Zen Balance artful board

# What you'll need:

→ Fresh Produce

01 - 8 slices cucumber

02 - 8 baby carrots

03 - 8 radishes, halved

→ Cheese

04 - 60 grams goat cheese, shaped into small rounds

→ Crackers

05 - 8 gluten-free crackers

→ Nuts

06 - 30 grams roasted almonds

→ Fruit

07 - 8 seedless red grapes

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh herbs (e.g., chives, dill), for decoration

# Preparation steps:

01 - Select a long, clean wooden or slate board at least 23.6 inches in length and place it on a stable surface.

02 - At one end of the board, neatly arrange half of each ingredient, starting with a base of cucumber slices and crackers, followed by baby carrots, halved radishes, red grapes, goat cheese rounds, and half of the almonds.

03 - At the opposite end, replicate the arrangement exactly using the remaining ingredients to form a perfectly symmetrical pile.

04 - Decorate each pile with sprigs of fresh herbs for added color and aroma.

05 - Leave the center of the board empty to emphasize balance and serve immediately, encouraging appreciation of the visual harmony before tasting.

# Expert advice:

01 -

It transforms simple vegetables into something that makes you pause before eating.
No cooking required means you can make it on your busiest days.
Sharing it feels like you're inviting someone into a moment of calm.

02 -

Precision matters here—uneven piles break the spell, so take your time arranging rather than rushing.
Humidity affects everything; in very humid kitchens, assemble this just before serving or the crackers will soften.
The goat cheese rounds hold better if you chill them for 30 minutes before plating.

03 -

Pre-chill your board in the freezer for 10 minutes if your kitchen is warm; cool surfaces keep everything fresher longer.
Arrange ingredients at slight angles rather than in perfect rows—precision without perfection feels more human and actually looks better.

Zen Balance artful board (Printable)