this post I go over my exact thought process and teach you how to build the most stunning vegetarian grazing platter. Grab a big serving plate or a large cutting board and let’s get building!
Step 1: Lay out your trio of cheeses
9 out of 10 people like cheese. The 10th person is lying.
I always pick 3 cheeses, one soft, one medium, and one hard. Brie and homemade vegan ‘goat cheese’ are my go-to soft cheeses, havarti and gouda are my favourite medium cheeses, and cheddar is my default hard cheese. I admit I don’t have the most sophisticated cheese palate but the varieties I’ve listed are always well loved by my dinner guests. Turn a vegetarian grazing platter vegan by selecting your favourite dairy-free cheeses.
Need a dairy-free cheese that won’t break the bank? We made this amazing blueberry sage ‘goat cheese’ ball out of tofu. For around $4 you can make two big cheezeballs! And it spreads and tastes so much like goat cheese it’s magical! We shared the full recipe on BC Blueberries’ website HERE.
Cut each cheese into a different shape so that the platter looks diverse. I usually keep the soft cheese whole (and provide a small knife), slice the medium cheese, and cube the hard cheese. Keep the pieces small so that guests can try all elements of the platter before they get too full.
Then lay out your cheeses in a triangle. If each type of cheese were a dot and you connected the dots, you should be able to draw a triangle. Doesn’t matter if it’s an obtuse, acute, right or equilateral triangle, just a triangle of some sort. (Haha did I bring you back to elementary school math class?) Triangular patterns are pleasing to the eye so remember that throughout the entire grazing platter-building process.
Don’t worry about making it super neat at this point because you’ll need to tuck other elements in and around the cheeses. Just get a sense of what space each cheese will occupy.
Step 2: Pair up your carbs
Select 2 to 3 types of carbs to act as the foundations of your guests’ cheese creations. Typically I include a quality bread (sourdough baguette is ideal) and a cracker. If you really want to impress, use these homemade oat crackers. Arrange the bread and crackers next to the cheeses they would pair best with. Since everyone will be reaching for the carbs, keep them near the edge of the platter. Breads and crackers are the next bulkiest items after cheese. Real estate is precious on your platter so lay out only a few pieces of each and put the rest on a separate plate or bowl.
Step 3: Stuff your platter full
With the main components in place, you can now get wild! I usually have an overarching colour or seasonal theme for my platter. Some days it’s Mediterranean feast, other days it’s summertime picnic, but today it’s autumnal blues and oranges. Stuff your platter full with seasonal fruits and spreads for some moisture, nuts and veggies for crunch, pickles or olives for sourness (if you like those), and other surprises like smoked tofu and dark chocolate. Use small jars or sauce plates as needed to elevate components or to prevent juices from seeping everywhere.
Like the cheese, provide fruits and veggies in different shapes and sizes. Have some slices, some sticks, some whole, some halved. Grapes are a must for every grazing platter and should be cut into small bunches. Apple and pear slices are fantastic for fall grazing platters, while peaches and berries are summertime staples. Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers are veggies I often include, especially if there is hummus. A few halved figs or fancily cut kiwi or oranges are easy ways to make your platter look profeshhhhh. Dried fruit, roasted and pickled vegetables can also be added. Scatter the fruit and veggies over the tops of other components and tuck them into nooks and crannies. You can put a few berries there and a whole lot of berries elsewhere, it doesn’t need to stay together.
I personally love sweet and savoury pairings so all my platters have some type of chutney, compote, or jam. I love these locally made chutneys because their flavours are unique and they re-purpose rescue produce. Hummus, pesto, balsamic glaze, and antipasto are other spreads I’ve included on past platters.
Use small items like nuts, herbs, greens, and chocolate to fill in all remaining gaps. Grazing platters look most stunning when they are completely covered. There really is no wrong way to do this.
Et voilà, your vegetarian grazing platter is complete! Snap a photo before everyone devours it and then tag us on Facebook and Instagram @RadiantRachels. We’d love to see your works of art!
The post How to make the dreamiest vegetarian grazing platter appeared first on Radiant Rachels.
