The term “charcuterie”, pronounced (shahr-koo-tuh–ree), is a French word that originally referred to 15th-century shops in France, where pork and other meat were prepared. Charcuterie is rooted in the belief that nothing from the animal is wasted and these shops sold hearts, kidneys, and other kinds of meat.
Although popular with the wealthy, some would say that the charcuterie board of today became popular because of the working class. In Europe, laborers who worked in the fields would have lunch of cheeses, bread, cured meats, fruits, and beer or wine. These picnic-style lunches were portable and didn’t need refrigeration, plates, or utensils.
Fast forward to today, with the help of social media, charcuterie boards are more popular than ever. Some compare putting together a tantalizing board to a satisfying DIY experience. Others claim that arranging a board is like a sort of artistic self-care like flower arranging or meditative coloring books. Most of us would agree that charcuterie boards are a feast for the eyes, fun to create and delicious to eat!
Whether you’re new to this food trend or are a charcuterie board aficionado, we’ve put together a few tips, tricks, and ideas for you to get started creating your mouthwatering charcuterie boards.
Choose your board
When it comes to charcuterie boards, the size of the board or platter you choose will depend on the number of people you are serving. Even if all your boards are of small size, you can use can always use multiple boards. What’s more, any of these boards will work: cutting boards, serving trays, serving platters, and marble charcuterie boards. You can even go all out by using your kitchen island countertop covered in butcher paper.
Helpful hint: A 12” x 8” board leaves room for about 2 different kinds of cheese, a selection of cured meat, and three accompaniments. Add crackers to this and you have a standard charcuterie board. Expecting a larger group? A 20” x 12” board should do.
At only 12 inches long x 8 inches wide, the Brandy Green & White Marble Cheese Board might be considered small. Shown on the left, it was large enough to serve a dozen cheese balls to friends and family.
The Mesa Marble Wood Cutting Board is perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon of snacking for two.
The unique silhouette and beautiful mother-of-pearl “tips” of the Ovada Hexagonal Marble Cheese Board make an eye-pleasing foundation for this fresh vegetable platter with dip.
Say cheese. Cheese is the anchor to your board. Choose a variety of soft and hard cheese, as well as a mix of cow, sheep, and goat cheeses. For hard cheeses cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, and Parmesan are good choices. Soft cheeses are always a nice touch and you won’t go wrong with Havarti, Brie, and goat cheese with some red pepper jelly on top.
Cured meats: Some of the more popular choices are prosciutto, salami, chorizo, ham, and cured sausages. Smoked salmon is another delicious choice. The rule of thumb is to allow for 3 ounces of meat per person.
Savory accompaniments:
Nuts: Add that earthy element to your charcuterie boards with an assortment of nuts. Choose from almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, macadamia, pecans, and walnuts. Serve them raw, candied, spicy, or salted. Have enough for about a handful of nuts per person.
Pickles: Tangy, briny pickles balance the rich meat and cheese. Here you can add different types of olives, dill pickles, and cocktail onions. An olive tapenade is always a great addition. Here is an olive tapenade recipe you might want to try!
Dips and spreads: Add some of your favorite dips including deli-style mustard, hummus, tzatziki, and balsamic dip
Vegetables: Be creative and add your favorite veggies, including cherry tomatoes, cucumber, sweet peppers, baby corn, and carrots. Adding veggies is a great way to add color to your charcuterie board.
Sweet accompaniments:
Fruit and berries: Add seasonal fresh fruits and berries to your board like grapes, apples, pears, oranges, strawberries, and raspberries.
Dried fruit: Apricots, figs, mango, pitted Medjool dates, and banana chips complement many cheese and meats and add a satisfying chewy element to the mix.
Sweet spreads: From honey to orange marmalade or raspberry jam, sweet spreads are delicious when served with soft spreadable cheeses.
Chocolate: Surprise your guests with a few pieces of rich dark chocolate or some chocolate-covered almonds.
Crackers/Bread: Add a variety of crackers in various sizes. You can also include some baguette slices, pita bread, or mini toast. Plan on 3-8 ounces per person or 6-8 ounces if it is a meal.
Putting your charcuterie board together
You’ve gathered all your delicious charcuterie foods and dips, now it’s time to place it all together on your board.
- Start with any bowls or containers you’ll be using for dips or spreads. These are useful for propping up cheese, meat, and other foods.
- Cheese is the anchor to your board, so start placing the cheese first.
- Fill the spaces of your charcuterie board with savory and sweet accompaniments.
- Use crackers to fill in any extra space.
Charcuterie Trends
If you enjoy creating mouthwatering charcuterie boards for your family and friends, you’ll want to try some of these charcuterie trends.
Jarcuterie
This fun trend allows for individual servings of charcuterie, all layered together in a cute mini mason jar (hence, the name) or clear large glass. The ultimate portable appetizer, it allows people to graze while they mingle.
Here’s a quick formula to use when arranging your jarcuterie:
- Create a base on the bottom of nuts and dried fruit.
- Thread skewers (cocktail picks) with meats, cheeses, pickles, veggies, and olives.
Stand the skewers up in the jar, using your nut and dried fruit base to keep them anchored in place. You can also stand breadsticks or veggie straws in the jar.
Charcuterie skewers
Charcuterie skewers are skewers loaded with classic charcuterie board items. They are perfect for cocktail parties because one hand is free to hold a cocktail or glass of wine. Part of a traditional Spanish tapa, these skewers are a new trend in the US.
We replaced skewers with our cocktail picks to provide similar flavor bites. Here are some charcuterie items that go well together:
- Folded prosciutto, cantaloupe (or honeydew) ball with a mint leaf.
- Marinated mozzarella balls, basil leaf, and cherry tomato skewers.
- Salami, cheese cube, olive, and a pickle slice.
Fresh fruit and mozzarella cheese create these refreshing mozzarella bites.
Dessert Charcuterie
Although not charcuterie, a dessert charcuterie board is a fun and trendy way to serve fruit and other desserts.
You can make dipping sauces and surround them with fruit, pretzels, and graham crackers, or simply add some of your favorite baked goods. Dessert boards are probably the most fun to create and it well with holiday themes!
This colorful dessert board has a fun colorful vibe and loads of goodies.
Or why not serve an assortment of candy that everyone will love?
For a kid’s party:
Fill a board with kid-friendly foods like fruit, veggies, chips and dip, mini sandwiches, popcorn, cheese crackers, and more.
This Barbie-themed party board has an assortment of goodies to replenish as needed!
There is just something about a charcuterie board that offers a luxurious feel to the occasion. Whether you’re hosting a large group of friends, going on a family picnic, or creating a date night charcuterie for two, charcuterie boardsare an easy way to serve appetizers, snacks, and desserts in a fun and festive way.
Special thanks to @gcdolceliving, @thats2cutedesignllc, @pantrytotableblog, vickymami8482 and @palletdecorandmore for the photos.
