Yin Yang Balance Board (Printable)

A visually striking platter with balanced dark and light ingredients arranged in a yin-yang style.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dark Side

01 - 1 cup pitted black olives
02 - 2.8 oz dark rye crackers
03 - 2.8 oz aged balsamic-glazed mushrooms, sliced (optional)
04 - 2.1 oz black grapes or blackberries
05 - 1.8 oz dark chocolate squares (70% cacao or above)

→ Light Side

06 - 4.2 oz white cheese (goat cheese, brie, or mozzarella), sliced or cubed
07 - 2.8 oz rice crackers or water crackers
08 - 2.1 oz raw cashews or blanched almonds
09 - 1.8 oz dried apricots or white grapes
10 - 1 tablespoon honey, for drizzling (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Place a large round serving board or platter on your work surface.
02 - Use a small bowl or circular cutter to lightly mark an S-shaped curve down the center for yin and yang division.
03 - Fill one half of the board with black olives, dark rye crackers, mushrooms, grapes or blackberries, and dark chocolate squares.
04 - Place white cheese, rice or water crackers, cashews or almonds, dried apricots or white grapes on the opposite half, drizzling honey if desired.
05 - Position a small round cheese ball or olive as a dot in each swirl to mimic the yin-yang symbol.
06 - Serve immediately, encouraging guests to enjoy both sides for contrasting flavors and textures.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when you really only invested twenty minutes of prep time
  • Everyone finds something they love, whether they gravitate toward rich dark chocolate and mushrooms or creamy cheese and honey
  • No cooking required means you can prepare this while catching up with guests or finishing other dishes
02 -
  • Room temperature is everything—pull cheese from the fridge thirty minutes before serving so every bite is creamy rather than cold and firm
  • Assemble the board no more than two hours ahead or the crackers will absorb moisture and lose their crunch; the nuts will soften and the berries may weep
03 -
  • Group similar items together rather than spreading them thin—clusters feel intentional and make the board easier to eat
  • The yin and yang symbol doesn't have to be perfect; in fact, the most beautiful boards have a slightly organic, hand-made quality that perfection would diminish
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