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
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 are the key elements of a charcuterie board? ›
But as these communal boards have gotten more popular for entertaining at home, the definition has expanded to include abundant displays of meats, cheeses, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, toasted nuts and briny olives, plus honeys, jams, jellies, chutneys, mustards and more!
What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie board? ›
To follow the 3,3,3,3 rule, stick to three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accoutrements.
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.
Place cheeses of different shapes and colors strategically, and layer cured meats in a cascading fashion. Creating symmetry or asymmetry can both be aesthetically pleasing so do whatever you feel works best for your ingredients. Consider placing meats and cheeses that you want to encourage pairing next to each other.
What is on a true charcuterie board? ›
A charcuterie board is a tray that includes cured meats, cheeses and a variety of sweet and savory bites as well (including miniature pickles, olives, fig spreads, apricot preserves, whole grain mustards, honeycomb, and more).
What does every charcuterie board need? ›
Five Things Every Charcuterie Board Needs
- 1 A selection of cheeses. I keep my favorites from Trader Joe's on hand. ...
- 2 Cured meats. Pepper crusted salami and prosciutto are my favorites.
- 3 Something Salty. Olives and nuts are great salty additions. ...
- 4 Fresh or Dried Fruit. ...
- 5 Bread or Crackers.
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).
What goes first on a charcuterie board? ›
Though there are many easy charcuterie board ideas out there, the process is somewhat formulaic. Start by adding structure with little dishes, then place your ingredients on the board starting with the largest elements like the cheeses and meats, followed by smaller items like crackers and fresh produce.
How do you make a perfect charcuterie? ›
Aim for contrasting and complementary tastes and textures when choosing pairings and experiment with flavor combinations: sharp cheeses such as asiago or Roquefort drizzled with honey or paired with jam, dry, salty crystallized cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino paired with fatty cuts of meat like soppressata or ...
Briny, pickled or marinated: olives, co*cktail onions, cornichons, dill pickles, pepperoncini. We love green olives stuffed with garlic or feta, and I also like including olive tapenade and bruschetta. Savory Dips and spreads: Whole ground mustard, hummus, ranch, balsamic dip. Veggies – cold cut, if desired.
What are two main charcuterie items? ›
Charcuterie Made Simple: 5 Components You Need For Your Board
- Cheeses.
- Meats.
- Fruits and/or veggies.
- Crackers and/or bread.
- Spreads.
Depending on the size of your board, you should have one each of cow, sheep, and goat options with soft rind, firm, and hard cheeses in the mix. Flavors should range between nutty and mild to funky and unique. Rule of thumb: 1 cow, 1 sheep, 1 goat; 1 soft, 1 firm, 1 hard.
What are the ingredients used in making charcuterie board? ›
Gather your ingredients.
I've found the following ratio works great: 4 types of cheese, 4 types of meat, 3 types of bread/crackers, 1 type of chocolate, 2-3 different nuts, 1 jam, 1 honey, and 1-2 types of olives. Cornichons are a non-negotiable for me and I always have them on a charcuterie board!
What are the most common items on a charcuterie board? ›
The most important elements of a charcuterie board are meats, cheeses, savory accompaniments, sweet accompaniments, and crackers.
