How to put together a halal appetiser platter

A successful appetiser platter is, above all, a matter of balance: charcuterie with no two alike, accompaniments that bring freshness and crunch, and a presentation that makes everyone want to help themselves. Here is our method.

How much should you allow?

Our guidelines so that nothing runs out, without waste:

• for an aperitif: around 50 to 80 g of charcuterie per person;
• for an aperitif supper, where the platter stands in for the meal: around 150 g per person.

Three well-chosen charcuteries are better than six that are all alike.

Vary flavours and textures

The golden rule: each charcuterie should bring something different. With the Mon Deliss range, the trio falls naturally into place:

• turkey carpaccio, sliced very thinly, for its peppered crust;
• smoked turkey fillet, smoked over beech and alder wood, for its delicate smoky flavour;
• roast turkey fillet, for its tender meat and honest flavour.

Vary the cuts too: very thin slices, rolled up or fanned out, and a few thicker slices cut into bite-sized pieces.

The accompaniments

They balance the platter and keep people coming back to it:

• bread: sliced baguette, toasted country bread, breadsticks;
• crudités: cherry tomatoes, radishes, cucumber and carrot sticks;
• something crunchy: olives, gherkins, walnuts, almonds;
• a sweet touch: grapes, figs or dried apricots, depending on the season;
• one or two dips: hummus, aubergine caviar, herby cream cheese.

For a fully halal platter, also check the composition of any ready-made accompaniments: sauces, spreads and cheeses.

Presentation

• Take the charcuterie out of the fridge a quarter of an hour before serving: its aromas come through better.
• Slice at the last moment, for supple slices that do not dry out.
• Group by family on a large board: charcuterie on one side, crudités on the other, small bowls for the dips and olives.
• Leave some gaps: an overloaded platter is harder to take in. Better to top it up as the evening goes on.

What about drinks?

Homemade lemonade, iced mint tea, sparkling water with citrus or well-chilled grape juice all go perfectly with charcuterie.

To go further, try our turkey carpaccio with rocket and lemon as an appetiser.