Who doesn’t like a large chaotic board filled with meat and cheeses? In this post I am going to talk you through how you can build your own charcuterie board in minutes. They are super easy to throw together and have the ability to be a show stopper at any event.
Charcuterie (sharhr-cute-uh-ree) is a French word that refers to a board comprised of various cured meats and assorted cheeses, often complimented with crackers, fruits, nuts and spreads. But in all honestly, you can pretty much throw whatever you want on this board of goodness.
When first looking at a charcuterie board, they appear slightly overwhelming to eat and can potentially seem intimidating to build; but I am going to give you a few tips to help alleviate some of that anxiety.
Okay…. First things first, you will need a board or a flat surface. If by chance you don’t share my obsession of wooden cutting boards, you can use any flat surface, such as any cutting board, a plate, a marble or granite slate, your even counter if hosting the party.
Next, the goods!
1) Meats– cured meats are always a must. The salty goodness of these meats pair well with cheeses and fruits. When building my own boards, I generally choose threedifferent meats, you can choose more or less, but if building a larger board I might recommend a few more. There are times when I myself standing in the grocery store staring at my options for a few minutes before making my decision. There are many different avenues you can take but I would recommend a variety in shapes and flavors.
Some common cured meats are:
- Peppered Salami
- Pepperoni
- Proscuitto
- Salami
- Serrano Ham
- Spanish Chorizo
- Summer Sausage
- Heck, get some homemade turkey jerky. Be creative.
2) Cheese– my favorite, but it is also a cheese board so let cheeses host the show! I get that not everyone loves cheese, and if you are one of those hang in there, your guests will thank you. Give your board some definition by choosing cheeses of various textures and colors.
There are TONS of cheeses to choose from:
- Fresh Cheese – cottage cheese, cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta, chevre
- Soft Cheese – mozzarella, goat cheese, Brie
- Semi-Soft Cheese – smoked gouda, blue cheese, gorgonzola, Havarti, muenster, stilton
- Semi-Hard Cheese – provolone, swiss, gruyere
- Hard Cheeses – asiago, aged cheddar, Parmesan-Reggiano, manchego
Fun Fact about Me: I love cheese, so much I used to be in a cheese club. I was visiting Leavenworth in Washington for my aunts wedding when I found myself wondering downtown and just happened to walk into this store of CHEESE! All kinds of different cheeses, ones I have never heard of before, then….
I. Saw. It…
….a brochure to join their cheese club… I geeked out and of course I signed up. I would receive three different cheeses, each month for 12 months! Holy Hannah, I was stoked! I will never regret that decision. If by chance I have spiked your curiosity, here is the link to check it out for yourself. https://www.cheesemongersshop.com/cheese-of-the-month/
3) The“crunch” these would be those carbohydrate based items. Crackers. Bread Sticks. Baguettes. Pretzels. Something with a crunch that will complement the hosts.
4) From the Ground (or Branches). Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts. The goods! It is hard to go wrong with fruits on any board. Choose your favorite fruits and load up.
- Grapes. Strawberries. Blackberries. Berries (in general). Figs. Apricots. Pears. Apples.
*Tip: in season fruits will be more cost effective and taste better.
- Pickles or pickled anything, olives, beets, roasted peppers, as smaller garnished for the board.
5) Spreads. Hummus, jams, anything…..
You don’t have to include all categories, choose what you feel comfortable with, this is your board. And the beauty of it is if you don’t like your first one keep trying, none of your board will look exactly the same.
6) Wine Pairings. I love me a good glass of wine. Since cheese and meats have diverse flavors it is hard to say which wine would go best let alone, say white or red as there is no one shoe fits all. But if you have an itching and want to pick up a bottle of wine, this link may help you find what you need.
https://vinepair.com/wine-cheese-pairing-app/
Since we have covered the basics here is what I included in my most recent board:
- Meats: Salami, Smoked Salmon, Summer Sausage
- Cheeses: Sharp cheddar, Dill Havarti, Smoked Gouda, Blue Cheese
- “Crunch:” Toasted Bagel Bites from my favorite local restaurant called BernBaums in Fargo, ND
- From the Ground: Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, Olives (I personally do not like olives but my counterpart does.. so I took a bullet for him (: )
- Spreads: Beet Hummus and Garlic Hummus
That is it and honestly the board grew larger than I had expected. I had lots of leftovers. Below is the finished product.
If by chance you are against meats, cheeses and are feeling rebellious you can make an alternative “charcuterie board.”
Alternative “charcuterie boards”
Just because the definition mainly refers to meats and cheeses, this does not mean you are committed to only meats and cheese. Ladies and gentlemen… rules were meant to be broken! There are no written rules that say you have to use meats, cheeses and the basics. You can make a board that is completely out of the “normal realm.” Maybe it is for a breakfast party, a slumber party, a movie night for multiple people or a smaller more intimate group, let those creative juices flow.
Here are some fun suggestions to spice up your gatherings no matter the time of day or occasion:
A Breakfast Pancake Board
- Stacks of pancakes, different flavored pancakes or the same….. with…..
- Super fun toppings: syrups all the flavors, fresh fruit (berries, bananas, etc.), chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, granola
- The spreads: Nutella, peanut butter, butter
- Meats: bacon, sausage, hard boiled eggs
A Hot Chocolate Board
Hot cocoa powder, chocolate chips, all shapes and sizes of marshmallows, caramel chunks, candy canes, peppermint chips, Andes mints, shredded coconut, whipped topping of some sort, etc!
Movie Boards
Popcorn (obviously), candies (whatever your little heart desires), chocolate covered pretzels, pretzels, Oreos, skittles, licorice, Reese’s Bites, animal cookies, fruits, ANYTHING. This board could be a “hodge podge” of all your favorite movie foods.Choose a board and start building. To give the board elevation feel free to use different sizes and shapes of bowls or containers.
Okay.. this post is fairly long so I am going to wrap it up.
Overall,
As chaotic as charcuterie boards can be, no matter the occasion they are a creative way to display food for parties, sleepovers or an intimate date night in.
XO,
SAMI
