Healthy Charcuterie Board - Spirited and Then Some (2024)

This dairy-free Healthy Charcuterie Board is festooned with marinated olives, almond flour crackers, grapes, salami, bell peppers, Paleo Tzatziki Sauce, and Spicy Roasted Cashews. Decorate it with cranberries and pomegranate arils for added festivity! {Paleo-friendly}

Spiriteds, I can’t speak for you, but I can speak for my family when I say we are all about the charcuterie board. This is how we do family parties and movie nights and holidays. I even looked up how to pronounce the word charcuterie. There are a few opinions on the internet webs, however the prevailing pronunciation appears to be “shar coo ter ree.” Possibly tied with “shar coo tree.” I’m going with the former because it pairs well with a Midwestern accent.

Also, can we talk about how charcuterie boards are how I would eat at every meal if I could? I prefer to gradually lighten my meals throughout the day. My dinners, for example, are often (but not always) lighter than my lunch. Charcuterie boards are easy to customize to lighter fare or heavier fare, depending on your prevailing preference.

And while I’ve referred to this charcuterie spread as healthy, I think another way to think about it is allergen-friendly. While I wasn’t able to address each possible allergy, this particular charcuterie board spread is:

• Gluten-free
• Dairy-free
• Peanut-free
• Fruit and veggie-friendly

So let’s grab a charcuterie board and start throwing all of this goodness together!

What to include in a Healthy Charcuterie Board

• Spicy Roasted Cashews. Turmeric and cumin are at home in this recipe. Cashews also have a dairy-like flavor that makes them a palatable second choice when you don’t consume dairy.
• Fruit. This is entirely seasonal, but I am partial to tomatoes, pomegranates, grapes, blueberries, and raspberries.
• Veggies. Again, seasonal, however I gravitate toward bell peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli.
• Marinated Greek Olives. So good in this array of flavors. And so easy to make! You only need a handful of minutes to prepare them.
• Paleo Tzatziki Sauce. Love this one with bell peppers, tomatoes, and salami. I like to make it ahead of time and have it on hand.
• Almond flour crackers. I buy paleo-friendly Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers. I have found them at Costco and online.
• Salami. I go for Applegate Naturals Uncured Genoa Salami. The tiny slices fit perfectly on charcuterie boards of just about any size.

This allergen-friendly charcuterie board might be gluten-free and dairy-free, but it’s still big on flavor and variety!

How to prepare a charcuterie board

If you allow yourself enough time, the process to create a charcuterie board is enjoyable. And in the end, just about anything goes! The biggest problem will be narrowing down your choices!

1. Use a large serving tray or cutting board. Put sauces and spreads of choice in small dishes and place them opposite each other on the cutting board. This makes it easier for people to reach for food at the same time without bumping into one another.
2. Spread crackers or paleo-friendly bread throughout the board. Like the sauces, the idea is to split the ingredients into multiple small sections so people can nibble without being right on top of each other.
3. Pair veggies and fruits next to each other for a sweet and savory balance, especially if you include spreads and sauces that go with either food group. Allow about 15-30 minutes to lay everything out. Additionally, the recipes included in this Healthy Charcuterie Board can either be made ahead of time or take only a matter of minutes to make.

NOTE: I like to make the Paleo Tzatziki Sauce at least a day before I need it so it has 24 hours to thicken in the fridge.

Charcuterie board variations

There are so many recipes you can include in a mouthwatering, crowd-pleasing charcuterie board. Here are additional delectable recipes that would perfectly complement this appetizer tray.

• Lemon Avocado Dip (a must if you can’t have dairy and miss it!)
• Olive Tapenade
• 5-Minute Blackberry Sauce
• 3-Ingredient Cranberry Pomegranate Spread

Lastly, let me just say this Healthy Charcuterie Board pairs well with Cranberry Pomegranate Mimosas. The sweet and savory flavors between these two recipes are right at home with one another. I highly suggest the pairing!

Spiriteds, stay well and stay wild. I’m glad you’re here! 🩷

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