Mediterranean Brunch Charcuterie Board Ideas is the ultimate healthy mezze platter for family gatherings or relaxing Sunday breakfast!
Mediterranean Foods
Nearly every type of cuisine can lend itself to a charcuterie board.
With beautifully arranged mounds of cold cuts, different types of cheese, crusty bread and a selection of fresh fruit, you can serve an easy spread of food at your next brunch gathering.
However, in my kitchen, I try to stick to a Mediterranean diet, which is not a diet, but rather a healthy array of Mediterranean foods.
What Is A Brunch Charcuterie Board?
Certainly we live hectic, busy lives that rarely lend themselves to a proper breakfast on weekdays.
Instead, we often grab something and run with it still in our hands, hoping for a morsel of nourishment.
For this reason, a weekend or holiday gathering, is the perfect time to place many varied selections of healthy and favorite foods on a charcuterie board.
This is an ‘off the clock’ relaxed meal to be eaten at some time between breakfast time and a late lunch, ie brunch!
Where To Serve A Brunch Charcuterie Board
You don’t have to present it at a breakfast table, though you can.
It’s the perfect spread to serve in a variety of comfy, relaxing places, so there is no pressure to eat and run.
A perfect way to spoil mom on mother’s day by preparing simple breakfast ideas on a charcuterie board, to serve her in bed!
Why We Love A Sunday Brunch
Surely everyone knows that Sunday is intended to slow the clock down, have quality time with the people we love, and actually eat together.
What better way to enjoy a slow Sunday morning, than with a brunch board.
Perhaps you are in want of a cocktail with brunch.
It doesn’t have to be limited to a Bloody Mary or Mimosa.
If it is cold outside, you could serve a warm cocktail, like my Golden Milk Turmeric Cocktail with Arak.
If spring is in the air, you might enjoy a Cherry Blossom cocktail, which is both delicious and pretty.
What Does A Mediterranean Charcuterie Look Like, You Ask?
Dare I boast that we are about to explore a world of wholesome, satisfying breakfast or brunch foods that will surprise you in the best possible way!
Because the Mediterranean region can be explored from parts of Europe, such as Spain, Greece and Italy to the tip of North Africa, we have the most diverse foods in the world.
A busy weekday breakfast can be whole grain breads, with a selection of cheese to go with coffee or tea, or a yogurt bowl, made with homemade granola.
Mediterranean Regions Bring Different Foods To The Table
While here in America, we often think of breakfast or brunch in terms of pancakes with maple syrup or toast and eggs.
However, throughout the varied regions of the Mediterranean world, breakfast to brunch foods look very different.
- In my teens, my best girlfriend was from Greece. When I came to pick her up on school mornings, her family had a spread of olives, cheeses and traditional meats, in small bowls on the table.
- Later years, when my oldest son visited Morocco, he said he was served goat cheese, freshly grilled sardines and crusty bread or given the option for Shakshuka, which he usually opted for.
- During my visit to Portugal, I indulged in the great option to have beautifully baked pastries with orange slices and almonds, that both grew in that region.
Mediterranean Charcuterie In America
Often in my home, you will find me preparing a charcuterie board for breakfast or brunch that is mostly a Mediterranean charcuterie board.
When cooking foods from the Middle East, such as stuffed grape leaves, or spanakopita, we often make large quantities and keep plenty frozen for later.
This is a great idea for a lazy Sunday brunch or mezze platter, since these items can go from freezer to oven and be ready in a short period of time.
Prepare Ahead Tips
Meal-prep became a trending word several years ago, but if you are from a Mediterranean home, this is not a new idea.
For example; when I make stuffed grape leaves, there is usually anywhere from 50-100 leaves in the jar.
Once I’ve drained the leaves, it just makes sense to make enough filling to wrap all the leaves and freeze some for a later meal.
I’ve been doing this since I was a teen.
It’s a great time to sit around the table with loved ones, wrap grape leaves, talk and laugh!
This same idea applied to so many other foods from Mediterranean regions.
Favorited Ways To Enjoy Foods From The Mediterranean
This article was inspired by a beautiful Win Truffle charcuterie board sent to me as a gift from a friend, for the Easter season.
Various seasons inspire various charcuterie boards.
During the summer months, at my countryside home in Maryland, I grow things; like everything I can get my hands on to grow!
Not to worry if you don’t have time to grow your own; local farmers markets love when you keep them in business and appreciate their hard work!
Growing my own veggies and some fruits, has become the inspiration for the variety of foods I love to serve on a leisurely brunch board.
Dessert On A Mediterranean Charcuterie Board
There is often some type of fruit, dried or fresh, on a breakfast to brunch board.
For this reason, I started growing fig trees, which inspire many of my recipes, both sweet or savory.
When in doubt, simply stuff a few dates with goat cheese and stick an almond inside, so delicious!
What Type Of Board Is Best For Charcuterie?
I’ve been promising myself for years, that I would purchase a board that was specially designed to serve charcuterie on.
A charcuterie board is best made from a non-porous wood, especially for cleaning thoroughly.
Somehow, I never got around to it and used platters instead.
And then, this lovely friend started sharing boards she had made, on social media, and I knew I had to have one.
Can you believe she just sent one to me to try, and it is made of acacia wood, the best for a food board!
A Thoughtful Charcuterie Board
What I love about the board I now have, is that it has designated sections, carved into the wood, making it easier for items to set inside them.
This keeps juices, that sometime seep out from various foods, from getting on other foods.
Also, this one is designed to have the utensils in their own little spot, making it easy to have them visible and not hiding under a heap of cheese or bread.
Who Doesn’t Love A Pop Of Color!
Since a charcuterie board is often served for a gathering of friends or family, we want to dazzle them with lots delicious selections to choose from.
However, for Mediterranean charcuterie board ideas in the springtime, I have chosen to share with you, the beautiful board I prepared with my new, gifted charcuterie board.
And yes, it has lots of color and edible flowers as well!
Mediterranean Charcuterie Board Ideas
During the month of March, while anxious for springtime colors, I prepared a beautiful charcuterie board with Spring holidays in mind.
These are only a few of so many healthy Mediterranean choices, but again, I was looking for lots of color and healthy ingredients on this springtime board.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea Bread
Butterfly Pea Flower Bread is my favorite springtime bread. It is two doughs, twisted with my ‘everyday’ bread recipe, for a great addition of color on the board.
While pita bread would be my choice most times of the year, this board is for spring.
The only other exception would be my Christmas charcuterie board, of which I would place my beetroot and spinach braided bread.
Mediterranean Beetroot Deviled Eggs
Seasonally pertinent Beet Hummus hard-boiled eggs that have been filled with beet hummus, for more than a pop of color!
While I have a variety of hummus recipes, from grandma’s traditional hummus, pumpkin hummus with chili oil and butternut squash hummus, with toasted squash seeds, I chose my beet hummus for its color!
Mediterranean Tzatziki
Tzatziki is both a luscious spread to place on kofta sandwiches, perfect as a dip for grape leaves or eaten alone as a salad.
Refreshingly made with homemade yogurt, or Greek yogurt, and lots of chopped cucumbers, lemon and garlic.
The Tzatziki fits perfectly in small bowls and can be placed anywhere on the brunch board, with a small spoon.
Mediterranean Stuffed Grape Leaves
Traditionally, every Mediterranean region has its take on stuffed grape leaves.
Throughout Greece you will often find tomatoes in the rice and meat filling while Iranian and Moroccan cuisine will have raisins and rice in the mixture.
This is my favorite filling for grape leaves, which I tweaked from my Syrian mom.
The fabulous thing about placing stuffed grape leaves on a charcuterie board is that they are nearly a complete meal in a bite, are hand-held and fit perfectly on the board.
Last But Not Least On My Mediterranean Brunch Board
By now, I am sure you are hungry for many of these easy-to-make recipes, and I say they are easy because often times my kids, while growing up, helped me make them.
That being said, there is one more dish I make year round that is truly my favorite and is so easy to make and serve on a charcuterie board.
It is my take on a Moroccan ‘Salatet Shamandar’ Beet Salad, only warm and served like bruschetta.
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.