Make an easy Charcuterie Board in minutes…
…that you can customize with your favorite ingredients…
…or to suit the occasion (Cheese Board).
One of my most popular appetizer recipes is Charcuterie Board…
…also known as Cheese Boards. I’ll show you how to make an easy…
…Charcuterie Board in minutes in this post.
Keep reading if you are interested!
There is no one-size-fits-all Charcuterie Board recipe…
….(or platter if you prefer). On a board, the possibilities…
….for combining ingredients are virtually limitless.
You’ll almost always find a mixture of hard cheese, soft cheese…
…mature cheeses, and almost always blue cheese…
…if you really want to follow the basic requirements for making one.
I never use the recommended ingredients, instead opting for cheeses…
…meats, and fruits that I know my family and/or guests will enjoy.
The recipe below serves four people and is a great starting point…
…for creating a Charcuterie Board for special occasions. Consider Valentine’s Day!
I think I’ve made one of these almost every time we have a quiet…
…Valentine’s Day dinner at home. Because both my husband and I are nibblers…
….I usually cook for four people. The Charcuterie Board will be followed..
…by the main course and dessert. But I’ll always return to the…
….oh-so-delicious cheeses, meats, and fruit for more nibbling.
Feel free to only half the recipe when you know you will only….
…have it before dinner and you are two people.
Obviously if making for a crowd, double or triple the ingredients!
Let’s hear Nathan’s story...
I initially became enamored with charcuterie boards when…
…I made one by mistake for Christmas a few years ago.
To say the least, the response I received to this little appetizer was amazing…
The art of charcuterie is the preparation of cured or smoked meats…
Charcuterie boards are meat’s answer to a cheese board, and they’re delicious..
Creating a charcuterie board doesn’t require a specific formula, and you can mix what you like.
Insider
Let’s start from the very basic….
What is a Charcuterie Board?
Many people simply refer to it as a Cheese Board..
….which is perfectly acceptable!
The board, however, is not solely made up of cheeses.
Most Common ingredients on a Charcuterie Board includes:
- Three, four or even more types of cheeses, which include soft cheeses ( Brie, Camembert, Chevre ), hard cheeses ( Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, Manchego, Cheddar, Swiss ) aged cheeses ( Mature Cheddar, Gruyere ) and my absolute favorite Blue cheese – available in various textures ( Danish Blue Cheese, Blue Cheshire, Roquefort, Stilton )
- Meats – can be two, three, four or five different types which includes: Prosciutto, Salami, Mortadella, Black Forest Ham (basically just about any cured and/or smoked meats)
- Fruit: Grapes, Figs, Apricots, Cherries, Pear slices and more (I add whatever is in season and I know my family likes)
- Nuts: Just about any nut you like ! Nuts can be salty or sweet and a combination (placed separately on the board) is always welcome as many people either prefers a sweet nut and others salty
- Crackers and breads: Most crackers go with a Charcuterie Board but you can also add Bread Sticks or an interesting bread, sliced smallish like a cracker size
- Condiments: Definitely a must ! Honey is always a winner, jarred jams (especially those tiny pots!)
- Pickled Fruits and Vegetables: Stuffed Olives, plain pitted Kalamata Olives, Carrot ribbons, Jalapenos (keep these in a separate bowl)
The list above is not exhaustive, but it will give you a good idea…
…of what to include on your Charcuterie Board.
Is Charcuterie Board French or Italian?
The name “pig-butcher shop” comes from France…
…and means “pork butcher shop.” While the original French phrase refers to pig…
…modern charcuterie boards can include duck…
…goose, chicken, cheese, bread, fruit, or other items.
Keep going!
When to Start Assemble Your Charcuterie Board ?
As soon as the first visitor arrives, I’ll be there!
I do, however, prepare all of the ingredients ahead of time….
When I serve the board, I like to make sure that all of the ingredients…
…are still fresh and haven’t been sitting around for too long.
In fact, I made a board in December, starting in the kitchen…
…with a large platter and wax paper extending…
…all the way around both sides of the platter.
The platter contained all of the best cheese, meats, olives…
…condiments, nuts, and the majority of the fruit…
….which I then took outside. (We had a large gathering with family…
…and friends, and the weather was ideal for eating outside.)
So, here we go!
Easy Charcuterie Board Full Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Olives, stuffed ( in a small bowl )
- 50 gr Blue Cheese, ( 2 oz )
- 1 Brie Cheese Wedge
- 1 cup Mature Cheddar Cheese, cubed
- 8 slices Black Forest Ham
- 12 slices Salami, ( whichever type you prefer )
- 1 1/2 cups Green Seedless Grapes
- 8 Baby Figs, washed and halved
- 3 TB Salted Nuts
- 1/4 cup Fig Jam ( in a small bowl )
- 24 Salty Crackers, ( different varieties )
Instructions
- Start by arranging the cheeses on the board, I prefer them not next to one another, but rather in 3 areas on the board (for this specific recipe)
- Add the fruits, also leaving spaces between
- Fill up any empty spots with the remaining ingredients
- Serve with a variety of salty crackers on the side
What is Typically on a Charcuterie Board?
You can customize a charcuterie board however you like…
…but most typically it will include:
- Cured meats
- Various cheeses – Nice cheeses and meats are generally on the pricier side. With that said, it feeds A LOT of people.
- Olives and Nuts
- Fruit
- Dried Fruits
- Crackers or small slices of bread
- Jelly or Jam
On a regular basis, do I make fancy boards?
Not at all. Yes, for special occasions and holidays…
Reduce costs by going in with a few family members…
Shop in your pantry before you go to the grocery store…
In your pantry, you probably have a few items you can use for your board…
So, what chees you should use?
The Best Cheeses to Use for Charcuterie Board
Talk about cheese and little dishes you can use…
The first thing I like to do is choose my board, as that will give me…
…an idea of how much I need for the board, then I choose my cheeses..
…and then I select little dishes.
As I mentioned above, this is your board, so choose your favorite cheeses…
I recommend having at least three different cheeses…
…in different shapes and sizes. For reference, see my photo above.
My board was very large, but I chose four cheeses- brie, smoked gouda…
….blue cheese, Pecorino Romano, and a block of cream cheese with spicy jelly on top.
- 1 - 4.02oz unit per order
- 6 wedges per unit
- Sugar Free
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- Great for pasta recipes, potato topping, vegetable dip & sandwich spread!
- Microwaveable. Remove lid and film. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat as needed. Caution: Product will be hot.
- Made with 100% Natural Cheese
- Delicious hot or c
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- Convenient deli cup
- Highest quality grated Italian cheese products
- Quality and consistency in every cup
- All crafted cheeses are 100% guarant
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
What Kind of Meats to Use for Charcuterie Board
Similarly to the cheeses, you can choose whatever meats you like!
My selection of pepperoni, salami, and partially sliced sausage…
…was good quality. Check out your deli section again…
…and see what works best for your guests.
Additionally, I like to add prosciutto, but it’s not in my photos today…
The trick to adding meats to your board is to keep them in groups…
You can see my photo above and below. For fun…
…I folded some of the salami near the blue cheese in half.
Pepperoni and other salami pieces are nicely spread out on the board…
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Adding Color and Texture to Charcuterie Board
Make sure you choose items that will truly stand out on your board…
…when selecting them. Bright reds (strawberries, cherries, tomatoes)…
…bright greens (grapes, apple slices, herb garnishes), etc.
There are too many brown foods out there, and if you are not careful…
…your board will look bland rather than brilliant.
Make sure you don’t place too many colors that are similar…
…directly next to each other. Presentations will be easier with this information.
Texture is no different. It’s important to have variety. Like dates…
…you need surfaces that are smooth and shiny.
Like the Triscuit crackers shown above, you want some rough, edgy surfaces…
Some should look wet like jams and spreads…
…while others should look extremely dry, like pistachios and almonds.
Sum Up
A charcuterie display is a display of cured meats….
Having gained popularity in recent years, it now includes meats…
…cheeses, and accompaniments that pair well with them, like fruit…
…olives, nuts, and spreads). As a cheeseboard is a charcuterie board…
….people commonly refer to charcuterie boards as such.
Conclusion
Have you ever tried making charcuterie board ?
Share with us your experience making charcuterie board!
Or, if you have more questions about charcuterie board…
…feel free to leave a comment!
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.