How to Charcuterie: Classic Crudites

This is a step-by-step guide to building a simple, fresh, vegan snack board using crispy classic crudités.

Equipment	No equipment needed
Difficulty	Easy

Crudites charcuterie board idea for easy snacking!

This snack board uses the simplicity of fresh vegetable crudités paired with classic dips such as vegan ranch and hummus. The addition of fresh and dried fruits and nuts expands the variety of textures while incorporating more tasty whole foods into this simple appetizer. Other dip options like baba ghanoush or maple tahini dip could also be used instead.

This simple charcuterie makes a wonderful vegan appetizer idea too!

With a colorful collection of raw foods, crackers, and dips, this snack board has something for almost everyone. Serve it with a full-bodied red wine for a more ~sophisticated~ experience. If you are feeling extra decadent, consider serving it with a nice bottle of port!

Step 1:

Begin with a platter that is approximately 17"x13.5" (43cmx34cm). It doesn't need to be exact, a little larger or smaller is fine.

Step 2:

This step is optional, but I chose to put parchment paper to protect my platter since it is silver plated. I put a full sheet of the paper on the platter, traced the shape with a pencil, and then cut it to fit.

Step 3:

Get two small bowls for your dips, each capable of holding 1/2 cup. I am using bowls with a diameter of about 4 inches (10 cm).

Step 4:

Place them on your platter with space between.

Step 5:

Fill the bowls with your dips. In this case I am using a spicy hummus, which is why it looks red, but any variety of hummus works. Use a spoon to press some hills and valleys into the hummus for visual texture.

Step 6:

Place the slices of yellow bell pepper in a fan pattern.

Step 7:

Add the slices of red bell pepper, continuing the fan pattern.

Step 8:

Place the first row of carrot slices.

Step 9:

Fill in with the rest of the carrot slices in a stacking and fanning pattern. They do not need to be perfect, just try to keep them neat and with each layer clearly visible.

Step 10:

Place the first, outside rows of cucumber. Leave space toward the center of the platter so the next rows of cucumber can stack in a fan pattern toward the center.

Step 11:

Use the rest of the cucumber slices, working inward in a fan pattern. It does not need to be perfect, just tidy.

Step 12:

Tuck in the crackers on both sides in fan patterns. Just hold them the way you would a hand of cards, then tuck them under the edges of the veggies.

Step 13:

Gently place the tomatoes in the center and tucked around the edges of the dip bowls.

Step 14:

Place the bunches of grapes on either side of the tomatoes, filling in areas that may look a little thin.

Step 15:

Place the dry apricots in two different groupings for more color diversity.

Step 16:

Gently place piles of nuts in the very center and any areas where it might look a little thin.

Step 17:

This step is optional, but adding a few garnishes completes the whole picture. Pour 1 or 2 Tbs of olive oil over the hummus and top with a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Crack some fresh black pepper over the ranch and sprinkle on some dried parsley.

Step 18:

Take a picture and serve!

Ta da!

How can I serve this charcuterie board?

This is an excellent addition to any spread for parties or festive occasions, but is also nice served with wine as a snack for a friendly board game night! If you're hoping to use this charcuterie in a more extensive spread and need additional inspiration, consider pairing it with some of these other delicious options:

• A chopping board with 3 or 5 cheeses and a cheese knife for people who aren't vegans

• A bowl of freshly baked sliced bread or rolls

• A Bowl of Popcorn

• Some Chocolate Bon Bons

• Slices of Cake

• Finger foods such as Skewers or Pinwheels

• Cookies

• Etc!

One of the nice things about crudités is they are so classic, fresh, and bright that it makes them fairly easy to serve and pair. They work for nearly every diet and lifestyle, and basically every occasion. They're essentially the "little black dress" of snacks.

Storage.

I suggest not preparing this more than a few hours ahead of time. If you need to prepare it ahead and can't serve it right away, wait to add the nuts and crackers until just before serving to prevent them from getting soggy. If you have leftovers, separate the veggies from the crackers and nuts into different containers. Keep the crackers and nuts in an airtight container at room temperature, and store everything else in the refrigerator. The leftovers will last for 2-3 days, but if someone happened to double-dip, the dips will spoil quickly.