How to Make a Perfect Charcuterie Board?

What Is Charcuterie?

Charcuterie is a French term that refers to a type of business that specializes in prepared meats, as well as the cured, preserved, and dried meats offered in the shop, such as salami, prosciutto, and pancetta. A typical charcuterie board is a dish designed for snacking, featuring cheese, crackers, sauces, and other goodies with various meats.

Tools for Making a Charcuterie Board

Serving Board

Cheese Knives

Small Bowls

What Should You Put on a Charcuterie Board?

Choosing products and recipes for a charcuterie board may be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! Meats, cheeses, savory accompaniments, sweet accompaniments, and crackers are the most significant components of a charcuterie board.

Meats – The Characuterie Board meat ideas are; Prosciutto, Soppressata, Calabrese, Mortadella
Cheeses – Herbed Boursin, Mimolette, Smoked Gouda, Havarti, Blue cheese, Southern pimento cheese spread
Crackers and condiments – Thyme sea salt crackers, Rye crackers, Baguette slices, Long, thin crackers, Stone ground mustard, Tupelo honey
Fruits and Vegetables – Sweety Drop peppers, red, green and purple grapes, Dried fruits
Pickles and Nuts – Marinated olives, Rosemary walnuts , Gherkins, Marcona almonds

How to Arrange a Charcuterie Board

Choose your board. The size of your board or plate is determined mostly by the amount of people you are serving, and it may be as huge or tiny as you wish! You could always utilize numerous boards if you have a large group to serve or simply want a wider variety of food (dips, sandwiches, desserts, etc.). Any board will do, whether it’s a chopping board, a serving tray, or even your countertop!
Start with the cheese: Begin with the cheese since it serves as the board’s anchor. Working in odd numbers, pick 3, 5, or 7 varieties of cheese to put around the board, depending on the size of your party.
Fold and add the meats: Now comes the charcuterie section of your charcuterie. Arrange the Calabrese salami slices in a S configuration. Fan out the soppressata slices by folding them in half. Fold the prosciutto and mortadella into quarters and keep them separate—you don’t want to mix them up by putting them directly next to one other because they’re similar colors.
Add savory and sweet accompaniments.Fill up the spaces with savory and sweet dishes. Colors should be separated so that the strongest colors shine out, and foods that go well together should be placed together. For instance, mustard, salty foods, and nuts alongside salami and sopresseta, as well as strong cheeses such as parmesan. Sweet accompaniments like fresh fruit, jams, and candied almonds work well with brie or goat cheese. Cheddar cheese complements both savoury and sweet dishes.
Fill in all the extra space with crackers: Look for holes on the board and distribute crackers evenly. Fill up any gaps with extra tiny nuts or berries.
Serve and enjoy!

The charcuterie board is finished! Set it out with additional cheese knives and spoons, as well as snack plates and napkins.

Then grab a dish and get to eating! Guests may be hesitant to get into your beautifully placed charcuterie platter When you begin eating, you are signaling to them that the board is ready and urging them to fill their plates high.

100+ Items to Put on Cheese Board

Charcuterie boards (also known as snack boards) are often stocked with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, nuts, olives, dried fruits, crackers, and so on. They are the ideal adaptable appetizer. They’re a major fad right now, and the best part is that you can make them as casual or as elaborate as you like!

Here’s the deal.

They might be as simple as putting on a few pieces (ingredients you have on hand) for an afternoon or as elaborate as a celebration or wedding. Don’t make it too difficult, and don’t use foods that your visitors or family members won’t eat.

I hope your creative wheels are already turning for your next charcuterie board! Customize it with favorite foods/recipes, dietary restrictions, family traditions, flavors/textures, you name it!

To make things even easier, and here’s a list of 100+ things you can place on a charcuterie board by category!

Meats

Turkey
Ham
Roast beef
Chicken
Jerky
Prosciutto
Salami
Bacon
Pepperoni
Cured meat
Shrimp
Summer sausage
Boiled eggs

Cheeses

Cream cheese
Balsamic vinegar
Cottage cheese
Cheddar cheese
Gouda
Goat cheese
Feta
Brie
Blue cheese
Soft cheese/ hard cheeses
Manchego
Pepper jack cheese
Swiss cheese
Colby jack cheese
Mozzarella sticks or slices

Fruits & Veggies

Grapes
Strawberries
Bananas
Apricots
Oranges
Apples
Kiwi
Watermelon
Pears
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Blueberries
Pineapple
Raspberries (any berries)
Snap peas
Carrots
Celery
Cucumbers
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cherry tomatoes
Olives
Pickles
Peppers
Fresh herbs

Crackers & Dips

Crackers (Ritz, Wheat Thins, Triscuits, etc.)
Pretzels
Bruschetta
Chips
Goldfish
Baguette slices
Almonds
Walnuts
Peanuts
Cashews
Pistachios
Croutons
Sunflower seeds
Fruit dip
Peanut butter
Honey
Veggie dip
Jellies/jams
Hummus
Ranch
Salsa
Guacamole

Treats/Desserts

Marshmallows
Chocolate chips
Cookies
Fruit snacks
Licorice
Skittles
Reese’s peanut butter cups
Jelly beans
Candy canes
Conversation hearts
Caramel
Taffy
Chocolate
Gummy bears
Popcorn
Momos
Swedish fish
Cereal
Brownies
Pudding
Mints

…or anything you like!

If necessary include spoons, forks, knives, small bowls, and tongs if necessary!

Remember that they don’t have to be complicated to make, that they can be tailored to your family/event, and that you may be as creative as you want!

Pro tips:

Keep it simple! This may sound obvious, but build your board with the people who will eat from it in mind, and load it with basic things that people genuinely LIKE! When in doubt, avoid sophisticated and pricey cheeses, nuts, crackers, or sauces that your guests may dislike.
Make it COLORFUL! I enjoy using fruit to add color, such as vivid red apples, green and red grapes, strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries.