Build the perfect grazing board in just a few simple steps. Whether you are entertaining a large gathering of friends and family or feeding just the closest of loved ones at home, builing grazing boards is oh so simple and rewarding.
When I feel a little overwhelmed by the week just had, and don’t wish to have a feeding battle with my youngest child, I put together a board full of our favourite fridge staples and we enjoy the simplest of meals together.
Grazing boards do not need to be elaboarte or tricky. By Saturday, I am usually exhausted by the working week and tired of making lunches and dinners and even with a meal plan written for the entire week, sometimes you just need a moment of peace and simplicity. Whenever I put together a grazing board for an easy weekend lunch or snack, my son jumps for joy. He knows that he can pick anything he wants and usually fights me for the last few morsels.
You can plan a grazing board in advance or if you are like me, by the end of the week when the fridge looks quite bare, a few small handfulls of lots of little things makes for an exciting board to share.
For my Italian meats and fruit grazing board I used one packet of Levoni ‘Il Tagliere’ selection of meats, mozzarella pearls, my spinach pesto, and a few not so Italian items like watermelon and strawberries as these are my five year olds favourites. I don’t always put crackers or biscuits on the actual board in case they get a bit soggy (from the watermelon) but rather serve on the side. But remember you can use what you have on hand. I love using pears and dried fruits on this too. This is literally a great way of using up leftovers in the kitchen.
SIMPLE ITALIAN GRAZING BOARD
- a selection of Italian meats
- a handful of tiny cute mozzarella pearls (a regular large ball of mozzarella if you can’t get pearls)
- a ramekin of pesto
- a selection of fruits
Start by placing the pesto on the board.
Next add your meats in various places on the board. I like to fold Salami to make little pockets and add some depth. Make little piles of the Parma ham , so it doesn’t look flat. Placing little pockets of ingredients across the board, makes for a more interesting visual and adds to the interactive notion, no matter which side of the grazing board you are facing, you can see everything and reach everything.
Next add your fruits ( pears/apples and dried fruits also work very well).
And finally sprinkle the mozzarella pearls on top. If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, tear a regular ball of mozzarella in half and nuzzle in between the meats and fruit and drizzle a little oil on top.
And there it is, sooo simple. I serve with flatbreads and crackers on the side. I find watermelon tends to make them damp so I don’t include on the actual board when using melon.
Kitchen Feasts 
This would be quite popular at one of my parties!