How To Make the Perfect Charcuterie Board

By Alyssia Baldan | November 20, 2019

A charcuterie board is perfect for any occasion: afternoon outdoor picnic, date night in, or appetizer for a holiday party. You name it, a charcuterie board is a real crowd-pleaser. I mean, what’s not to love? Exotic cheeses, smoked meats, and all the fixings that make snacking with loved ones that much more delicious. If you’re playing host this holiday season and want to impress your guests, here are some tips on how to build the perfect charcuterie board.

First Thing Is First…

The Perfect Board

Figure out the sizing of the board you want to use. For a rustic vibe, you may want to go for a handcrafted wooden board. For something more modern, a round marble board works well. A dark stone board can provide a sleek look. Whatever occasion and style you’re going for, select a board that has more than enough room for the many bites you’ll be laying out, so that there is enough space between nibbles. Don’t forget to include toothpicks, napkins, serving spoons, and appetizer plates for your guests.

Our Picks:

This board comes with 4 bowls and 4 knives for a top-notch charcuterie presentation. ($53.99)

This board has handles for easy portability. ($42.99)

Assembly

There is a lot of ground to cover when assembling your board. You want to make sure you have a wide variety of flavors that can pair well with each other. Different textures are also important for a charcuterie board. Give your guests an idea of what items pair well together by keeping them close together.

1. Cheese

For cheese, think about having a variety of textured cheese including soft, firm, smoked, and or creamier cheeses. The best cheese to include in a cheese board are:

• Soft and Creamy: Brie, Goat, Camembert, Mozarella
• Firm: Manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Edam, White Cheddar
• Crumbly: Gorgonzola, Feta, Goat
• Smoked: Smoked Gouda, Provolone, Cheddar

2. Meats

When adding meats to your board, you should have a variety of cured meats such as; smoked, salty, peppered. These will pair well with the fruits and cheese on the board. Some of our favorite options are:

• Salty: Prosciutto
• Peppered Meat: Black Pepper Dry Cured Sausage, Salame Calabrese, Pepperoni
• Smoked: Salame Napoli
• Herb: Italian Herb Dry Cured Sausage
• Deli Meat: Sliced turkey, sliced ham

3. Bread & Crackers

Bread and or crackers are essential to the charcuterie board. They provide a finger size plate for all the goodies on the board. Here are some suggestions:

• Breadsticks
• Whole Wheat Crackers
• Pretzels
• Sliced Baguette
• Garlic and Onion Triscuit Crackers

4. Sauces

Add some sauces to the board to complement the cheeses and meats. Spicy or sweet mustards go great with meats, while honey and jams balance out the cheeses. Here are some sauce recommendations we love:

• Spicy Brown Mustard
• Sweet Mustard
• Fig Jam
• Honey

5. Fresh Fruits

Then add some fresh fruits to your board so you have a good balance of salty and sweet. Ideas include:

• Figs
• Grapes
• Berries
• Apple slices

6. Nuts & Olives

Garnish your board with some savory finger food bites. Some good options include:

• Pistachios
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Cerignola Olives
• Kalamata Olives