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A simple cheese board consisting of marinated tomatoes, grilled veggies, bread, burrata cheese, and sweet fruits. An affordable way to create a beautiful and delicious meat and cheese board that takes almost no time to prepare and is the perfect appetizer for any party!
If there’s one thing I think every party needs, it’s a good cheese board. And when I say good, I really mean, GOOD.
Last week I asked you guys on Instagram if you’d prefer to see a last-minute 4th of July appetizer or dessert, and while it was a pretty close vote, an easy appetizer won. So today I bring you my go-to cheese board of the moment.
It’s simple, easy, super pretty, and extra darn delicious.
I was inspired by the summer heirloom tomatoes (my favorite), bell peppers, and zucchini to create this board. Normally when I make a cheese board it’s all about my favorite fruit and cheese pairings and rarely do I include vegetables. Don’t get me wrong, I love veggies, but I also really love fruit and cheese.
This time however, I wanted to make a board that was very different from any other I have made, and one that used up all the produce I had on hand…a big bucket full of tomatoes, the smallest (cutest) baby zucchini and yellow summer squash, and some sweet bell peppers.
Enter this board.
It’s not overflowing with a million and one ingredients, but it’s GOOD. A lot of times cheese boards can get too big, too pricy, and honestly take hours to prepare. Trust me, I’m all about a big cheese board (did you see my Harvest Cheese Board in the cookbook?), but if I’m being honest, they can really be time consuming, and depending on the ingredients you use, really expensive to create.
This board is none of those things.
It’s really pretty easy, uses two cheeses, a few vegetables, bread, a couple of meats, and some fruit. Nothing overly fancy, nothing too expensive, but yet all really good things, and all really great together.
Some details for you.
Everything starts with the vegetables. If you’ve never marinated vegetables and then grilled them, you are missing out. Just like marinating meat adds tons of flavor, so does marinating veggies. It’s takes them from kind of boring to kind of awesome.
The marinade is a simple mix of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh herbs, and garlic. Half of the marinade goes on the peppers and zucchini, the other half on the tomatoes. The peppers and zucchini get grilled and the tomatoes are left raw.
And it’s really as simple of that. Once you have the vegetables marinated/grilled all that’s left to do is assemble.
The key here is to keep it simple. Use two cheese that you LOVE. I went with burrata (so very typical of me) and a wedge of drunken goat. Personally, I love this combo and highly recommend it because these two cheeses are generally well loved by everyone. Other cheeses that would be great are a nice sharp cheddar, manchego, a good blue, or really whatever you love most. I always say use what YOU love.
For the meats, you can use one or two or even none. Totally up to you. I love prosciutto and soppressata, but salami is a good option too!
Then the bread. Again, use what you love most. I used an olive loaf that was delicious, but a nice sourdough or ciabatta would be equally great.
Throw on a fruit or two and DONE.
What’s great about this board is that all you really have to have is vegetables, a couple of cheeses, and either bread or crackers. Everything else is totally optional, so if you’re in a pinch and need a quick, clean-out-the-fridge appetizer, make this.
You can even swap out the veggies. Eggplant, mushrooms, corn, and even beets would all be great on the grill.
The one thing you HAVE to make is the tomatoes. They are so good, addicting even. Kind of like candy and even better with some burrata. Make em’, stare at their beauty, eat them, and enjoy.
So you see? This cheese board very much needs to be added to your menu for the 4th. I mean, right?!?
Also? I polled everyone on Instagram and you all agreed that a new cocktail was in order…
So more on that tomorrow…
If you make this fun cheese board, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every one of you. Oh, and of course, if you do make this appetizer, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram so I can see! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Marinated Tomato and Grilled Veggie Cheese Board
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 259 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 12 leaves fresh basil roughly, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
- crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and pepper
- 2 1/2 cups mixed heirloom tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 2 small zucchini or summer squash, sliced or halved
- 2 bell peppers, quartered
- 2-3 cheeses, I use burrata and drunken goat
- assorted meats, fresh fruits, grilled bread and/or crackers, for serving
Instructions
- 1. In glass jar, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, thyme, garlic and a pinch each of crushed red pepper flakes, salt & pepper. 2. Add the tomatoes to 1 bowl, and the peppers + zucchini to another. Toss the peppers and zucchini with 3 tablespoons of marinade. Add the remaining marinade to the tomatoes, tossing to combine. Allow the veggies to marinate for 1-2 hours or overnight in the fridge. 3. Preheat the grill to high. Grill the peppers + zucchini until light grill marks appear, 3-4 minutes per side. If using, grill the bread at the same time.4. To assemble, arrange the cheeses on a large board. Arrange the grilled veggies, tomatoes, meats, and position around the cheese. Serve.
I wonder can you grill the veggies the night before? Thank you!
I am sure that will be just fine! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
This looks amazing!! Do you serve the grilled veggies room temp? Thanks!!
HI Cindy! You can serve them warm or at room temp. Either is great! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
This is the perfect cheese board for summer entertaining!
Thank you!
my mouth water is active 🙂
Thank you Ankara!
Hi I’m struggling to connect to this forum. Is it because I’m in the UK?
I am so so sorry you are having trouble. Is this still an issue? PLease let me know. In the meantime I am looking into it!
In love with how much this uses summer garden produce!! 🙂
Thank you Brittany!
I have never thought to marinate the vegetables before grilling them! That sounds (and looks) delicious! Thank you!
Thank you so much Lauren!
Hi Tieghan,
Beautiful board! Two questions: where do you find your burrata (it’s more artisan looking than the regular supermarket brands I see) and have you tried/had any luck grilling your bread and/or veggies in a grill pan vs. an outdoor grill? I’m obsessed with the gorgeous grill marks on everything.
HI! I get my burrata from my local Kroger grocery store. Whole Foods and Trader Joes also sell burrata too! For the the bread, I actually only use a grill pan and it works amazingly well! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
I went a bit overboard at the farmer’s market this weekend and this looks like the absolute perfect way to use up the squash, beets, and heirloom tomatoes I bought. Plus plenty of cheese we already have on-hand. YUM!
So perfect!! I hope you love this Kate!
This board is GORGEOUS! Have you ever considered doing a cookbook filled entirely with your boards of yumminess?
I have not but I may consider that!! Thank you so much! I am so glad you like this!