One of the most popular food trends of the last few years has been the charcuterie board.
It’s easy to see why everyone loves them, they are filled with our favorite salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy snacks. One of the most common questions I get is,
“How do I decide what to put on my board?” The answer is easy: You put your favorite things on there.
To show you how to compose a board with a balance of flavors, I made a classic fall-themed board with a variety of meats, cheeses, crackers, veggies and sweets. I then used a pumpkin-shaped cutting board to create a fun orange colored spread. Lastly, I created a Christmas tree on a long rectangular board. I wanted to give you a variety of boards to help you visualize the variety you can create.
Board Basics:
3-4 types of cheese: 2 soft and 2 hard cheeses
Hard cheese examples: Cheddar, Colby Jack, Provolone, Gouda, Parmesan, Romano, etc.
Soft cheese examples: Fresh Mozzarella, Brie, Blue, Camembert, Cream Cheese, Goat Cheese, etc.
3 types of meat
Examples: ham, turkey, roast beef, salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, etc.
3 types of vegetables: use to add color contrast to your board
Examples: carrot sticks, celery, olives, snow peas, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.
1-2 types of fruit: use to add color contrast to your board
Examples: grapes, strawberries, apples, oranges, pears, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc.
3-4 types of crackers: use 2 plain varieties and
2 flavored varieties
2-3 dips or sauces/dips
Examples: mustard, Dijon mustard, hummus, honey, fruit jams, savory relish, etc.
Optional: Trail mix, pretzels, dried fruit or candy
Tips for assembling your board
Place your cheeses on the board in small piles or rows, then meats, then veggies, then fruit. Use the crackers to fill in.
You want the board to look overly full.
Depending on the containers you have, place the sauces/dips on the cutting board or on the side.
Always pick one new thing to try each time you make a board.
You can accompany your board with an all candy or dessert board. Candy boards are my favorite around holidays
that have specialty candies.
Click here to read more of the November issue.