What is a Charcuterie Board? since they are a favorite “go-to” party appetizer and fairly easy to build. Who doesn’t love the look of these mouth-watering foods, plated on a rustic wooden board? As soon as you walk into the room, your eyes light up and you smile instantly. They are full of mouth watering foods ready to be devoured.
First, the perfect charcuterie board begins with the board itself, not the food as you would think. So, get creative and find one that is fun and unique. I like to add a small tier to each side or in the middle, to give a little depth to the whole presentation.
Next, it’s time to prepare a list of the various foods you want to present to your guests. I create a list of foods that will pair well with wine, and head to the store. Here is what I use as an outline:
- Meat
Cured meat varieties and flavors - Cheese
Plus add a variety of hard and soft options - Bread and crackers
Fresh crusty baguette, organic looking, seedy crackers are best for dipping and pairing with cheese and wine - Antipasti
Green & black olives, sun dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, hot pickles - Dips
Jellies, jams, honey - Fruit
Bunches of grapes, pears, figs, berries, dried apricots (great for color) - Nuts
Walnuts, cashews, pecans, almonds - Greenery and Herbs to add a special touch
Rosemary, sage, eucalyptus
Charcuterie Board Ideas
You want your charcuterie board to look inviting and interesting, so consider using foods with various colors and textures. Also, don’t be afraid to add too much food. The boards are supposed to be full for your guests to have many options to choose from. Pile it up!
Don’t overthink the process. Whatever you choose, you can display it to look inviting. It will taste delicious and your guests will love what you’ve done.