A Mediterranean Charcuterie Board is a delicious spread with sweet and savory snacks sure to please even your pickiest eaters. Filled with cheese, olives, fresh fruit, and Mediterranean and Greek-inspired foods, it's perfect to serve at your next party or even just for dinner!
In This Post
Why This Recipe Works
I guess if I wanted to hop on the current Tik Tok trend, this could be called the ultimate “girl dinner”. But I’ve been making a form of this Mediterranean platter for years and have served it at parties, small get-togethers, and yes, even for dinner. (BTW - this Breakfast Charcuterie Board is another one of my favorites!)
A Mediterranean Charcuterie Board is pretty much what it sounds like, and really just differs from a normal charcuterie board based on including classic Mediterranean cuisine and Greek foods. It basically takes your classic charcuterie board to the next level.
Here are the reasons this Mediterranean Charcuterie Board is such a great staple in my lineup:
- Easy. There truly is nothing better than swinging into Whole Foods, making a beeline for the olive bar, and hand-picking everything you’ll need for this board. It’s a super easy main meal or app when you don’t want to cook but want to make something special. It really is one of the easiest ways to entertain.
- Customizable. You could totally customize this based on your preferences or what you’ve go on hand. Make this vegetarian by omitting the meat and fish. Add other veggies or seasonal fruit (figs anyone?), or throw in a few falafels. The choice is yours, my friend.
- Healthy. I’ve long been a fan of the Mediterranean diet. This platter is a great way to get my fix!
- My kids love this dinner. It’s got a variety of flavors and is such a great way to get your kids to try different things that they maybe wouldn’t pick out on their own. And because you can pretty much pick and choose what you want from the board, they get a feeling of independence and everyone is happy.
Ingredients
A good Greek mezze platter will have a variety of textures. The key word here is variety. Use lots of small bowls to house an array of dips, and use just a little bit of everything to create a delicious spread of finger foods with lots of different flavors.
- Cheese. I like using a combo of soft and hard cheese. For this board, I used a block of parmesan and marinated mozzarella. But use whatever you prefer.
- Cured Meats. This is optional, but I love just a little bit of meat on a Mediterranean board. Prosciutto, soppressata, chorizo, or other types of cured sausages all work great here. Of course, if you’re aiming to make this a vegetarian charcuterie board, feel free to just omit any meat.
- An assortment of dips. A classic hummus is an obvious choice for dips, but there are tons of different types of middle eastern dips to choose from so use an assortment. I added a whipped feta to this board, in addition to the hummus.
- A variety of olives. Briny olives are a nice compliment to the cheeses here and no Mediterranean mezze platter would be complete without them. Any type of olive really works on a charcuterie board so use a variety. Castelvetrano, kalamata, or green olives are great here. An olive tapenade would also be a great addition.
- Bread or crackers. I love adding pita bread to a Mediterranean grazing board. You can buy it in rounds and then just cut it into 8ths. I also like toasting it slightly and serving it warm.
- Fresh vegetables. Cherry tomatoes and cucumbers are what I had on hand when I made this but red peppers are also a favorite.
- Fresh fruits. Grapes are an easy crowd-pleaser and a great option for any appetizer platter. Sliced pears, apples or fresh figs are also great.
- Dolmeh. Dolmeh is made with grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs (and sometimes meat). They’re a classic Mediterranean dish and a great addition to this board.
- Fresh herbs. This may seem like a strange addition, but fresh herbs can add so much flavor to an app board. I like to tuck parsley, dill, or even chives into little nooks and crannies around the Mediterranean mezze platter. They taste great with bites of cheese or meat or as an accompaniment to your dips. (Plus, they look really pretty!)
Variations & Substitutions
- Cheese options. Try different types of cheeses here to mix up the flavors! Feta cheese and goat cheese are both classics and grilled halloumi cheese can make for a special treat (especially when served with warm pita bread).
- Unique hummus flavors. You could make your own hummus if you’re into that, but these days, the selection of store-bought hummus is so vast you’ll likely find a great selection at your local supermarket. Look for flavors that will compliment your other items on the platter.
- Different dips. Baba ganoush, tabbouleh, olive tapenade, whipped feta, Tzatziki, or even lentil-based dips - there are loads of delicious Mediterranean dips to choose from.
- Add dried fruits or nuts. Marcona almonds would be a nice addition, as would dried apricots.
- Make it more of a meal. One of my favorite things to do sometimes is to use this board as a base and add a few more items to really make it a full meal. Grilled chicken, kabobs, or even grilled steak are great ways to round out this Mediterranean platter. You can even use hearty falafel to make this into more of a falafel platter!
How To Make A Mediterranean Charcuterie Board
As I've mentioned above, a Mediterranean mezze board is one of the easiest ways to entertain. To start, you’ll need a handful of small bowls, small dishes, or a large wooden board or appetizer platter to place everything on. This will vary depending on what items you choose to use on your snack board.
- Start with your “anchors”. To assemble your platter, place your larger items on the board as a starting point. For me, that’s usually the cheeses and small bowls of dips. Use these as your anchors and begin to fill in around them.
- Add the pita bread. Next, I like to add the pita bread and crackers, positioning them around the board in a few spots.
- Add the fillers. Finally, fill in the empty spots with your olives, fruit, veggies, and other small items.
- Add the herbs. Finish by tucking herbs around the board.
Frequently Asked Questions
The beauty of a good charcuterie platter is that you can usually find most of what you’ll need at your local grocery store. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are great stores to source items from, and if you want to get even fancier, try visiting a local market for some higher-end specialty items.
The beauty of a good charcuterie board is that you can just put everything back into its original container once you’re finished! Just be conscious of items that have sat out for a while at room temperature and dispose of anything that seems like it might not keep.
If you make this Mediterranean Charcuterie Board, let me know what you think of it in the comments. And don’t forget to tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
More Easy Appetizers
- English Tea Sandwiches
- Easy 7 Layer Greek Dip
- Salt And Pepper Cashews
- Cheddar Cheese Straws
- Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
- Spanish Sliders With Chorizo And Roasted Red Pepper
Recipe
How To Make An Easy Mediterranean Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 2-3 dips (I used hummus and whipped feta)
- pita bread
- crackers
- halved cherry tomatoes
- sliced cucumbers
- grapes
- olives (choose a variety)
- 2-3 cheeses (I used a wedge of parmesan and marinated mozzarella balls)
- dolmeh
- cured meats
- sardines
- fresh herbs
Instructions
- Arrange the cured meats, cheese, olives, grapes, vegetables, crackers, pita bread, dips, and sardines on a platter. Start by placing the largest items first (the cheeses, dips and bread), then filling in the nooks and crannies with the smaller items.
- Garnish with fresh herbs.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For a more colorful board, try using different types of cured meats, cheeses, and olives.
- You can also add other Mediterranean-inspired ingredients, such as a variety of different kinds of hummus, baba ghanoush, or tapenade.
- If you're short on time, you can buy pre-sliced bread and cured meats.
- Serve the charcuterie board with your favorite drinks, such as wine, beer, or sparkling water.
Mandy says
I love Mediterranean food, and this was fun to make. I replaced the meat and fish as I am vegetarian and added the figs and falafel that you suggested, and it was perfect. I had a girlfriend around for lunch, the sun was shining, and we grazed on this - wonderful!
Jessica says
I had originally saved this recipe for my next dinner party, but I ended up making it for us to enjoy as a light lunch because I didn't feel like cooking. It was delicious, and the most elegant no-cook lunch we've enjoyed at home in a long time.
claudia says
Wow this was such a fun twist to my usual Thursday night "girlie dinner", I never thought of putting sardines into the mix but it was such a great addition.
Jane says
My friends and I tried this recipe out last night, and it was really delicious! It's rare to find a vegetarian main dish, but this one topped both our lists.
Genevieve says
This was so fun and delicious for my most recent party! Everyone loved the flavors and I got lots of compliments. I'll be making this again!