Grazing boards are both a visual masterpiece and a delight to eat. The combination of sweet, savoury, fresh and cooked ingredients creates the perfect flavour pairing to make your mouth water. Grazing boards are perfect for gatherings with family and friends. The best part about grazing platters is that they are set up before your guests arrive so you can catch up and enjoy socialising rather than spending the event in the kitchen!   

The perfect grazing board is a combination of cheeses, crudite (mixed raw vegetables such as celery and carrot sticks) and charcuterie (cold cooked meats such as pamplona and pancetta). Combine these grazing board essentials with your favourite selection of crackers, fresh bread and dips to create a board to WOW your guest. 

Below is our ultimate list of what to include in your next grazing board. 

• Cheeses eg. Cheddar, Feta and Red Leicester
• Charcuterie eg. Pancetta, Chorizo and Pamplona
• Fresh Fruits eg. Rockmelon, Oranges and Passionfruit
• Crudite eg. Carrots, Celery and Cucumbers
• Crackers and Fresh Bread
• Dips and Condiments eg. Chutney, Relish and Honey
• Delicious space fillers eg. Olives, Nuts and Picked Onions 
• Fresh Herbs for decoration eg. Rosemary, Mint and Thyme

Now you’ve got your ingredients, it’s time to put the board together! 

1. Pre-Preparation

If you are preparing a grazing board for a special event it is a great idea to prep some of your ingredients the day before. Wash, peel and cut your veggies to size and store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to assemble. This will save you time on the day of your event!

2. Set Up Your Space

Grazing boards should be assembled where you are going to serve them. To create the base of your board lay down some wooden chopping boards or serving trays. If you do not have either of these, simply lay down a long sheet of baking paper for a great DIY rustic option. Once you have the base down, it's time to add your serveware. Place any bowls down ahead of time to help you map out the rest of the board. 

3. Lay the largest items first

When you see a perfectly assembled grazing board it can be a little intimidating to know where to start. The best way to begin the assembly of your grazing board is to lay the largest items first and create a map for the rest of your board. Think about adding your cheeses first and depot your dips into your serving bowls. Use this time to play around with your spacing and don’t be afraid to move items around!

4. Add your charcuterie and fresh produce

Once you have laid out the framework for your board it is time to start adding the pops of colour and flavour. Arrange your charcuterie around the board, paying attention to flavour pairings where possible. Arrange your fresh produce around the board to ensure every section has an element of freshness where possible. During this stage remember to keep room for your crackers and bread. It is best to add these just before your guests arrive to maximise their freshness!

5. Finishing Touches

Once all your main items have been placed on to your board, it's time to add the finishing touches. Fill in any gaps in your board with nuts, small berries and other small treats such as pretzels. To take your grazing board to the next level bring some greenery and colour with the addition of fresh herbs. Try adding a sprig of rosemary on top of your camembert or some fresh mint alongside your strawberries. 

6. Enjoy!

Place your crackers and fresh bread onto your board just before your guests arrive then sit back and enjoy! 

Create the ultimate grazing platter with the help of Hillview Farms. Hillview Farms is dedicated to providing high-quality, fresh produce that is chem-free and locally sourced. Our door-to-door delivery ensures our produce goes direct from farm to table.