Having the girls over this weekend?

Ye could just order in a Chinese - or you could wow everyone with your take on the top food trend of the moment. Homemade grazing boards seem to be everywhere we look right now and we're a little bit obsessed. Here's everything you need to know, plus how to make your own.  

What are grazing boards?

2020 has been a year for eating in so it's no wonder we've all started putting serious effort into what we whip up. Enter, the grazing board; the most Instagram-friendly way to serve up loads of different foods all at once. Think of it as a cheese platter but taken to the next level and not just for cheese - yours can be sweet, savoury and everything in between. A grazing board would also make a fairly stunning gift - like, how weak would you be if someone gave you one of these?! Celebrate a friend's birthday or promotion with a board chock full of their favourite foods.  

How do I put one together?

Yes, a grazing board might look complicated but you can go as simple or as fancy as you like with it. Just make a plan and take it step by step. The key here is that it has to look visually impressive so consider the colours you'll use and how much of everything you'll need. Make sure you have all the right bits and bobs too. Is your tray the right size and shape? Will you need forks or skewers? Next, think flavours and textures - if you're offering up lots of cheese, for example, make sure you have plenty of fruit, chutneys and crackers for balance. Dips always add to a board too so be sure to pick up or make hummus, guac or something else tasty. Now, it's time to lay everything out. Vary sizes and colours and use different shapes and patterns to add interest. You could stack slices of meat, crackers or pieces of cheese in a row like dominoes or splay them in circles or fans. Keep the same ingredients together and be sure to pack them tightly. Want to really flex? Use a dip as your centrepiece and keep everything else small for contrast. Lastly, be sure you have a 'filler' ingredient that you can stick into gaps on the board. Berries, small sweets and sprigs of greenery like mint will work well here. Now, get some photos, grab some plates and get stuck in.