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Home » Appetizers » How to Build the Best Charcuterie Board

How to Build the Best Charcuterie Board

December 10, 2018 by Tara Noland 11 Comments

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How to Build the Best Charcuterie Board

If you have ever had a charcuterie board, you know how delicious they can be. Offering up an array of pickled items, cured meats, cheese, sweet or savory jams, spreads, fresh fruit, crackers, bread, and more, a Charcuterie board is perfect to offer to a crowd. So today I bring you How to Build the Best Charcuterie Board. 

Anyone can offer up a plate of basic crackers and cheese, but a well-constructed charcuterie board is so much more than that. In fact, it’s more of a choose your own adventure story.

When it comes to building your charcuterie board, there aren’t really any concrete rules. However, mixing and matching items that complement each other, adding in savory flavors, sweet tastes, and different textures is important to the board’s success.

The word charcuterie means cold cooked meats which are usually cured or smoked or a store that sells cold cooked meats. Today the word “charcuterie” has been stretched a bit more to include other things like cheese, pickled items, mustard, condiments and so much more. 

How do you pronounce charcuterie?  [shahr-koo-tuh–ree]. Enjoy all this post has to offer with lots of information so you can know How to Build the Best Charcuterie Board around. 

Helpful Items for this post

This post contains affiliate links. 

Charcuterie Board

Six-Piece Cheese Knife Set

Large Stone Slate Cheese Board

Condiment Bowls

Charcuterie Board

What You Need to Build a Charcuterie Board

The Board

One or two platters will work just fine. In fact, you can use a wooden cutting board or even a marble slab. There are several different boards you can use to create the perfect Charcuterie board.

Meats

When choosing the meats you will be adding to your charcuterie board, you will want to add variety. Choose cured sausage, whole muscle cuts and even forcemeats. Just make sure that the meats are sliced thin.

Cured Sausage

  • Salami (try one with a Parmesan rind)
  • Spanish Chorizo
  • German Sausage
  • Kielbasa
  • Polish Sausage

Whole Muscle Cuts

  • Bresaola
  • Prosciutto
  • Jamon Serrano (I am loving this even more than prosciutto at the moment)
  • Jamon Iberico

Forcemeats

  • Duck or goose liver pâté
  • Quenelle or Salmon mousse
  • Roulades or terrines
  • Pork, Duck, Goose or Rabbit Rillettes

Charcuterie Board

Cheeses

When it comes to creating a well-rounded Charcuterie board, it is important to include firm cheeses and soft cheeses. Adding a variety of texture and flavors is important. There are many, many kinds of cheese to choose from. Here is a selection of some of my favorites to add to a charcuterie.

Firm  and Medium Firm Cheese

  • Parmigiano Reggiano
  • Piave
  • Sbrinz
  • Bellavitano
  • Cheddar, try an applewood-smoked, extra-aged, an Irish Porter or many more
  • Grand Padano
  • Pecorino
  • Gouda, smoked is lovely
  • Edam
  • Jarlsberg
  • Gruyere
  • Emmental
  • Manchego
  • Asiago

Semi firm and Soft Cheese

  • Brie
  • Camembert
  • Chevre
  • Blue Cheeses like Stilton, Roquefort, Cambozola, Gorgonzola
  • La Serena
  • Havarti
  • Munster
  • Smoked Mozzarella
  • Saint Andre
  • Cream Cheese
  • Neufchatel
  • Burrata
  • Boursin

Pickled Items

Adding pickled items to your charcuterie board will balance the flavors of the meats and cheeses added. Plus it is fun to add in different textures and tastes to your board. 

  • Spicy Pickles
  • Olives
  • Pickled Cauliflower
  • Artichoke Hearts
  • Antipasti
  • Pickled Green Beans
  • Pickled Asparagus

Jams & Spreads

Adding jams and spreadable items to the board will help to make the experience more enjoyable. They add a lovely touch to both meats and cheeses. 

  • Tomato Jam
  • Red Pesto
  • Berry Jams 
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Hummus
  • Jalapeno Jam
  • Olive Tapenade
  • Sweet Hot Mustard
  • Store-bought dips like spinach dip, cheese dips, artichoke dip, onion dip

Vegetables and Fruit

Including fresh vegetables and fruits to your board will add the balance you need and act as a fantastic pallet cleanser. In the warmer months you can grill your vegetables and even your fruits to add another dimension. Vegetables like eggplants, zucchini, peppers, onions all lend themselves to a quick grill. While fruits like watermelon, peaches, pineapples and pears are also fun to experiment with. 

  • Celery
  • Carrots
  • Cucumber
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Sliced Apples
  • Sliced Pears
  • Melon
  • Pineapple
  • Pomegranate Seeds
  • Dried fruits like apricots, pineapple, dates, figs

Bread, Crackers, and Nuts

You will need something to give the tray a bit more substance. Add a variety of different breads, crackers and nuts. The crackers can be added right to the board or separately in a basket. 

  • Whole Grain Crackers
  • Melba Toast
  • Pretzel Crisps
  • Plain Crackers
  • Crusty Bread
  • Crackers with Nuts and Berries
  • Toasted Crostini
  • Gluten-Free Crackers 
  • Parmesan crisps
  • Pistachios
  • Almonds
  • Cashews
  • Mixed Nuts

Charcuterie Board

The Finishing Touches

The finishing touches to your charcuterie board make all the difference. It should be well arranged and well thought out.

  • Serve confiture and jams in their original jars, especially if they are attractive or in little bowls with appropriate serving tools. 
  • Don’t cut bread until it’s being used to preserve its freshness.
  • Provide serving tools like a few cheese knives, spreaders, spoons, and a dish for olive pits. Plus don’t forget little appetizer plates and napkins. 
  • When constructing your board, arrange things in an attractive manner, staggering cheeses, meats, vegetables, and other items. This gives the board a pleasing appearance, making different colors pop. You can add in some fresh herbs to liven up the board too. They are attractive to look at and can even add some aroma to the platter. 

When it comes to creating a beautiful charcuterie board, the sky is the limit. If things are planned ahead of time and fruits and vegetables are washed then a charcuterie board can be pulled together in a matter of minutes.

Pair it with a selection of different wines and beer varieties to please all your guests or makeup one of these 35 Festive Cocktails for the holidays. A charcuterie board can be served at any time of the year so check out 46 Cooling Summer Cocktails also. 

Great Recipes to go with the Charcuterie Board 

Pine Cone Cheese Ball

This Pine Cone Cheese Ball is perfectly festive for the holidays. It is easy to assemble, perfect for a crowd and is a great make-ahead that can be added to your charcuterie. 

Tumeric Dyed Curry Deviled Eggs

Tumeric Dyed Curry Deviled Eggs are fantastic at any time of the year. Deviled eggs are loved by so many people and are usually the first dish to disappear. 

Cranberry Turkey Pinwheels

Cranberry Turkey Pinwheels are a great nibble and kids love these also. It is nice to have something on hand that little ones will enjoy too. 

Cranberry Port Goat Cheese Log

Cranberry Port Goat Cheese Log is easy and festive for the fall and winter holidays.  I love the red and green addition to the outside of this log. People will be diving in to enjoy!! 

 

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Christmas, Holidays, Party Essentials, Thanksgiving Tagged With: charcuterie, Cheese, crackers, fruits, meats, vegetables

« Curried Red Pepper and Pickled Cauliflower
Herbed Butter Roast Turkey Breast »

Comments

  1. Liz Mays says

    December 12, 2018 at 2:42 pm

    I really want to put another one of these together and these eats would make it amazing. I’m always so impressed when these are at parties.

    Reply
  2. Stacie says

    December 12, 2018 at 2:55 pm

    That is the best charcuterie board I’ve ever seen. You did an amazing job!

    Reply
  3. Melissa Chapman says

    December 12, 2018 at 3:26 pm

    I love all your ideas and you make such a great board. You must be the hit of the seasonal parties. I love that you added fruits and vegetables to give it that balance/

    Reply
  4. Brianne says

    December 12, 2018 at 5:46 pm

    I love a nice charcuterie board! Yours is amazing. Everything looks so delicious! What wine would you recommend? 🙂

    Reply
  5. robin rue says

    December 12, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    It’s not a party without a good charcuterie board. I am always disappointed when I go and don’t see one lol.

    Reply
  6. Kathy says

    December 12, 2018 at 7:34 pm

    I honestly wasn’t sure what this meant til I started reading more. That sure looks amazing too! It can be hard to create a great one!

    Reply
  7. Amy says

    December 12, 2018 at 7:47 pm

    I recently took a class on this and was so surprised at what a charcuterie board could feature. I had no idea even shrimp or a warm element was ok!

    Reply
  8. Scott says

    December 12, 2018 at 8:01 pm

    I guess I’m not refined enough. I didn’t realize it had a fancy name. We always just called them “meat and cheese platters”!

    Reply
  9. Emily says

    December 12, 2018 at 8:24 pm

    I’m drooling over here! My husband and I love making charcuterie boards for late night snacking. I’ll have to refer to your list for different options of what to include.

    Reply
  10. Catalina says

    December 13, 2018 at 1:38 am

    I love boards. And I was thinking to make a big board for Christmas. Thank you a lot for these wonderful ideas!

    Reply

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