With the holidays coming around the corner you are sure to be attending, or hosting a party or two. A charcuterie board is the answer to the age old question: What should I bring? It may look overwhelming, but I promise it is incredibly easy (no cooking!) and everyone will LOVE it!
Here are the five key elements to a perfect charcuterie board:
Cheese
~ You have limitless options in this category so you can not go wrong. I usually do two hard cheeses and two soft. I’m a sucker for Gouda, Goat, and Brie cheese, so those are always a staple on my board.
Sweet
~ Cheese can pair well with sweet components like honey, fig jam, and/or a chutney. If you have time and really want to impress, make your own chutney. I will make an incredible apricot chutney to put over pork tenderloin for Matt, I then save the rest for my future charcuterie boards. You also want to include some fruit, which can cut the fatty meats. I will slice up an apple, add a bunch of grapes, and pair melon with prosciutto on skewers. Melon and prosciutto – amazing.
Savory
~ You need to have one or two savory elements to pair up to the meats. My favorite is an assortment of olives, nuts (almonds or walnuts), and cornichons (gherkins). You also need a savory spread to balance your sweet spreads – I always use a stone ground mustard – delish!
Meat ~
Yes, meat, the main attraction. You should include a variety of cured meats, and sausages. Some high-end super markets will provide packs of three different choices next to the cheese selection, or you can buy each meat individually. My picks are a peppered salami, sopressata, prosciutto, and capicola. But you have multiple options in this department too, don’t be scared to try new things!
Bread
~ The bread and crackers. Go with a fresh baked baguette, a variety of crackers, or both! Again, most high-end markets will sell a package with the different flavors – I usually go with that option.
And Voila! You have yourself a crowd pleaser – if you create a board following these five elements then you will have something for everyone! And the pairings are limitless. Speaking of pairings make sure you have a couple bottles of good wine to really make this board come alive.
Don’t forget the aesthetic is just as important as the flavors. I always bring my own charcuterie serving tray, and cute cheese knives ~ if you don’t have a spectacular serving platter then a large wooden cutting board is just as good! No two boards I make look alike, I play around until it looks “Martha Stewart” appropriate, and then I make sure to give the crowd a quick run down on what they are looking at.
Try making your own charcuterie board and let me know how much the crowd loves it! Happy Holidays!
XO ~ Shannon
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FAQs
The most important elements of a charcuterie board are meats, cheeses, savory accompaniments, sweet accompaniments, and crackers.
What are the key elements of a charcuterie board? ›
Start with the key larger items (meats, cheeses, cookies), and work your way into the smaller items (fruit, nuts, garnishes). Logistically it helps you see what you have space for and make sure the most important elements have space.
What are the 5 ingredient charcuterie? ›
Often, chocolate or sweets are included, too. However, the simplest board will always have five key ingredients: fruit, nuts or olives, cheese, meat, and a carb like toasted bread or crackers.
What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie board? ›
The 3333 rule applies to the number of foods to create the perfect board. To follow the 3,3,3,3 rule, stick to three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accoutrements.
What are 5 things to avoid on a charcuterie board? ›
CHARCUTERIE // Stop Adding These 10 Ingredients To Your Charcuterie Boards!
- STINKY CHEESES. The cheese section at the grocery store can be overwhelming and intimidating. ...
- FRUITS THAT GO BROWN. ...
- SPICY FOODS. ...
- CRACKERS & BREAD. ...
- Veggies. ...
- Allergens and Sensitivities. ...
- Dips, Sauces and Jams. ...
- Boring and Bland Foods.
Recipe Ingredients
- Cured meat. Use a selection of 3-4 different cured meats for your charcuterie board. ...
- Cheese. Select 4 or more cheeses of varying texture and flavor. ...
- Bread and crackers. I love to include a baguette with a charcuterie board. ...
- Nuts and chocolate. ...
- Condiments and jams. ...
- Fruit. ...
- Garnish.
When making a charcuterie board, try following the 3-3-3-3 rule:
- 3 meats.
- 3 cheeses.
- 3 starches.
- 3 accompaniments.
There are different ways to place the charcuterie: You can shape slices into a rose-like shape, by rolling them like a cinnamon roll. Little clumps and swirls of cured hams are easy and fun. Salamis can be rolled or folded on themselves so they stand up. The most important thing is to make them easy to grab.
What are 3 good cheeses for a charcuterie board? ›
Here are the best cheeses for your charcuterie board
- Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago.
- Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar.
- Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster.
- Soft cheese: burrata, mascarpone, stracchino.
- Blue cheese: gorgonzola, dunbarton blue, marbled blue jack.
Many ingredients used in charcuterie boards are high in sodium, including deli meats, dry sausages, cheeses, salted nuts, pretzels and crackers. The recommendation for daily sodium intake for adults is 2,300 milligrams or less. To reduce the sodium load on your board, add more fresh or dried fruits and raw veggies.
It is great to use local and seasonal garnishes such as fresh herbs, edible flowers, jams, nuts, honey, dried fruit and fresh colorful fruit. I like using rosemary and thyme; I love the color contrast they create with the cheese. Garnish the platter with items that pair well with the cheeses (ask your Cheesemonger!).
What are the characteristics of a charcuterie? ›
Charcuterie is a French word that means “flesh” or “meat.” It refers to a type of cuisine that involves preparing and presenting various cured, smoked, and cooked types of meat. These include bacon, sausages, salami, prosciutto, brain sausage, pâtés, terrines, and galantines.
What is something special for a charcuterie board? ›
Our traditional charcuterie board includes charcuterie board meats like prosciutto and soppressata and popular cheeses for charcuterie boards like smoked Gouda and blue cheese, plus assorted crackers and spreads to go along with them.
What is the secret to charcuterie? ›
In addition to balancing flavors (sweet, salty, sour), you also want to balance textures. For cheese, you'll want something hard, medium and soft. For meat, pair a thinly sliced meat (like prosciutto) with something a bit denser (like a salami) and something more spreadable (like a pate).
