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How to make a Charcuterie Board

How to create a beautiful and delicious charcuterie board with a list of what meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, condiments, vegetables, and extras to use and tips on how to design a cheese board, what to buy, and where to buy it.

Prep Time
30 mins
Servings: 16
Course: Appetizer , Snacks
Cuisine: Italian , American

Ingredients

CHEESES:
  • cheddar
  • brie
  • gouda
  • goat cheese
  • Manchego
  • Boursin cheese
  • pepper jack cheese
  • Gorgonzola or blue cheese
  • BURRATA or MARINATED MOZZARELLA
  • parmigiano reggiano
CURED MEATS:
  • prosciutto
  • salami
  • SOPPRESATA
  • Capicola
  • coppa
FRUITS:
  • apples (honeycrisp or fuji)
  • NAVEL or BLOOD ORANGES
  • pomegranates
  • fresh figs
  • RED ANJOU or BOSC PEAR
  • dates
  • berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries)
  • dried fruits (apricots, oranges, cherries)
ACCOMPANIMENTS and CONDIMENTS:
  • nuts
  • olives
  • DARK CHOCOLATE or CHOCOLATE COVERED NUTS
  • HONEYCOMB or HONEY
  • JAMS
  • SPREADS or DIPS
  • Pickles
  • mustard
CRACKERS and BREAD:
  • butter crackers
  • water crackers
  • nut and seed crackers
  • whole grain crackers
  • ENTERTAINMENT CRACKER ASSORTMENT
  • CRISPS
  • RUSTIC BAKERY SOURDOUGH FLATBREAD
  • French Baguette Slices
  • Sourdough Baguette Slices

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Choose the Right Board: Choose a wooden or slate board as your canvas. It should be large enough to accommodate all your ingredients but not so large that it looks empty.
  2. Grouping and Layering: Place meats and cheeses in small clusters rather than spreading them out uniformly. I suggest starting out with the cheeses and using different shapes. You can cut wedges, cut cheese into cubes, keep it round (like brie), or cut into triangles. Place pops of color throughout.
  3. Create Variety: Incorporate a variety of colors and textures. Arrange vibrant fruits, nuts, olives, vegetables, and pickles to complement the charcuterie items. Don't forget the spreads -- fig jam is always a favorite.
  4. Garnish: Add fresh herbs, such as rosemary or thyme or edible flowers.

Notes

  • Check out my guide to choosing boards and where to shop for ingredients all in the blog post above.