Personalized Charcuterie Board Ideas

Content… What Is a Charcuterie Board? Charcuterie Board Tools What You Need Gather Ideas How to Make It Board Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Storage Instructions What to Serve More Appetizing Appetizer Recipes to Try

What Is a Charcuterie Board?

It may be hard to pronounce (shar-KOO-tər-ee), but it’s a breeze to make. It comes from a French word meaning cured meats, and it refers to bacon, ham, salami, sausage, and the list goes on. Then, arrange these savory delicacies with various cheeses, crackers, dried fruits, and nuts, and you have the latest and greatest rage for a fancy appetizer.

Charcuterie Board Tools

The list is simple:

• An attractive wooden board large enough to arrange your ingredient selection. A marble or slate slab, wood board (olive wood is gorgeous), and large platters all work fine.
• Cute little forks and cheese knives so people can grab what they want without touching the food
• And ramekins or small bowls for dips and sauces will make a tidier presentation

What You Need for a Charcuterie Board

You can get as fancy or as simple as you want because this versatile platter is much easier than it looks.

1. Meats – Take your pick of salami, pastrami, serrano ham, etc. Use all your faves and try some new ones.
2. Cheeses – Provolone, Manchego, blue cheese, or Roquefort, etc. Again, use your favorites and take advantage of trying something new.
3. Crackers and Bread – Butter crackers, water crackers, saltines, small garlic bread slices, you name it. Whatever you like to serve as a base for your meats and cheeses.
4. Pickled Items – Olives, gherkins, and pickled veggies are an excellent addition.
5. Dried Fruits and Nuts – Almonds are my go-to, but pecans, walnuts, and cashews also work. Dried apricots are addictive, and so are dried figs.
6. Crudités – A fancy word for bite-sized veggies. You can use carrots, celery, cucumbers, etc.
7. Dips – If you add bite-sized veggies, don’t forget to add something to dip them in.😉

Gather Your Ideas

1. The planning stage starts with talking to yourself. No, we’re not crazy; we’re getting it together.
2. How many people are you serving?
3. Will this plate be the star of the show, or will there be more on the table?
4. What’s the budget say?

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

• Pick a Board – There are different boards to choose from – use whatever you have on hand. Wooden cutting boards, marble boards, serving trays, or even a large plate. If purchasing a charcuterie board, check out the home goods department for the best selections.

Start Assembling

• Cheese -Start with large items or cheeses. Be sure to place any cheese that needs cutting on the side of the board to facilitate cutting. Continue setting the cheese far apart from each other. (Photos 1-4)
• Meats – Thinly slice meat and fold in quarters or decoratively (as shown in the photo). Place on the board, and repeat with the remaining meat. (Photos 5-7)
• Crackers – Lay crackers on the board as desired. (See photo for reference)
• Misc. Items – Proceed with the rest of the ingredients. Place the fruit next to a cheese it pairs well with; no worries if it does not work out perfectly. Put nuts and smaller items like olives in small bowls or cups. (Photos 8-10)
• Finish – Fill in the nooks and blank spots with remaining small items (fruits, snacks, crackers, or whatever rocks your boat). Remember, you might have to move a few things around while creating your board.

Enjoy!

Board Variations

1. Halloween charcuterie board. Versatile items are candy corn, miniature jack-o’-lanterns, white cheese rounds decorated with black eyes and mouth, and various deli meats artfully arranged in holiday style are all perfect additions.
2. Personalized cheese board. Skip the meat and use different cheeses with other items for vegetarian charcuterie.
3. Vegan charcuterie board. Dip vegetable sticks in hummus, falafel, and roasted garbanzos, which are great high-protein items that work great. Fava beans simmered in garlic and bay leaves with a touch of salt served in their skin at room temperature are delicious, and guests can peel their own.

Tips and Tricks

1. To assemble the charcuterie board, put the larger items on the board first. Think large wheels of cheese, bowls of dips or spreads, or a jar of breadsticks.
2. Keep it simple! Social media can carry you away, but keep your guests’ likes and dislikes in mind. There’s no shame in loading up your tray with cheddar and salami if that’s what your guests know and love.
3. Add lots of color and texture! I love to add color through bright red apples, green and red grapes, blueberries, red cherry tomatoes, and green and black olives. Raspberries, blackberries, and other fruits are great for creating texture on the board!
4. Calculate your meats and cheeses. I usually allow 2-3 ounces each of meat and cheese per guest. Some people will eat more, some will eat less, and it always balances out in the end.

Make-Ahead Instructions

I prefer to assemble my charcuterie board as close to serving time as possible. Once you have everything organized, it only takes a few minutes to prepare.

Of course, you can organize everything beforehand, even the day before. I cut up my meats and cheeses and refrigerate them until it’s time to put everything together. Ditto for the fruits and vegetables. You can clean, cut up, and store items the day before.

Condiments like jams, spreads, or tapenades from a jar can go directly from the fridge to a ramekin.

Serving and Storage Instructions

The great thing about charcuterie boards is that there’s no right or wrong way to make them! I start by getting all the ingredients together and then let my imagination and creativity run wild!

Storing leftovers is easy! Place the cheese, meats, vegetables, and fruits into individual containers and store them in the fridge for snacks the next day.

What to Serve With a Charcuterie Board

Fancy appetizers call for memorable cocktails! One of my favorites is also the prettiest, Mai Tai. Peach bellinis are another must-try; they’re elegant, simple, and gorgeous. And what goes better with cheese than wine?

For some non-alcoholic options, mango juice and strawberry watermelon juice are great additions to any party! They’re quick, refreshing, and super delicious.

More Appetizing Appetizer Recipes to Try

You don’t have to serve homemade items on your charcuterie board. But if you’re feeling adventurous, I recommend these goodies to personalize your charcuterie board!

1. Southern Cornmeal Fried Shrimp
2. Pickled Okra
3. Fried Oysters
4. Spinach Artichoke Dip
5. Smoked Salmon Dip

With love, Imma

This blog post was originally published in June 2022 and has been updated with additional tips and gorgeous photos