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New Year's Eve is just around the corner and if you're looking for platter inspiration, we've got you covered. When it comes to entertaining, a charcuterie board is always our go-to. It's easy to assemble and it's so versatile!
Best of all, with so many healthier low-carb options you won't have to reach for unhealthy carb-laden foods such as bread, crackers and crisps. So get creative and enjoy!
The Board
Make sure that you choose a generous sized board or platter to arrange your food on.
A bit of free space is not a problem but there is nothing worse than getting half-way through your arranging, only to realise that your board is too small, and you need to start again.
The Cheese
I like to include one each of a hard cheese, a soft cheese, a blue cheese, and a fresh cheese. This allows for practically all tastes and preferences to be catered to and gives you a delicious number of contrasting flavours and textures.
Here's what I used in mine:
- hard Red Leicester
- soft Brie
- blue cheese
- fresh goats cheese
You can use other types of hard cheese such as Manchego, goat's cheese, Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, Provolone or cheddar. If you like soft cheese, try Roquefort, Gorgonzola, feta, mozzarella or burrata drizzled with a dash of balsamic vinegar and truffle flavoured olive oil.
Holding Dishes: Antipasti
Choose an interesting range of dishes to hold loose antipasto elements, such as olives or nuts, in. These add structure to your board and keep mess contained. They don’t need to match; in fact, a casual collection of odd dishes can add considerable charm to your board.
Here's what I used in mine:
You can use other low-carb antipasti options such as marinated artichoke, capers, marinated peppers, or a few sun-dried tomatoes.
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The Meats
Again, I like to include a range of contrasting textures and flavours. Try some cured meats such as salami, Parma ham, Spanish chorizo, sopressa or pancetta. Smoked sausage is always an interesting addition. A fresher ham or some turkey adds another dimension and I always add a pate for a creamy touch.
Here's what I used in mine:
If you like fish, add some smoked salmon or mackerel, salmon roe, or canned fish such as tuna or sardines.
If you're not a fan of pate, you can always swap it with tasty keto approved dips from the list below.
- Hummus dips: Roasted Zucchini Hummus, Buffalo Hummus, Macadamia Keto Hummus
- Other pate dips: Mackerel Pate with Horseradish or Salmon Paté
- Cheesy dips: Cheesy Pesto Fat Bombs, Herbed Goat's Cheese Dip, Pumpkin, Walnut & Feta Dip, Cheesy Bacon Dip, Chipotle Red Pepper Cheese Dip, Bruschetta Feta Dip
- Vegetable dips: Avocado & Basil Dip, Pepita Guacamole, Chunky Guacamole or Spinach Bacon & Artichoke Dip.
The Produce: Fresh Vegetables and Fruits
Adding fresh and crunchy fruits and vegetables gives a delicious contrast in flavours against the rich and cured elements on the board.
Slice your veg to allow them to be used in place of crackers or quarter them or leave them whole to allow for crunching into. Fresh, sweet berries are a perfect foil for the savoury tines of the rest of the platter and fresh herbs give a classy finishing touch.
Here's what I used in mine:
- cucumber
- radishes
- celery stalks
- berries (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or raspberries)
- fresh herbs
Vegetables and fruits don't have to be crunchy. You can add sliced avocado sprinkled with sea salt and pepper.
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