Create a Beautiful Charcuterie Board

February 21, 2022

Life On Greenacres

One of the easiest, and stunning ways to entertain guests is to present a charcuterie board for them to enjoy. Charcuterie boards come in different varieties as there really isn’t any rule to what you can and can’t offer on a board. There are meat & cheese boards, breakfast boards, taco boards, cozy boards that feature hot chocolate with marshmallows and various treats, & the list goes on. No matter what you decide, charcuterie boards offer your guests a feast for the their senses as they are visually beautiful, and delicious. If you want to know how to create a beautiful charcuterie board that your guests will love, keep reading.

Cheeses : The best of the best

Start with your cheeses. Offering variety will cover guests with differing palette preferences. In order to make sure you aren’t running low, the rule of thumb is to offer 1lb of cheese for every five guests. My usual go-to are the following: Point Reyes Aged Gouda, Goat Cheese, Emporium Selection Brie Cheese Round , and lastly Cheddar. Drizzle a little honey on the goat cheese if it will please the masses. Goat cheese with a blueberry coating is even better.

Offer different textures of cheeses as well. There are hard cheeses, soft ones, semi hard, etc. Remove the cheeses from refrigeration one hour before the party. While still cold, slice them into guest friendly bite sizes. Allow them to come to room temperature and serve.

Charcuterie Companions: Meats

Since I often serve a charcuterie board for smaller get togethers where I won’t serve a main meal, offering a variety of cured meats will be very important in insuring guests don’t go hungry. Prosciutto is one of my favorites to always include on my charcuterie boards. Genoa salami is also a usual crowd pleaser. You can go high-end and try Casellas Sliced Prosciutto or Olli Salumeria Napoli. Adding a pickled option will balance the richness of the cheeses. It will give your board an added hardy feel for your guests to fill up on. Kalamata olives are a usual winner in my circle of guests.

Crackers & Assorted Nuts

Crackers are a staple to any meat & cheese board. Going with one that has herb infused flavors is going to bring out the flavors of the other delicious options on your board. Water crackers are a classic option. Their neutral flavor goes well with just about every single thing a board will have. If time is on your side, you can whip up this fabulous California fig and Pistachio Crisp. Regardless of what you choose, avoid going with heavily infused garlic or onion crackers as these will be overpowering to the other flavors of your board. Assorted nuts are great in breaking up the visual style as well as the flavors you will be serving. Pistachios, Almonds, Cashews, and even the same variety smoked or seasoned are a wonderful addition. Just be sure to consider any nut allergies your guests or their loved ones may have.

Dried Fruits

Adding sweet components to your board will not only add gorgeous color, but it will cut through all the salty and savory treats your board offers. Dried fruits such as dates, apricots, and Turkish figs are an exceptional choice. Fresh fruit like berries, grapes and orange slices add a pop of color. Using pomegranate & sprinkling the arils over the whole board always looks elegant.

Honey & Jam

The final element to complete the ultimate charcuterie board is to add honey and/or jam. Apricot or fig jam is perfect if you don’t have them in dry fruit form. Honey served with a honey comb, will be stunning.

Wine Pairing

While I don’t believe you absolutely must pair your board with wine that will enhance your boards flavors, it doesn’t hurt to know a few things. Trying a light-bodied white or light-medium bodied red will pair nicely with prosciutto. Da Vinci Pinot Grigio is a great option. Ferrari-Carano Sienna 2018 is an excellent option for a red since it’s a great pairing with prosciutto on crostini. 2018 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon by Ferrari-Carano is well paired with stronger cheeses such as sharp cheddar.

Have Fun with It

As we slowly creep back into some form of normalcy, we may feel a little rusty in the entertaining department. But remember why you invited your guests in the first place. To spend time together. Don’t fuss too much over the details. Prepare a day or two in advance, and have an action plan. The whole point of a charcuterie board is to make it easy. Have fun with it!

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