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Table of Contents
- Create your own Charcuterie Board
- Go Big or stay Small! Define your purpose and start building from there…
- Identify your Purpose
- Assembly
- Display
- Season
- Taste
- Made with Amore,Elena
- The best part is to make it your the charcuterie board your own with your favorite food items!
- Have fun with it and Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!)
- Recipe:
- Cheese and Meat
- Dried Fruits and Nuts
- Pickles, Peppers, Olives Etc.
- Instructions
- How to Build a Charcuterie Board Recipe
Create your own Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards are the hot trend to any small or large party these days. In the French tradition, charcuterie (pronounced “shahr-ku-tuh-ree”) is the art of preparing and assembling cured meats and meat products. This traditional “meat only” board has come a long way with various additions to create more modern types of the traditional charcuterie board. Creating photogenic charcuterie boards brings together craft and food cultures, making for a satisfying DIY experience. Follow these easy steps to create your own charcuterie board and “WOW” your family and friends. Here is a version my friend and I created for a large gathering (pre-Covid 19 pandemic). Don’t get stuck on these images as you create your own. Make. Love. Share!
Go Big or stay Small! Define your purpose and start building from there…
Follow these easy steps to create the charcuterie board of your dreams! You can make them as small or large as you need.
Identify your Purpose
Identify your purpose for the “board”: appetizer, snack, light meal, full meal, etc. Defining your purpose will also determine your cost. You may choose to spend a lot of money on fine expensive ingredients, go more casual, or buy in bulk. To make it more of a meal include bowls of hearty salads, pasta salads, different breads, and a variety of desserts. Set a budget and run with it. It can be done!
Assembly
Apart from a traditional “wood board” you can use: Cake stands, upside down bowls serving trays, pizza stones and even random pieces of wood can all serve as wonderful foundations for charcuterie and food displays.
Display
Decide on the space you want to use. This will depend on your purpose (see above). You could create your “board” on an entire countertop or island. You may also just use one board with some smaller serving dishes. I love making the display “pop” with different colors in the foods and serving dishes on the board. Bright reds (strawberries, cherries, tomatoes), bright greens (grapes, apple slices, herb garnish), etc. try to separate your colors with more bland items like crackers and bread.
Season
Seasonal foods, veggies, and fruit could inspire your board, or even specific holiday themes. For example: a Holiday board could have sprinkles or cranberries, sprigs of thyme, and cut up oranges.
A Halloween board could include a bowl of small autumn mix candy and apples with caramel dip. You get the idea!
Taste
When creating a board for whatever occasion or season I like to include a variety of ingredients to hit all the buds: sweet, savory, earthy, spicy, salty, and tangy. I also like to include different textures: soft, crunchy, smooth, etc.
For example, when you consider cheese- include flavors and textures to appeal to various palettes. Mild, sharp, spicy, creamy, hard, etc.
Here is one example of a charcuterie board to give you a running start. Remember you can do anything and the sky’s the limit in creating charcuterie boards! Make it personal and your own.
Made with Amore,
Elena
The best part is to make it your the charcuterie board your own with your favorite food items!
Have fun with it and Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!)
Recipe:
Ingredients
Serves 12
Jam, Jellies, Spreads, Preserves
- 10 oz spreads and or jams fig spread, marionberry habanero pepper jelly, pesto, coarse ground mustard, apricot jam
Fresh Fruit and Crackers
- 16 oz grapes get at least two varieties
- 8 oz strawberries halved
- 3 oz blueberries
- 3 oz raspberries
- 12 oz crackers
Cheese and Meat
- 10 oz soft cheese fresh mozzarella, blue cheese, brie, etc.
- 10 oz semi-hard cheese sliced (Cheddar, Monterey, Gouda, Havarti, Provolone, etc.)
- 8 oz cured or smoked meats Columbus salame, Prosciutto, ham, etc.
Dried Fruits and Nuts
- 10 oz dried fruits dates, apricots, cherries, etc.
- 8 oz nuts raw almonds, pecans, pistachios, etc.
- fresh herbs to garnish mint, rosemary, basil, etc.
Pickles, Peppers, Olives Etc.
- 5 oz cornichons
- 5 oz stuffed olives
Instructions
- Place all jams, preserves, mustards, or dips into small bowls or shallow dishes and place on the board.
- Add meats and cheese, placing larger items like sliced meats and blocks or slices of cheese on the board first.
- Add crackers and.or bread next, spacing them out on the board,.
- Fill in gaps on your board with fresh and/or dried fruit.
- Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. Finish off by placing serving utensils in the cheeses and garnish with greenery
If you make this recipe please write a comment to tell me your thoughts! I want to connect with all of you through your experience with my recipes.
How to Build a Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards are the hot trend to any small or large party these days. In the French tradition, charcuterie (pronounced “shahr-ku-tuh-ree”) is the art of preparing and assembling cured meats and meat products. This traditional “meat only” board has come a long way with various additions to create more modern types of the traditional charcuterie board.
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Ingredients
Jam, Jellies, Spreads, Preserves
- 10 oz spreads and or jams fig spread, marionberry habanero pepper jelly, pesto, coarse ground mustard, apricot jam
Fresh Fruit and Crackers
- 16 oz grapes get at least two varieties
- 8 oz strawberries halved
- 3 oz blueberries
- 3 oz raspberries
- 12 oz crackers
Cheese and Meat
- 10 oz soft cheese fresh mozzarella, blue cheese, brie, etc.
- 10 oz semi-hard cheese sliced (Cheddar, Monterey, Gouda, Havarti, Provolone, etc.)
- 8 oz cured or smoked meats Columbus salame, Prosciutto, ham, etc.
Dried Fruits and Nuts
- 10 oz dried fruits dates, apricots, cherries, etc.
- 8 oz nuts raw almonds, pecans, pistachios, etc.
- fresh herbs to garnish mint, rosemary, basil, etc.
Pickles, Peppers, Olives Etc.
- 5 oz cornichons
- 5 oz stuffed olives
Instructions
- Place all jams, preserves, mustards, or dips into small bowls or shallow dishes and place on the board.
- Add meats and cheese, placing larger items like sliced meats and blocks or slices of cheese on the board first.
- Add crackers and.or bread next, spacing them out on the board,.
- Fill in gaps on your board with fresh and/or dried fruit.
- Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve. Finish off by placing serving utensils in the cheeses and garnish with greenery
Notes
Have fun and make it your own!
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: N/A
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian/ French/ American
- Cuisine: Italian/ French/ American
Thanks.|
I made my first charcuterie board today! I used your charcuterie board and your cheese board and lots of your suggestions. It was amazing!! Thank you!
So happy you loved it and the tips were useful!