Boards Plant-Based Plant-Based Starter Board
Plant-Based
Plant-Based Starter Board
The plant-based board to make first: one creamy cashew cheese, two dips, crunchy vegetables and the same fruit, nuts and jam you'd put on any cheese board.
- Serves
- 6–8
- Board
- 14–16″ board
- Prep
- 20–25 min
- Cost
- $35–$50
- Level
- Beginner
Open this board in the Board Builder Get amounts for your own guest count, free.
What's on the board
Plant cheeses & dips
Fresh produce
- English cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes
- Snap peas
- Red grapes
Crackers
- Sourdough crackers
- Seeded rye crisps
- Pita chips
Nuts, olives & sweet
Amounts and prices for each item are in the book, or open the board in the Board Builder for amounts sized to your guest count.
Why it works
A good cheese board is about contrast, and none of that needs dairy. The cashew brie and almond ricotta bring the creamy, rich part; olives and crisp vegetables bring salt and crunch; grapes, apricots and fig jam bring the sweet.
Put the fig jam right beside the cashew brie and the walnuts next to both. Sweet, creamy and toasty in one bite is the same pairing people love with a dairy brie, and it's the easiest way to show a skeptical guest that plant cheese works.
Timeline
- T–25 minTake the cashew brie and almond ricotta out of the fridge.
- T–20 minSlice the cucumber; rinse the tomatoes, snap peas and grapes.
- T–15 minFill bowls with hummus, ricotta, olives and fig jam; place the cashew brie.
- T–10 minFan the crackers and arrange the vegetables around the bowls.
- T–0Fill the gaps with nuts and apricots; serve.
The seven-step placement plan (what goes where, and why) is in the book.
The full blueprint
Build it exactly, with the plant-based book
This board's exact shopping list with amounts and prices, the step-by-step build and every swap are in Charcuterie Lab: 15 Show-Stopping Plant-Based Boards, with 14 more plant-based boards.
Questions
Is this board fully vegan?
Yes, every item is plant-based. Check the labels on crackers, breads and store-bought dips, which sometimes contain butter, milk, honey or egg.
Where do I find cashew brie?
Most well-stocked grocery stores carry cultured cashew cheeses near the specialty cheese or in the vegan section. Any soft, spreadable nut cheese works in its place.
How many people does it serve?
6 to 8 people as an appetizer, on a 14–16 inch board.
More boards
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Want more ideas? Read Dairy-Free Charcuterie Board: How to Build a Satisfying Board Without Traditional Cheese.
Free printable
Get the Charcuterie Cheat Sheet
How much to buy for any guest count, the build order, fridge timing and pairing rules on two printable pages. Plus the Lab Report: one pairing that works and why, and new printables the day they land.