The Summer Snack Platter Edit: 5 Ways To Build An Ultimate Sun-Kissed Grazing Board
One of the most interesting elements involved in planning a summertime party is snacks and food. While heavy dinners and stuffy meals might feel too much in the warm weather, what works best when the temperatures rise are small platters and mini grazing boards filled with little munchies. These are just adequate enough to work as appetisers and small bites in between a cup of tea or a cocktail but are never enough to become overwhelming.
However, crafting such a grazing board requires just a little bit of creativity. You would need to build this platter from scratch, with different textural and flavourful offerings ranging from small biscuits and crackers to cheeses, fruits, mini sausages and a number of bright and tangy dips. When guests come calling at a summertime gathering, these snack platters prepared in the most aesthetic manner might just become the highlight of the evening.
Here are some ways to go about crafting a summertime snack platter or grazing board which is full of all the simple and low prep small bites that function as suitable servings at an intimate gathering:
No-Cook, Minimal Prep Bites
Grazing boards during summers can be crafted in a way that requires minimal prep. With this, it is possible to incorporate all the seasonal flavours and textures of the elements that are put on the platters to truly experience their taste in the summer weather. Go for foods that can be served chilled or at room temperature such as cold sandwiches and certain cheeses and even chunks of fresh fruits, which can be prepared without much fuss. No-cook snack options like carrot sticks and radishes are also interesting alternatives when served with spicy dips and sauces.
Summer Colour Palette
Another way to go about curating the summertime snack platter is to choose from ingredients which mark the colours of the season. This can be anything ranging from darkly coloured pomegranates to brightly coloured mangoes and even the greens of herbs like mint and certain leaves like iceberg lettuce. A snack board complete with such summer hues will build into the season’s overall theme and add a pop of colour to the gathering.
Mini Serving Boards
When hosting a gathering of over 10 people, one snack platter might hardly be sufficient. At such times, instead of building a bigger board which might get too messy, go for multiple smaller, mini serving plates which contain tiny portions of all the elements that are going to be part of the serving board. Serving dishes can be either ceramic platters, colourful boards or wooden trays placed on small tables where groups of guests gather around to converse.
Snack Board Essentials
And what is a snack board curated for summer without some of the most essential ingredients assembled onto it? A summertime snack platter has to be richly filled with a mix of cheeses and dips such as feta, mozzarella and cream cheese chunks and hummus, tzatziki and guacamole dips. These can be paired with cucumbers, bell pepper strips, watermelon wedges, grapes, strawberries, mango chunks and more. And the platter can be finished off with small breadsticks, warmed pita, multigrain crackers and even masala khakra for a crispy finish.
Add A Sweet Touch
What would make this platter truly special is a sweet touch which comes in the form of a simple fruit compote or a honeycomb that can be munched on along with fruits and cheese. Yogurt-covered almonds and white chocolate barks are also interesting options while curating this grazing board finished off with a sweet and dense textural effect that rounds off the platter to give it a complete touch.
Also Read: 5 Food-Cocktail Pairings For Your DIY Snack Platter This Festive Season
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
