Building the Perfect Board
making a list and checking it twice
when putting together a charcuterie board there is such thing as the perfect board. it all begins with the size of the board you’re dealing with and from there the ingredients pile on. for larger events why even stress using a board or finding the right size and simply just lay down a piece of parchment paper. this not only helps create a larger board but also helps the clean up process by one less thing to wash! however when creating any board, building height is key. grab your favorite bowls and stands to fill with hummus and olives and get creative. in the end presentation is key!
Here’s what you’re going to need:
The Cheese
6 different types of cheeses ( semi hard / semi soft / firm /soft / blue / crumbly ) For quantities, you'll want to buy about 2 ounces of cheese per person, or 5 ounces per person if the charcuterie cheese board is meant to be the entire meal.
Here's some of the best cheese for charcuterie boards:
Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago
Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar
Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster
Soft cheese: burrata, mascarpone, stracchino
Blue cheese: gorgonzola, dunbarton blue, marbled blue jack
Crumbly cheese: feta, goat cheese
The Meats
4 different types of meats
Prosciutto di Parma
Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham made from a pig's or wild boar's hind leg. It undergoes a 12-month curing process and has a salty, slightly sweet flavor.
The texture is tender and delicate, making it perfect for thinly sliced presentations.
Calabrese Salami
Calabrese salami is a dry salami from southern Italy made from coarsely ground pork seasoned with garlic, red wine, and paprika. It is cured for around three months and has a slightly spicy flavor.
Genoa Salami
Genoa salami is a type of Italian dry salami made from finely ground veal and pork and seasoned with garlic, white wine, peppercorns, and salt.
It is cured for around four months and has a milder flavor than Calabrese salami.
Soppressata
Soppressata is a cured Italian salami made from lean pork and lard. It has a variety of added seasonings that can be sweet, salty, or spiced with black pepper, depending on its area of origin.
What’s in Season
Here’s where you can get really creative! Depending on the time of the year pick which fruits and vegetables you’d like on the board. Whether that’s strawberries, grapes, apples, peppers, broccoli, radishes, celery, carrots and cucumbers. Honestly any fruit or veggie you prefer! Just be sure to wash and cut each ingredient to its rightful size for the board.
Don’t Forget!
Before finishing your board make sure you have all the fixings!
Dates
Figs
Nuts ( Almonds / Pecans / Pine Nuts / Pistachios )
Jams ( Strawberry / Blackberry / Fig )
Olives
Chocolate
Dips/ Spreads ( Vegetable / Onion / Hummus / Ranch )
Bread Options / Crackers
Utensils for serving / Mini Knives for cutting cheese
Chef Notes:
Building a charcuterie board should be fun and creative! Don’t stress whipping up that perfect hummus or spinach dip. Store bought works just as good when finding the right brand. Just be sure to transfer the dip into your own dish on the board.
Want to really cover all of your bases? Have gluten free bread presented on the board.
Be sure to use knives for each cheese that must be cut to avoid mingling the flavors. And because the flavors of cheese are best appreciated at room temperature, take the cheese from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.
Depending on the size of your board, why not make it savory, sweet and salty! Add your favorite chocolate candies, your favorite nuts and whatever fruit is currently in season!
It’s totally okay to prep your board the night before depending on the ingredients! Maybe wait to slice those apples, but having cheese already portioned and strawberries prepped is never a bad idea! If you plan on making your own hummus or dips such as spinach or onion, it’s always smarter to make those the night before too!
Charcuterie Boards can become VERY pricy but that’s only if you don’t look for those deals at the store. Personally having a home garden helps savor major! All those fresh veggies from my own garden displayed on the board and major bonus points telling your guests you grew that!
