How to Make a Charcuterie Board for Beginners

Making a charcuterie board can be daunting at first. They're perfect for parties and they really look beautiful. They're also easy enough for any day of the week. In this article, we take you through how to make a charcuterie board that's so quick and easy. Learn how to make it look beautiful and put together. If you love this make sure you try our Summer Snack Charcuterie board too.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board for Beginners

• Start with a charcuterie board
• Next, fill small bowls with fruit spread and mixed nuts.
• Then add the largest items like the strawberries, large round crackers, and baby bel cheese.
• Add a section of medium size items like sliced cheese and smaller crackers.
• Add the meats. To form meat fans, fold each piece of salami and ham into quarters.
• Fill holes with fresh fruit of your choice. You can add blackberries or red raspberries.
• Then fill in with smaller items like cheese and summer sausage.
• And last, add the smallest items like different kinds of crackers. You can also fill in any empty space on the board with fresh herbs.
• Serve with cheese knives

Model Featured: TableCraft Products 79 13 1/2" W x 7 1/2" D x 3/4" H Wood Rectangular Bread

Board

What To Add To Your Charcuterie Board?

Serving of Ingredients Per Person

Try following this easy rule of thumb: serve 3-4 slices of meat and 1-2 ounces of cheese per person in a variety of flavors and textures.

If you want to have more diverse options, you can try these:

• 2-3 types of meat (mix mild to spicy)
• 2-3 kinds of cheese (mix soft/hard, mild/sharp flavors)
• 2-3 seasonal fruits (mix fresh and dried)
• 2-3 types of spreads (mix sweet and salty)
• 2-3 types of crackers and/or bread
• 1-2 extra ingredients such as chocolate, nuts, fresh herbs, and flowers to fill in and garnish your board

Best Type of Meats To Add to Your Board

Here is a list of the variety of meats you may want to try:

• Pepperoni
• Chorizo
• Bacon
• Prosciutto
• Salami
• Capicola
• Sopressata
• Calabrese

Best Type of Cheese To Serve to Your Board

There are no specific rules when cutting cheese for your board. A charcuterie board is like a blank canvas and as the artist, you're the one who gets to design the unique artwork of creating your board.

Pro-tip: Avoid leaving large blocks of cheese on the board and make sure cut them up into smaller pieces so they're easier for people to take away. You can slice the cheese into different shapes by cutting it at different angles. After that, have fun when planning your board. You can choose Spreadable cheese or firm cheeses.

Here is a list of a variety of cheese you may want to add to your board:

• Burrata
• Camembert
• Goat
• Stilton
• Brie
• Blue
• Aged Cheddar
• Mild Cheddar
• Gouda
• soft cheese
• brie cheese

Types of Crackers to Use:

Try using a variety of different types of crispy crackers so there is something for everyone.

Try out different shapes, flavors, and colors so that the boards look nice too.

Also, check to see if the cracker boxes stack well together so that they will fit on your board.

Model Featured: TableCraft Products 10710

Types of Nuts to Use:

You can use whatever type of nut you want but getting the mixed nuts is the easiest option. That's why making homemade charcuterie boards is so enjoyable. You can easily create them according to your preferences.

Types of Fruit Spreads to Use:

It depends on your personal preferences. You can use jams, preserves, or even chutneys.

Try adding spicy jam to add some spice to the board.

Incorporate Prosciutto into Your Board

Prosciutto has probably become one of the most popular meat options for a charcuterie platter because of its mild saltiness. It's not easy to use, but if you're willing to put in some effort, it works well. You can easily add prosciutto to your charcuterie board by rolling it up into a log shape and then stacking it on top of the rest of your ingredients.

Make a Charcuterie Board Step by Step?

• Select the right board for your type of spread. There are many options available such as large cutting boards, slate boards, or large marble or ceramic platters.
• Let your imagination run wild! Start with the bigger items first and then fill in the smaller ones. Add any small bowls you might use for dips or sauces.
• After that, put your cheese into different piles on the board but don't mix them together entirely.
• Put your cracker or bread next to the cheese.
• Then, add your meat, placing them next to the other ingredients on the board. It keeps its folded shape so that your guest can easily pick up pieces of meat and cheese together.
• Place the fruits on the platter.
• If there are any remaining gaps, add any extra ingredients such as squares of chocolate or fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, or fresh flowers.
• Before serving, add your spreads to the bowls and onto the boards.
• You can then serve and enjoy!

What Compliments a Charcuterie Board?

It’s a delicious appetizer and I really enjoy serving it with wine. Cheese and meat go well with most types of wines.It's also good to serve with your favorite cocktail recipes.

It’s usually served as an appetizer, but it can be quite filling, so you can serve it for lunch or supper.

Model Featured: TableCraft Products 79A

When to Prepare a Charcuterie Board?

You can cut up the cheese and any fruit the night before and store them in an airtight plastic bag in the refrigerator overnight. You can also freeze meat for later use.

Considering Serving Charcuteries in Your Restaurant?

If you plan to serve this tasty, convenient, and popular dish, you might want to consider investing in good restaurant equipment. Here at Culinary Depot, we help you decide which equipment or dishware is suitable. Get in touch with us today!