Crudité platter 101
Hey guys! Have you ever wondered what the heck a crudité and/or a charcuterie platter is? It’s basically a platter topped with an assortment of fruit, vegetables, olives, deli meats, bread, dips, crackers and cheese! The term crudité is often used when making a vegetarian platter and charcuterie is mainly a variety of sliced meat.
Today, I’m having a friend over and lately my go to when having company is to make these platters. Let me tell you why. You can prep it hours ahead of time; you are able to clean out your fridge and pantry a little bit, and as the host, you get to sit around and enjoy too since everything is already prepared on one beautiful platter. I love serving these fresh platters of goodness because not only are they healthy but there is always something for everyone.
So, I wanted to give you some tips to make your very own platter at home for your guests. Now, I am no expert but I think I do a pretty good job!
- You need some sort of large platter or board to accommodate all the ingredients. You can even use a wood cutting board.
- Pick fruits and vegetables that are in season (They are more likely to be tastier and more vibrant in color). I love using carrots, radishes, Persian cucumbers, stone fruits, grapes, berries and so much more.
- Take a look at your pantry and fridge before purchasing anything. Often, we have all the ingredients needed to make these gorgeous platters in our home.
- Always include some sort of dip for the vegetables such as hummus. Maybe include a splash of olive oil on the dip to grab the eye more.
- Include at least 2 vegetables and 2 different fruits so there is variety.
- You can place some rolled up sliced deli meats with pieces of fresh bread to add a special touch.
- Cheese and crackers are a must. They go perfectly together. I like to purchase blocks of cheese and cut them into cubes or you can use feta or brie.
- To stay fresh, prep no more than 2-3 hours ahead of time and keep it covered till serving.
- Mix and match the colors and textures of the ingredients when displaying. Keep some veggies and fruits whole and others sliced to show variance.
- Last but not least, have fun with it!!! Let your creative artistic side come out and just enjoy 🙂 Your guests will be flattered and wowed either way!
