Charcuterie Board – A step by step guide!
Thinking of how to put together a charcuterie board can be a little daunting. If you follow these easy steps, you’ll realize it is actually a lot easier to do than you realize! The ultimate goal is figuring out how to balance taste and texture while including some eye catching details.
First: Make sure you have a dish or serving tray that you want to use for compiling all the items. I have a variety of sizes and shapes, but really like this one (pictured above) that I recently got at Home Goods. The wood gives it a rustic feel and the raised edges/handles make it easy to assemble without worrying about items falling off. I also recommend getting small bowls that can be used to put olive pits in, as well as creating some variety of shape/color/height for displaying other pieces – like I did for the cornichons, also known as mini pickles š Below are some options for boards that I like and believe would be great for the base of your display.
This round tray is only $19.99 from Target These reclaimed wooden trays from West Elm come in two different sizes. I love the style of a wooden pizza paddle – this one from Pottery Barn is $69. I love these small ceramic bowls to use for displaying items. Plus, the artist is a local DC artist!
Second: Pick your cheese. There may be *official* rules about the different cheeses to choose (think soft, hard, blue, etc), but I basically choose what looks good with SOME mindfulness about not choosing all soft or all hard cheeses. For this board, I chose a brie, truffled gouda, and goat cheese. I tend to always get brie because I like to get a small jar of jam (tangerine jam this time!) to also place on the board. If you don’t have room on the board, you could spread the jam on top of the brie. The goat cheese I got had fresh herbs already on top of it and you can often find goat cheese rolled in a variety of toppings.
Third: The crackers. I would say this is equally as important as the cheese! The crackers have to balance out the cheese and also compliment it well. For this board, I went with thin rosemary crisps to pair with the truffled gouda, sourdough pita sticks to pair with the goat cheese, and apricot fig lemon crackers to pair with the brie. I try to have a sweeter or fruiter cracker for the brie and then more savory or plain options for the other cheeses.
I love this brand of crackers – always so delicious. I always get them from Whole Foods. These wafers are so thin and CRIPSY. Available at most grocery stores, including Whole Foods and Target
Fourth: The remaining space on the board can be filled up with other sweet or savory munchies. I tend to always add in olives, dried fruit (apricots are always a crowd pleaser), and Marcona almonds (pricey, but SO good!). If you want to add meat and make it a true charcuterie board – prosciutto, capicola, and chorizo are often used. If you want a more in-depth article to read about choosing the meats, this article from Bon Appetit had a lot of great information! Another item that isn’t often seen on charcuterie boards, but I love adding – dolmas. A dolma is a Mediterranean dish that consists of stuffed grape leaves. I typically get from Whole Foods and the filling consists of a flavorful rice stuffing.
Some other non-edible items that add a nice touch are fresh fruit, like the orange slices I used, or fresh herbs, like sprigs of rosemary. Beyond the aesthetics, both citrus or herbs add a fresh aroma that can’t be beat!
All and all, the most important thing is to just pick out things you like and to have fun with it! Ultimately, any board that consists mainly of cheese will always be a crowd pleaser! Just don’t forget the wine š If you have any other must have charcuterie board items or have any specific questions, would love to hear from you in the comments below!
Xoxo, Kel
