How To Create A Tropical Theme Grazing Board

I just love a good charcuterie board, don’t you?? I really enjoy getting creative and making themed or seasonal boards, and I’m so excited to share with you how to create a tropical theme grazing board.

This tropical board is perfect for any summertime event or get together.

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My dinner club is hosting a tropical cocktail party this month, and I was responsible for the main course. I thought a tropical theme charcuterie board would be perfect for the occasion.

We have a great menu for you this month!

tropical theme cocktail party table

If you missed the table I created to go along with out tropical theme, you can see all of the details here.

menu for a cocktail party – tropical theme

You can find links to all of the recipes at the bottom of this post.

pina colada martini
frozen mojito
coconut shrimp
pineapple chicken salad in phyllo cups
tropical theme grazing board
mini tropical trifles

what is a grazing board?

A grazing board is also sometimes referred to as a charcuterie board, cheese board or snack board.

Technically, a charcuterie board means an array of cured meats, like salami, prosciutto, bacon, etc.

However, most people think of a charcuterie board or grazing board as a spread of meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts.

what do you put on a grazing board or a charcuterie board?

There are so many different options of things to add to a grazing board and different ways to arrange them.

As I mentioned earlier, different meats, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, dried fruit, and nuts are fairly common.

Also, fresh veggies, hummus, spreads, olives, sun dried tomatoes, different crackers, bread sticks and even sweet treats like chocolates.

Charcuterie or grazing boards have become so popular, you will even see burger or taco boards.

A board filled with sweets, would be a perfect addition to a dessert table.

My son in law likes to create a breakfast or brunch board for Mother’s Day every year, and it has become sort of a tradition and I always look forward to it.

tropical theme grazing board

The first thing, as with any design project, I like to start with an inspiration piece.

My inspiration for this board was a pineapple and some tropical flowers I found at the grocery store.

You can use wooden chopping boards, a large platter or whatever you like for the base for your board.

I created this tropical board on a large wooden board.

I laid out parchment paper on top of my board to make it a bit easier to clean up.

Next, I tucked in a couple of leaves on either end of the board, just to add some visual interest. I placed the leaves between the parchment paper and the board. This way they won’t be touching the food.

You always want to be sure any leaves you are using are non toxic and non poisonous.

The focal point of my board is a cheese ball shaped into a pineapple shape.

I have a favorite cheese ball recipe that I’ve been making for years, and I used that recipe for my cheese ball shaped into a pineapple.

I placed the cheese ball in the center of my board, then added the top from a fresh pineapple.

Just cut the top off of a pineapple, then using a sharp knife carefully cut the top in half lengthwise. This way it will lay flat on your board.

I added pecan halves to resemble the outside of a real pineapple. I have also used almonds for this on a similar board I created for a tropical theme bridal shower a couple of years ago.

Next, I made some salami “flowers. If you haven’t made these, they are super simple and I shared details below.

I made 2 salami flowers for this board and placed one on opposite corners of my board and on top of where I placed the leaves.

Then, I placed the next few larger items, like a bowl of hummus I decorated with edible flowers, a bowl of sliced cucumbers arranged to resemble a flower, a mango cut to resemble a flower shape and a palm tree shape made out of a banana and a kiwi fruit.

Small bowls or dishes are great for serving things that need to be contained, like olives or sauces and spreads.

If you place your focal point item first, then follow with any other large things or your bowls, this will make it easy to see where else you want to add things to finish off your board.

You will want to fill in all of the spaces between the larger things on your board.

I like to used different types of cheeses cut into small slices, mixed nuts, fresh fruits and veggie slices for dipping in the hummus.

For this board I used slices of red, orange and yellow peppers and several kinds of tropical fruits.

I cut pineapple into small wedges, cantaloupe cut into slices and cut a round log of goat cheese into slices and placed a sprig of rosemary on top for decoration.

These smaller items can be placed randomly around your board to fill in any empty spaces.

Filling in the board makes it more appealing and adds lots of interest.

I’ve listed some other items above that I like to use on my charcuterie or grazing boards.

how to make salami/pepperoni “flowers”

Use a glass with a small opening at the top and place slices of salami or pepperoni on the edge and fold over in half. Layer the next piece overlapping the previous piece and continue all the way around the glass.

You will want to keep layering and overlapping until you have several layers of the meat.

Next, turn the glass upside down and firmly press onto your board or tray, and twist it slightly to release the glass from the meat.

tips to make graze boards on a budget

A great way to save money creating a delicious charcuterie board is to purchase fresh produce at a farmer’s market or buy fruits and veggies that are on sale at your local grocery store.

Also, try and pick up non perishable items when you see them on sale. Nuts, crackers, jars of pickles or olives, and dried fruits will keep for quite a while.

It’s the perfect way to save some money and have some things on hand whenever you need it.

Using leaves and edible flowers from your own garden or yard is a creative way to add interest to your grazing platter without spending any money.

Creating boards that are a specific theme, like a dessert board, all fruit board or a seasonal board makes it easier to decide what to look for when shopping for ingredients for your board.

other seasonal charcuterie boards

If you would like to see other seasonal grazing boards, click on the photo below to see details about each board.

I created this Valentine board, a Halloween board and a board for Christmas shaped like a tree.

And this New Year’s Eve board might be one of my favorites!

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for “how to create a tropical theme grazing board”, and try one for yourself.

One of the best things about a creative board is the sky is the limit. There are no rules, so think outside the box and have fun creating your own unique board for your next party!

Be sure and follow the links below each photo to see all of the amazing recipes we have for you this month.

blessings and happy summer,

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