Easy Snacks with Big Flavours fromFood Lover’s Market Ballito.
Summer on the North Coast is all about sunshine, salty hair, and good times shared over great food and drinks. Whether you’re beach-bound, poolside, or hosting one of those legendary impromptu sundowners with friends, the last thing anyone wants is to spend hours in the kitchen – life’s too short for that!
We’ve rounded up a few easy, tasty summer snacks you can whip up in minutes. They’re perfect for keeping the vibes light, fresh, and delicious all season long – and still leave you plenty of time to kick back andkuier with your crew.
Coastal Crunch: Charcuterie Chips
All you need for the most crave-worthy charcuterie chips is one bag of kettle-fried chips, a packet of bruschetta, a brie or camembert wheel, honey, and chives or microgreens of your choice. Any of these ingredients can be varied according to your personal preference to add your unique touch to the dish.
Here’s how it works: Empty the bag of chips into an oven tray or ovenproof ceramic plate and spread them evenly. Cut or tear the cold meat into pieces and distribute evenly across the bed of chips. Do the same with the cheese. Place the tray in an oven preheated to 180°C and bake until the cheese starts to melt. Remove from the oven and generously drizzle with honey. Next, sprinkle chopped chives and bits of microgreens all over the dish – not only for striking pops of colour but also subtle bursts of flavour.
And voilà – the most moreish plate of charcuterie chips on the North Coast!
Beachy Bright Dip Platter
This aesthetically pleasing platter is so easy to assemble, it should be a crime! Simply pick an assortment of your three favourite cream cheese flavours and empty them onto different sections of the same large serving platter. Smooth over so that the different cream cheeses meet and touch, but don’t mix. Next, finely dice the cucumber, onion, tomato, and yellow peppers. Mix the medley of fresh produce together and arrange it in a diagonal line across the platter of dips to create a decorative, sash-like line. Sprinkle a few edible flowers over the diced salad items to add extra vibrant pops of colour to this tasty creation. Serve with your choice of savoury crackers and enjoy!
Nature’s Sweet Spread
Nothing says summer quite like a colourful platter of fresh, seasonal fruit. Juicy, sweet, and naturally vibrant, this easy-to-assemble treat is as beautiful as it is delicious. Whether you’re sharing it at a sunny brunch, a casual pool hang, or just chilling on the patio with a good book, it’s the kind of guilt-free treat that screams North Coast vibes. The amount of fruit we used was determined by the size of our serving board: a quarter watermelon, half a pineapple, four ripe and juicy nectarines, a bunch of green grapes, and two kiwi fruits. The trick to an attractive fruit platter is contrasting colours and precise cutting. Experimenting with cutting techniques can be a lot of fun, but don’t get caught up in the technicalities – the most important thing is to gather a variety of your favourite fresh fruit on a plate and enjoy nature’s spread.
Special Thanks
A huge thank you to Food Lover’s Market Ballito for making our dreamy platters come true.
www.foodloversmarket.co.za
WORDS: JACQUELINE HERBST
