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Eat Well NZ

Easy ideas for creating the ultimate entertaining platter

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Creating beautiful platters filled to the brim with delicious food is an easy way provide nibbles when entertaining.  While I love having people around, I also love to make it as fuss free as possible since  it’s about spending time with your friends, not fluffing around in the kitchen. Platters are the easy way to do it!

Today I thought I’d share with you how to create the ultimate entertaining platter and some quick easy nibble ideas.

Creating a delicious & good looking platter:

I like to put together a mixture of sweet and savoury items on my platter for a variety of tastes and textures.  I find a mixture of sweet, savoury, salty and crispy items as well as some delicious hummus provides a mixture that people love.

Hummus for dipping/spreading:  On my platter I’ve used Lisa’s Beetroot Hummus and Lisa’s Toppings Hummus with Dukkah & Roasted Pistachio.  Lisa’s have a wide range of hummus dips. I always used to just pick the same ones, but I’ve been trialling a few new flavours lately, so take a look through the whole range to find something that suits the type of platter you want to create. I chose Lisa’s Beetroot Hummus because I love its delicious flavour and it also adds colour, whilst the Lisa’s Toppings Hummus with Dukkah & Roasted Pistachio has all the great taste of original hummus but with a yummy crunchy topping. You can find out more about Lisa’s Hummus here and you can easily pick them up at your local supermarket.

Fruit:  I love grapes, strawberries and dried (or fresh) figs on a platter as these all go well with cheese. Figs can be cut up and added to crackers along with cheese – it’s such a delicious combination.  Fresh figs are also delicious when in season.

Chocolate: As far as I’m concerned, most things are better with a little chocolate and adding some squares of top quality chocolate adds a nice touch to a platter.

Cheese: It’s up to you if you have cheese on your platter or what cheeses you use, but I tend to use two to three including a blue and a strong cheddar, and for the third option I go for something creamy like a brie.

Other platter fillers: For the rest of the platter, nuts, olives, gherkins and cherry tomatoes add colour and interesting flavours and textures.  Then to finish off, simply add your favourite crackers and you’ve got a delicious platter that contains something to please everyone.

Decoration:  Adding a swirl of greenery or flowers through the middle of your platter looks pretty and if you use something like jasmine, it smells amazing too. Other ideas are fresh herbs like rosemary.

I also create mini wrap bites and bruschetta as no fuss entertaining snacks that look impressive but are easy to make.

Here’s a couple of my favourite recipes:

 

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Simple Hummus Herb and Dukkah Bruschetta

This bruschetta is one of the easiest things to make. The hummus comes with a sachet of roasted pistachios mixed with Dukkah, you just sprinkle this on top which adds a delicious flavour boost and texture too. Plus it looks good too!

Ingredients:

Sourdough bread stick, or French bread
Lisa’s Toppings Hummus with Dukkah & Roasted Pistachio
Fresh Rosemary (if you can get it in flower even better)

Cut the bread into slices. You can either brush with olive oil and lightly grill or leave fresh.

Spread with a generous amount of Lisa’s Hummus and sprinkle over the roasted pistachio and Dukkah. Top with some freshly washed rosemary leaves and flowers.

 

Chargrilled Capsicum and Feta Mini Wraps

6 tablespoons Lisa’s Chargrilled Capsicum Hummus
4 preserved roasted capsicum, split open and patted dry
100g feta cheese
2 large wrap breads

Spread wrap breads with the hummus. Slice the capsicums in half and cover the wraps with the roasted capsicum. Slice the feta into thin slices and place on top. Gently roll up the wraps, aiming to get a tight roll. Slice each wrap into rounds. Top with some fresh herbs.

 

Chargrilled Capsicum, Tomato and Avocado Bruschetta

Sourdough bread stick, or French bread
Lisa’s Chargrilled Capsicum Hummus
Cherry tomatoes
Avocado
Fresh lemon
Fresh herbs

Cut the bread into slices. You can either brush with olive oil and lightly grill or leave fresh.

Spread each slice with a generous amount of hummus. Top with a slice of avocado which has been coated in a little lemon juice. This stops it from going brown. Add a cherry tomato half to each one and top with some fresh herb leaves.

I hope this helps you in creating the ultimate entertaining platter and nibbles over summer. Happy entertaining guys and good luck with the competition!

 

WIN WIN WIN

Thanks to Lisa’s Hummus, I’ve got a $50 supermarket voucher and a 1 year subscription to Taste Magazine to give away so you can be inspired and create your own delicious platter at home.

To be in the draw to win,  just comment below with what flavour of Lisa’s Hummus you’d use on your platter and head over and follow them either on Facebook or Instagram. I couldn’t get hold of my last winner so I have extended the competition!!  Competition will be drawn on 15th December 16th November 2016 and is open to NZ residents only.

CONGRATULATIONS to Karen Mabey. Check your emails 🙂

This post was made possible thanks to Lisa’s Hummus.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Tracy

    I can’t make a platter without Lisa’s Preserved Lemon Hummus with Sesame, Pistachio & Avocado Oil. I just love that hummus! So good on crackers, corn chips, bagels, toast, veggie sticks, finger dipped in the pottle…

  4. Tabitha newton

    I love the garlic hummus – served with deli meats and toasted pita bread with lovely fresh olives and artichoke hearts

  6. Isabelle Cohen

    Most likely the kumara with pumpkin seeds one – I just love the flavour, the crunch and the colour!

  10. Suzy

    I LOVE Lisa’s Chargrilled Capsicum Hummus and Kumera and Pumpkin… since its a large platter I think I’d need more than one hummus 🙂

  14. Emma van Niekerk

    Ooh I’d definitely choose the Caramalised Onion, Gloriously Garlic, Chargrilled Capsicum and the Sundried Tomato Lisa’s dips! They’re all so good I wouldn’t be able to narrow them down.

    Have liked and followed the pages on Facey and Insta 😀 !

  19. Chris Beswick

    The chargrilled capsicum has to feature as well as the Jalapeno & lime hummus. The beetroot and garlic on toast was my wedding day breakfast – wasn’t the initial plan but it was really good!

  28. debbie

    the beetroot hummus its always such a wonderful tasting thing to have and enjoy with your food 🙂

  46. Jacqui Hansen

    I LOVE the original Hummus. I have been known to say that if Hummus was a person I’d marry it!

  48. Helen Richardson

    I love the garlic hummus, wonderful with a platter with carrot sticks, celery, olives (kalamata, green, stuffed), rice crackers and wheat based crackers.

  55. Anya

    Hands down Hummus with Dukkah and Roasted Pistachio – every time. I’ve tried others from the range, which I’ve liked too … this has to be my favourite though. With cumin flatbreads it’s perfect!

  57. Kim

    Actually it’s the Aubergine and Cashew with Coriander and Lime that is my fave. Although the Capsicum is very yummy too.

  59. Soph

    I would love to try Lisa’s Toppings Hummus with Dukkah & Roasted Pistachios on a platter!! Sounds delicious!

  61. Suzanne George

    I’d use either Caramelised onion or their basil pesto hummus! The caramelised onion is a real flavour sensation.

  64. Deborah Gunther

    I find it hard to choose because they are all so good. I just love Lisa’s hummus. No sorry can’t decide ????

  69. Kendra Borrie

    Have always enjoyed Lisa’s hummus but Haven’t tried the toppings hummus with dukkah and pistachio – would love to try this.

  71. Brian Morton

    I’d go the original so the food could do most of the talking & the original could chime in every now & then

  72. Cath

    I love the beetroot with some tasty cheese which is unusual as normally I wouldn’t eat a beetroot if paid! But this dip is that good ????

  73. Leisha

    It’s definitely Lisa’s Beetroot Hummus for me. It’s my go-to fav, for colour and taste. Love it.

  77. Sarah Jenkin

    Caramelised onion with lemon and rosemary sounds delicious, and I reckon it would go well with everything else I would want on a platter!

  88. Julie Bell

    Im loving the beetroot humus at the moment – its sooooo good, so thats what I would be adding to my platters.

  89. Samantha Meiklejohn

    I like using Lisa’s Sun Dried Tomato with fresh basil hummus as I fing it pairs well with cheeses and cured meats on platters!

  90. Holly Jamieson

    I absolutely love Lisa’s Pumpkin & Kumara Hummus with Roast Cashews, so it is a must-have item on my platter 🙂 My whole family would benefit from a supermarket voucher and from me cooking recipes in Taste magazine. Thank you!

  91. Elvina

    Definitely the dukkah and roasted pistachio, it’s my all-time favourite hummus. The platter looks amazing but thought I’d just mention that some types of Jasmine are poisonous, so I’d be careful which type you put on your platter 🙂

  92. Tania

    Lisa’s Pumpkin with Chunky Pesto would be mine..absolutely morish and addictive and the perfect accompaniment to any platter.

  93. Tracey Aydon

    My girls and I all like the Moroccan Carrot hummus with carrot sticks and rice crackers so it would be perfect on our platter!

  96. Deborah

    Kumara, Coconut & Turmeric Hummus. It really packs a punch !

    Lisa’s FB page liked and followed *

  97. Tui Amohanga

    Lisa’s Sun Dried Tomato with fresh basil hummus is my go to for any platter I make up for entertaining

  98. Claudia Silva

    Lisa’s original! You can never go wrong. But Lisa’s beetroot always spices up the hummus life.

  103. Jan Sumner

    Roasted Capsicum is a favourite. They are all so yummy it’s hard to pick a favourite. Great food and such scrummy looking platters.

  104. Holly Campbell

    I would use Lisa’s Kumara, Coconut & Turmeric Hummus on a summer inspired platter with lots of fresh fruits and delicious cheeses!

  106. Dahna Jeffares-Bozinovitch

    I am currently plaanning a platter and snacks for a greek lunch and this has given me the perfect ideas! I’m going to use both the beetroot and the roasted capsicum flavoured hummus’ for these – thanks!

  114. Di Bailey

    Love this article Nicola and the platter looks sensational. My ‘go to’ hummus is garlic and my 4yo granddaughter will eat the whole container if I let her

  118. Kimberly Simpson

    I would totally use Lisa’s Chargrilled Capsicum Hummus on my next platter!!! LOVE hummus!!!

  119. Justine Aston

    This looks amazing. Any table would welcome a platter like this. I would choose tried and true chargrilled capsicum and keen to try the beetroot one too.

  124. Samantha Meiklejohn

    Jalapeno & Lime with Coriander works really well on a seafood platter or in spicy fish tacos!!!

  127. Jac McGowan

    Original with a dash of lemon. Also, aubergine and cashew because I can’t get enough of that stuff!

  130. Tracee McCallum

    i haven’t tried Lisa’s Chargrilled Capsicum Hummus yet and i would like to but normally the sun-dried tomato or the plain hummus make their way into my shopping trolley and i forget there are other flavours

  132. Deborah Wood

    Decisions decisions ! I’d go with two beautifully contrasting colours, and flavours, on my Antipasto – Kumara, Coconut & Turmeric Hummus, and Beetroot with Roasted Cashews.

  136. Rosie

    It would have to be beetroot hummus its my absoloite favourite. But lets be honest why limit yourself to one hummus to a platter? 😉 the more the merrier i say! Especialy when your feeding lots of peple at christmas like we are

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