Making a snack board: how to fill a wooden board
You make a snack board by putting a few kinds of cheese and cured meats on a large wooden board and filling the space in between with bread, fruit, nuts and something pickled. Put wet things such as olives and dips in small bowls, so the wood stays dry. Afterwards you wash the board briefly with warm water and dry it straight away.
You do not need a separate board for a snack board. A large cutting board works fine. The luxury cutting board with juice groove is 45 x 36 cm: the groove keeps crumbs and moisture on the board. If you want a flat surface right up to the edge, take the wooden cutting board in the same size.
What do you put on a snack board?
| Part | Examples | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | A soft one, a hard one and a strong one | Take it out of the fridge in time: cheese has more flavour at room temperature |
| Cured meats | Dry sausage, cured ham, salami | Fold or roll the slices loosely, so they are easy to pick up |
| Bread | Baguette, toast, crackers | Add it last, so it stays crisp |
| Fruit | Grapes, figs, pear | Leave grapes in small bunches |
| Pickles and spreads | Olives, gherkins, tapenade, mustard | Always in a small bowl |
| Nuts | Walnuts, almonds | Use them to fill the last gaps |
How much do you need?
There is no fixed rule. Count on a few kinds of cheese and cured meats. Rather choose a few kinds with enough of each than many kinds with a little of each. If the board replaces dinner, take a good deal more bread and toppings. Keep some back in the fridge, so you can top up when the board runs empty.
How to arrange the board
- Put the small bowls down first. They determine the layout.
- Place the cheeses apart. Each cheese in its own corner. Cut off a few pieces in advance.
- Place the cured meats in between. In a fan or loosely folded.
- Place bread and crackers along the edge.
- Fill the gaps with fruit and nuts.
- Set out small knives and cocktail sticks. A separate knife for each cheese keeps the flavours apart.
Cleaning the board after the snacks
Wipe off the leftovers and wash the board briefly with warm water and a little washing-up liquid. Dry it straight away and stand it upright, so both sides can dry. Not in the dishwasher and do not leave it to soak. You scrub the juice groove and the edges clean with the cutting board brush.
Does a smell of cheese or sausage linger? Then scrub the board with coarse salt and half a lemon. The steps are in Wooden cutting board smells. Oil the board afterwards. You do that twice a month anyway, as described in Caring for a wooden cutting board.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put cheese and sausage directly on the wood?
Yes. The board is made of solid beech and the care oil you treat it with is 100% grapeseed oil: food safe and odourless.
Can you prepare a snack board in advance?
Partly. You can cut cheese and cured meats earlier and keep them covered in the fridge. You add bread, crackers and cut fruit only at the last moment.
Is a cutting board big enough as a snack board?
A board of 45 x 36 cm offers room for a filled snack board on the table. If a large group is coming, put out a second board.
Can you cut on the snack board?
Yes, it is a cutting board. Beech is kind to your knives. If the surface gets scratched after a while, you sand it lightly and oil it.
