These Pretty Grazing Platters Are the Secret to Easy, Breezy Summer Entertaining

Betty Gold

When it’s too hot to cook, don’t. Assemble one (or all!) of these four stunning platters instead—they’re elegant enough for entertaining but breezy enough for a lazy weekend.

Without all the rigorous prep work (and mountain of dishes), you’ll have plenty time for what really matters in peak summer: spending your own party poolside, drink in hand, surrounded by friends and family.

Everything Lox Lunch

Bagels are the ultimate crowd-pleasing brunch food. Pick up a dozen at your favorite local bakery before plating them open-faced with layers of lox and cream cheese. Then, give your bagels an easy upgrade by topping each with a spoonful of our homemade caper-raisin vinaigrette and quick-picked cilantro red onions.

Hungarian Snacking Tray

  • Dried sausages

  • Cheese

  • Plums & cherries

  • Sweet & savory pastries

  • Beet-Pickled Eggs

  • Crunchy vegetables

  • Crackers

As pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palette, this Hungarian-themed platter packs sweet and savory pastries, sliced sausages, crunchy crudités and crackers, cheese, and bright pink beet-pickled eggs.

Sunday-Night Dinner

Is there anything better than assembling a beautiful cheese and charcuterie board and calling it dinner? The combination of fresh melon, toasted nuts, salty prosciutto, and olives will have you wondering why this hasn’t a standing Sunday night supper forever. Our dreamy-creamy ricotta dip recipe takes just ten minutes, which means you’ll have plenty of time to cue up your favorite flick.

The Best White-Bread Sandwich

August is peak time for farm-fresh tomatoes, which is why we made them the star of these beautiful slices of crusty bread. For a wow-worthy sandwich spread, whip up these easy recipes for cumin and coriander seed honey and herbed crème fraîche—they’ll elevate the sweet-and-savory flavors of your heirloom tomatoes even more.

Platter assembly and recipes by Sarah Copeland, author of Every Day Is Saturday ($19; amazon.com). Photos by Victor Protasio, food styling by Chelsea Zimmer, and prop styling by Audrey Davis.