Sweet, savory with a few surprises, the art of the grazing board brings people together and sets the tone for you as a host. It’s where your inner artist can most shine. From pro-tips to the playlist, below is our step-by-step guide to creating a great grazing board. Serves 10 but can be easily adjusted.
SUPPLIES
Blender, high speed ideal
Whisk
Brown “Butcher” Paper for table (or platters)
Sharpie Marker
Serving Plates
Serving Bowls
Serving Tongs + Spoons
Cheese Knives + Spreaders
Small Plates
Cutlery
Napkins
Don't forget the music - check out Chef Lynnette’s groovy playlist.
1: Dips + Spreads + Cheese
Choose 3-5
HUMMUS
Smoky Pinto
Chickpea Dill
Tomato Basil White Bean
SPREADS
Moringa Pesto
Almond Curry
White Truffle Avocado
CHEESE
Miyokos Garlic Herb Cheese Wheel
Or try our cashew cheese recipe below!
STEP 2: Cooked + Raw Sides
Choose 3-4
COOKED SIDES
Mini Potatoes
Crimini Mushrooms
Seasonal Vegetables
RAW SIDES
Broccoli
Carrot
Granny Smith Apple
Seasonal Fruit
STEP 3: Chips + Crackers
Choose 1-2
CRISPS
Tortilla Chips
Seed Crackers
Rice Crackers
STEP 4: Accouterments
Choose 1-2
ACCOUTERMENTS
Sprouts + Microgreens
Olives
Mini Pickles
Grapes
Dates
Sun-dried Tomatoes
Sweet + Hot Peppers
Mustard
Preserves
Sea Salt
Fresh Herbs
RECIPES
Each recipe serves about 10
PRO TIP
For an even better flavor. Make ahead a few hours or the day before serving, after all the flavors have soaked into the beans and mellowed out perfectly.
Dips + Spreads + Cheese
Smoky Pinto Bean
Makes 1 ½ Cups
1 can pinto beans, drained + rinsed
2 cloves of garlic
1/8t natural liquid smoke
2t smoked paprika
1/4t garlic powder
1/4t onion powder
Vegetable broth as needed to desired consistency
Salt to taste (smoked salt a plus!)
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Add vegetable broth to achieve the desired consistency.
Chickpea Dill
Makes about 1 ½ Cups
1 can of chickpeas (reserve 1/4c of liquid)
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas
1 medium lemon about 2tb of juice from it
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
3 large cloves of garlic
1 1/2tb minced fresh dill weed
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons grape-seed oil a little more for drizzle
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Add vegetable broth to achieve the desired consistency.
Tomato Basil White Bean
Makes about 1 ½ Cups
1 can cannellini beans, drained + rinsed
1/4c fresh basil
2 cloves garlic
1/2t dried oregano
1c sun dried tomato
1/8-1/4 tsp dried thyme (optional)
1/4t garlic powder
1/4t onion powder
Vegetable broth as needed to desired consistency
Salt to taste
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Add vegetable broth to achieve the desired consistency.
Moringa Pesto
Makes about 1 ½ Cups
1tb moringa powder
1c fresh basil leaves
1/2c fresh baby spinach
1 large garlic clove
3 ½ tbsp pine nuts (almonds ok)
1/2 cup nutritional yeast
zest of one lemon (optional but awesome)
1-1 ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
pinch salt
pinch black pepper
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth.
Almond Curry
Makes 1 ½ Cups
1/2c raw almonds
1/2c water
1/4c grapeseed or other flavorless oil
1/4c lemon juice
3 1/2tb nutritional yeast
1 clove garlic
1t cumin
1/2t chili powder
1/4t ground coriander
1/4t paprika
1/4t cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt to taste
Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend on low for one minute. Turn the speed up to high or liquify for an additional 1-2 minutes until smooth. Makes 2 cups
White Truffle Avocado
Makes about 1 ½ Cups
4 Avocado, small
1/4t garlic powder
1/4t onion powder
White Truffle Salt to taste
Vegetable broth to consistency
In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients and process until smooth. Do not overblend! Add vegetable broth to achieve the desired consistency.
Cashew Cheese
Makes about 1 ½ Cups
1c raw cashews soaked for at least 2 hours (or overnight) drained, and rinsed
2tb nutritional yeast
2tb fresh lemon juice
1/4t garlic powder for stronger garlicky flavor, use 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder or 1 crushed garlic clove instead
1/2 teaspoon salt more as needed
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup water more as needed
Place the cashews, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a high speed blender. Pulse repeatedly to break the cashews down, until they form a coarse, wet meal. Scrape the sides of the food processor down with a spatula.
Turn the motor of the processor on. With the motor running, drizzle in the water and let the cashews process for about 10 seconds. Stop and scrape the machine down again. Continue processing for a full 1-2 minutes, or until the cashew cheese is smooth and thick, adding a tablespoon of extra water if needed. The consistency should be a little bit like hummus.
Taste the cashew cheese and add lemon, salt, and pepper to taste. If you like, pulse in fresh herbs or other flavorings. Keeps for a week.
Cooked Sides
Mini Potatoes
Makes about 12-15
1lb new or mini potatoes, scrubbed
1tb herbs de Provence, plus extra for garnish
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4c extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 425° F
Slice potatoes in half, into a large bowl.
Whisk the herbs, garlic, and oil together until blended, and then pour over the potatoes. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Transfer the potatoes to a heavy large baking dish, spacing them evenly apart.
Roast potatoes until tender and golden, turning occasionally with tongs, about 1 hour.
Crimini Mushrooms
About 30
1lb cremini or button mushrooms
1 large clove garlic minced
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon coconut aminos
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Preheat the oven to 425° F
Depending on the size, slice mushrooms in half into bite sized pieces into a large bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk to combine vinegar, coconut aminos, olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
Pour dressing over the mushrooms and toss to coat.
Transfer the mushrooms using a slotted spoon to a baking sheet -- leave any excess marinade in the bowl.
Spread the mushrooms in a single layer and roast for 10 minutes.
Drain off the excess liquid from the pan and use a spatula to flip the mushrooms.
Return the pan to the oven and roast for an additional 8-10 minutes.
Raw Sides
Broccoli
1lb broccoli (or 1 medium head)
Wash, dry and break into florets
Carrot
1lb carrot (about 5)
Wash, dry and slice into index finger sized pieces
Granny Smith Apple
1lb granny smith apple (about 4)
Wash, dry and slice into medium sized pieces
Coat with lemon juice to slow browning