There are so many fruits and vegetables in season right now that are perfect for harvesting to make your own garden produce charcuterie board right at home! If your garden is like ours, it is probably teaming with berries, figs, peaches, tomatoes, and summer squash. All perfect to create a charcuterie board filled with beautiful, natural colors with. While charcuterie boards normally contain meats and cheeses, filling them up with fruits and vegetables straight from your own garden will add heaps of nutrients and flavor. Here are some ingredients and tips from our garden produce charcuterie board to yours!
Tomatoes:
With so much variety, tomatoes are really the perfect ingredient for your charcuterie board. They can be prepared raw, grilled, smoked, marinated, and so much more! They are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, vitamin K and are also a major source of an antioxidant, lycopene, that can reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Cherry tomatoes with their compact size and burst of flavor can add a vibrant red to your spread. Heirloom tomatoes can be chopped up and combined with olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and basil to create a spread to top on some bread. Tomatoes are also perfect for pairing with cheeses like bruschetta or mozzarella!
Sliced bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots and snap peas:
These ingredients are so simple to prepare but are still so tasty and packed with nutrients and vitamins. No need to cook, roast, or grill. Simply slice the raw bell peppers, cucumbers, and carrots into easy dippable sticks or any shape that you desire. Arrange the veggies into a beautiful array of red, orange, yellow and green. Perfect for pairing with a variety of dips that suit your taste, like hummus, ranch, or artichoke dip, and enjoy! A simple but still standout charcuterie board!
Figs:
Figs are aplenty on trees this time of year and are rich in antioxidants and minerals. They are the perfect statement for your charcuterie board with their beautiful cross-section cuts or can just be a great side add-on for some sweetness. Figs can be eaten plain or can be paired with some cream cheese to top on bread. If you have some time to prepare, figs can be made into a jam simply by boiling crushed figs, sugar, water, and some lemon juice. If you’d like you can add some vanilla extract after boiling for additional flavor. Make sure to store in a clean jar and let it cool!
Written by Kelly Chen, EGC Education & Curriculum Intern
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