Rustic Breakfast Board recipe

This customizable Rustic Breakfast Board is a beautiful and delicious way to serve breakfast or brunch. It features a delightful spread of savory and sweet elements, fresh produce, and artisanal touches, making it perfect for sharing with loved ones.

Servings: 2-4 people Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes (if cooking eggs/bacon fresh) Total time: 35 minutes Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Savory Elements:

• 4 large eggs (~240 g), hard-boiled

• 100 g (3.5 oz) smoked salmon, thinly sliced

• 100 g (3.5 oz) cooked bacon or breakfast sausage, crumbled or sliced (optional)

• 100 g (3.5 oz) hard cheese (e.g., cheddar, gouda), sliced or cubed

• 100 g (3.5 oz) soft cheese (e.g., brie, cream cheese), whole or spreadable

• 100 g (1 cup) cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ medium cucumber (~100 g), thinly sliced

• Small bunch fresh dill or chives, for garnish

For the Sweet Elements:

• 200 g (1.5 cups) mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

• 100 g (¾ cup) grapes, in small clusters

• 1 medium apple or pear (~180 g), thinly sliced

• 50 g (2 tbsp) fruit jam or preserves

• 30 g (1 tbsp) honey, in a small pot or drizzled

For the Carbs:

• 1 small rustic baguette or sourdough loaf (~250 g), sliced

• 50 g (½ cup) assorted crackers

For Spreads:

• 50 g (3.5 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened

Equipment

• Large cutting board or serving platter

• Sharp knife

• Small bowls or ramekins for spreads and small items

• Small saucepan (if boiling eggs)

• Frying pan (if cooking bacon/sausage)

Instructions

1. Prepare Cooked Items (15 minutes): If using fresh eggs, hard-boil them now. Place eggs in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes. Drain, cool in ice water, peel, and halve. If using fresh bacon or sausage, cook according to package directions until crispy. Set aside.

2. Wash and Slice Produce (10 minutes): Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the cucumber, and slice the apple or pear. Hull and halve any large strawberries.

3. Slice Breads and Cheeses (5 minutes): Slice the rustic bread into individual portions. Slice or cube the hard cheese. If using brie, you can serve it whole.

4. Arrange the Board (10 minutes): On your large cutting board or serving platter, start by placing the larger items first. Arrange the sliced bread and crackers. Next, add the cheeses, spreading them out to create visual interest.

5. Add Proteins and Produce (5 minutes): Place the hard-boiled egg halves, smoked salmon (folded artfully), and cooked bacon/sausage (if using) onto the board. Scatter the mixed berries, grapes, sliced apple/pear, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices around the board, filling in gaps.

6. Include Spreads and Garnish (2 minutes): Place small bowls with jam, honey, and softened butter on the board. Drizzle honey directly onto the board if preferred. Garnish with fresh dill or chives. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips & Variations

• Prep Ahead: Hard-boil eggs and wash/slice most produce the night before to save time on the morning of serving.

• Variety is Key: Aim for a mix of textures (crunchy, creamy, soft) and flavors (sweet, savory, tangy) to make the board exciting.

• Use Small Bowls: Small bowls or ramekins are perfect for containing spreads like jam, honey, and butter, preventing them from mixing with other items.

• Vegetarian: Simply omit the bacon/sausage and smoked salmon. You can add more eggs, different cheeses, or a plant-based protein like hummus.

• Vegan: Replace dairy cheeses with plant-based alternatives, use vegan butter, and ensure bread is dairy-free. Omit eggs, bacon, and salmon. Add avocado slices, nuts, seeds, or a variety of dips like hummus or nut butter.

• Sweet Focus: Add mini pancakes or waffles, a variety of sweet pastries, chocolate spread, and more sweet fruits like banana slices or dried fruits.

Estimated Nutrition Per Serving (approximate, for 4 servings)

• Calories: 450-550 kcal

• Protein: 20-25 g

• Carbs: 50-60 g

• Fat: 25-35 g

Shopping List

• Large eggs

• Smoked salmon

• Bacon or breakfast sausage (optional)

• Hard cheese (e.g., cheddar)

• Soft cheese (e.g., brie, cream cheese)

• Cherry tomatoes

• Cucumber

• Fresh dill or chives

• Mixed berries

• Grapes

• Apple or pear

• Fruit jam or preserves

• Honey

• Rustic baguette or sourdough loaf

• Assorted crackers

• Unsalted butter

Allergen Tags

contains: dairy, eggs, gluten, fish

Quick summary: A customizable rustic breakfast board with savory and sweet elements, fresh produce, and artisanal touches, perfect for sharing.