Chaya Kenigsberg, founder of local business Chaya’s Craze Boards, offers expert tips on crafting your own kosher cheese or meat board at home.
Getting Started
Gather your props—things like ramekins, miniature glass jars, petite pots, and, of course, a wooden board. Then, head to your favorite specialty shop or your local grocery store to gather the ingredients.
Gathering Core Products
Pick around three to four kinds of cheese—a mix of hard and soft, not limited to cheddar, brie, Manchego, goat, provolone, and pepper jack (for some kick). For meats, look at sourcing three to four deli-sliced cured meats or smoked meats like hard salami, pastrami, turkey, and corned beef. Remember: to keep kosher you’ll make either a cheese board or meat board.
Selecting Additional Items
Pick out three or four eye-catching, exotic fruits or vegetables for color, choosing ones with thick skin and minimal moisture. Think: pomegranates, dragon fruit, rambutans, and miniature peppers. Select dried fruits that complement the fresh fruit—figs and apricots are always popular—and unsalted and spiced nuts. Grab some pickled vegetables and dips and jams to fill your ramekins. Opt for cornichon pickles, olives, hummus, olive tapenade for savory, and assorted jams and honey for sweet. Finally, purchase two or more different types of crackers.
Arranging it Artfully
Begin by placing filled ramekins, containers, jars, or pots on the wooden platter. Then, add the meats or cheeses. To land a more abstract look, fold some meats and roll others. Cut the cheeses in various shapes, including cubes, triangles, and rectangles. Next, arrange the fresh fruits, starting with the ones that take up the most space. After, place the crackers, maintaining a distance from any ingredients with possible moisture. Fill the gaps of the board with nuts and dried fruits, and add a finishing touch of edible flowers.
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