idea for charcuterie style meals for one

[ISawAMouseThere]

I have occasional IBS flares, although not much affected by food types as stress and volume, really. I can eat most foods including onion, broccoli and garlic without issue!

What can occasionally aggravate me is eating hot, creamy, traditional meals such as cottage pie, lasagne, roast dinners, sandwiches. So during my recent flare I feel like my body craves a charcuterie/tapas type of food, but for one person.

So I can't afford to assemble those giant, Bacchanalian cheeseboards you see on pinterest but looking for a more simple version, with decent crackers, maybe olives, feta, bits of nuts, seeds, fruit slices...cornichons...

Any ideas to add to this for a healthy dinner? I can't think of what veggies to add that would work with a cold, dry plate.

I want to get the nutrients I need but not very clued up on these things and obviously don't want to be eating a smorgasbord truck-ton of cheese..

I don't think it's in season but blanched asparagus lovely on a charcuterie board. Sun dried tomatoes?

Really you just want to ensure there is protein, carb and fats in a good balance. I used to make lovely boards for myself to enjoy alongside wine. Bread, cheese, sliced meats, olives some vegetable and done!

How is cottage pie or roast dinner creamy?

Vegetables: tomatoes, cucumber, salads, celery, peppers, avocado, carrots, radishes, beetroot, sweetcorn.

I chop a load of vegetables and keep them in a tub in the fridge. Just pull it out every meal with a dip or two and refresh when it’s empty.

Tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, green beans, sugar snap peas, peppers, etc

you could also do antipasti - olives, marinated artichoke, roasted peppers, sun dried tomatoes, stuffed vine leaves, veggie based dips.

Pickles and fermented vegetables?

Dress a salad and use it for a few days before making a different option. Ottolenghi has lots of options and they aren’t all as complicated as you might think

In our house we have:

mini breadsticks and hummus

sliced carrot, tomato, red pepper, beetroot, green apple, green grapes, firm mango, ripe melon (we like to mix fruit with our savoury salads)

home made “coleslaw” - you can make a very light version (if you can tolerate raw cabbage, grated carrot and celery) which is lightly pickled in a vinegraitte in small quantities, it is delicious and doesn’t have to be creamy

homemade mackeral pate (in a blender - lemon juice, a precooked mackeral fillet, a huge dollop of cottagecheese and a spoonful of horseradish sauce. You could also add dill or parsley if you have any growing on your windowsill).This freezes well, so any leftover will save for another time.

boiled new potatoes

kimchi

quinoa or couscous

chickpeas mixed into a Greek-style salad or a salsa of some kind

mixed bean salad from a tin (rinse and mix with a lemony dressing / fresh herbs if you have any)

A warm salad of frozen broad beans and peas with a squeeze of lemon and a dash of olive oil

Oh my! These are just perfect, thank you!
I am making a furious list

Salad pot with sliced baby peppers is a great idea, will def be trying the new potatoes, sliced egg, artichoke and beetroot..

I eat like this a lot as I’m gluten free and can’t eat creamy stuff either. Lidl has Spanish week at the moment, they have jars of artichokes, roasted peppers, chick peas etc. which are really nice with a dressing. Get a pretty segmented bowl. I always try and eat some salad as well. Or turn all the picky bits into a plate salad with this formula - leaves on the bottom, something roasted (squash/ beetroot), something crispy like nuts, fresh and dried fruit, cheese / meat sprinkled round with a nice dressing. Eg. Pea shoots with roasted spiced squash, pistachios, sultanas, feta, pomegranate and honey drizzled on top. Love the beef carpaccio from Lidl as well on top of rocket. You need to be careful not to get constipated.

Spanish omelette is delicious served cold. Just cut yourself a slice to have along with your other nibbly bits.

I also like artichoke hearts: https://www.themediterraneandish.com/roasted-artichoke-hearts/

Melon and prosciutto is good!

Make a nice basil lemon dressing

Yes, I love all of the different textures - soft feta, nuts, crunchy peppers.
I think I am just a bit off warm food at the moment, probably due to the weather too!
Feels lighter on my gut so will do for now.

Possibly the mashed potato

When I do charcuterie I tend to just go to Aldi and get a selection of whatever they have. Doesn't work out too expensive because it lasts me several days. Sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, hummus, aioli, crackers, breadsticks, cucumber and carrot sticks, cherry tomatoes, tabouleh, Moroccan couscous, feta, giant couscous, different cheeses and prosciutto, salami, Parma ham etc. I don't have it all every time but it's nice to add different bits!

I also really like this spinach dip - can sub the yoghurt for silken tofu if it's kinder to your stomach

https://desireerd.com/fast-vegan-spinach-dip-nut-free/