The Art of Building the Ultimate Tapas Board
If you hadn’t noticed by now, we’re big fans of Lorna Jane Clarkson! Her breakfast salad recipe was downright brilliant and this salad is to die for. Today (and tomorrow — more on that below!), her awesomeness is back with an excerpt from her new book, Inspired. Filled with recipes, home remedies, mini workouts, mantras, traveling tips and party planning ideas, it’s the ultimate guide to make your life more, well, inspired. Today, she’s sharing with us not just how to make a tapas board — but how to build the ultimate tapas board. Get to feel inspired!
The Art of Building the Ultimate Tapas Board
We get a kick out of curating the ultimate crostini station/tapas plates/charcuterie board. It lets our creativity run wild, and if we’re to be honest, it gives us the opportunity to show off our MNB skills to our party guests. Because in our eyes, ANYTHING, can be healthified.
When crafting the perfect tapas board, there are a few things you oughta know!
1. Start with the base. Find a long, wooden chopping board or serving platter to be used as the centerpiece of your creation.
2. Experiment with shape. Collate a collection of ramekins, bowls and jars that can be used as the vessels for your recipes. Experimenting with shapes and sizes will add versatility and visual interest to the boards.
3. Pick your produce. Sweet or savory, hot or cold. It’s up to you. We like to pick a bounty of flavors that compliment each other, and look visually amazing on the board. Think goat cheese and apple, or the classic combo of strawberries and chocolate.
4. Color-fy. It is our belief that the food should be the star of the show. Picking produce that is colorful and vibrant will make your board stand out and make it too irresistible for your party guests to deny.
5. Assemble. This is the point where it gets fun. Positioning is key. When assembling your food, think about shapes, variations and volume. Try and strike the perfect balance. You don’t want to have too much dip and not enough crackers.
6. Finesse. Style your MNB heart out to ensure that everything is to your liking and has ticked the previous criteria. Once you have buffed, polished and shined, you can present your culinary creation to your party guests. Voila!
What do you like to put on your tapas bar? Come back tomorrow when we share Lorna Jane Clarkson’s faux Nutella recipe! —Jenn