Relish Tray
(The No-Recipe Recipe)

 

In case you’re not familiar with this old school dinner party staple, a relish tray is a bountiful platter of olives, pickles and cut up vegetables. Serve it alongside mini canapés, with grilled cheese sandwiches and a big pot of simmering soup, or with Deviled Eggs and sliders, as seen below! This retro appetizer is a classic for a reason: no recipe is required and it adds playful variety to any party spread. While a relish tray is exactly what you want it to be, here are few tips to get you started.

 
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Servingware

  • I like to use an assortment of different sized jars for height and visual variety and then arrange them on a platter.

  • Offer fancy metal toothpicks or petite spoons and forks for your guests to pick up olives or pickles.

  • Place some cocktail napkins or small plates close by.

Food

As I mentioned above, a relish tray can have whatever you want on it. For the most beautiful tray, pick things that come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes – I like to place spears of cucumber, celery and carrots in jars for some added height. If you’re serving your relish tray with sliders, then add some condiments. Here are a few ideas:

  • Cut up crudités (Carrot sticks, radishes, celery, cucumber spears, sliced fennel, endive leaves)

  • Pickled vegetables (peppers, cauliflower, pearl onions, beets, string beans, mushrooms, cornichons, bread and butter pickle chips)

  • Olives (pick 1 or 2 varieties! If they’re not pitted, then include a small bowl for pits)

  • Condiments (mustards, chutney, pimento cheese, remoulade, aioli)

  • Miscellaneous (This is where you can have some fun! Add pickled shrimp, a cheese ball and crackers, halved soft-boiled eggs)