How to Create the Ultimate Mediterranean Snack Spread

Want to know the fastest, easiest way to feel like you’ve been transported to the Mediterranean without leaving your kitchen table? Eat snacks for dinner.

I’m not talking about tossing a bag of popcorn in the microwave (which, I’ll admit, has happened on occasion). I mean gather up a handful of fresh, colorful veggies, cheese, and other ingredients, and build your own Mediterranean snack board. It’s actually not much harder than popping that bag of popcorn, yet it results in a meal that feels oh-so-fancy, any night of the week. Here’s how to do it:

At its heart, a snack board is really just a collection of ready-to-eat foods displayed on a pretty board or platter. The goal of any good snack board is to limit the amount of cooking that needs to be done. That means you want to take full advantage of raw ingredients and prepared items from the grocery store. What makes it Mediterranean is what you include.

Start by grabbing your largest cutting board or platter. If you’re hosting (or feeling fancy) use a pretty slate board or something similar. (If there’s a wedding present you’ve been keeping in a sideboard for a special occasion, now’s the time to break it out.)

To keep things both healthy and pretty, you want to have some variety. However, there’s no need to overwhelm yourself. Here are ten different Mediterranean-leaning items worth laying out on a snack board. Pick four to six, and have at it:

• Hummus: This chickpea dip is a Mediterranean snack board essential, if you ask me. Buy it fresh. Or, if you want, make your own from scratch.
• Tzatziki: While this creamy cucumber and herb-laced yogurt dip is easy enough to make yourself, it’s just as easy to find next to the tubs of hummus at your grocery store.
• Cheese: You have plenty of options, so choose what most suits your taste. Great choices include feta cubes or slices, a log of goat cheese, bite-sized fresh mozzarella balls, or one large ball of burrata.
• Marinated Olives: Grab whatever looks good at your grocery store’s antipasti bar.
• Pita Triangles: Perfect for dunking into hummus or tzatziki. If you prefer, opt for pita chips instead.
• Raw Veggies: Along with hummus, crisp, crunchy vegetables are another must, in my opinion. Cucumber or carrot sticks are natural choices, but feel free to experiment: Cherry tomatoes, radishes, and endive leaves are all delicious.
• Chicken Kebab Skewers: Make these yourself if you want to up the ante of your snack board. Otherwise, pick up cooked chicken pieces from the grocery and simply thread them on skewers or grab a rotisserie chicken and lay out shredded pieces.
• Salami: Any kind is nice — prosciutto, too!
• Marinated Artichokes: These sweetly tender pickled greens add lots of flavor to any board. Grab some while you’re scoping out olives at the antipasti bar or pick up a jar.
• Roasted Red Peppers: Reach for a jar, drain them well, and slice them for easy eating.