How to Make the Perfect Cheese and Charcuterie Board
The key to a perfect cheese and charcuterie board is twofold, in my opinion: variety and harmony. Here’s how to achieve balance so that there will be something for everyone!
Cheeses
I always build my cheese boards starting with a trio of cheese. To me, this is the foundation of the board, and I like to select three of the following:
- A soft, creamy cheese, such as Brie, Camembert, or Goat cheese. A fresh cheese, like burrata or mozzarella, is wonderful, too!
- A firm cheese, such as a Parmigiano-Reggiano or Manchego.
- An aged cheese, such as lovely aged sharp Cheddar or Gruyere.
- A blue cheese, such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Maytag Blue.
Charcuterie
Now for the charcuterie! Charcuterie includes the whole umbrella of meat products from sausages and terrines to pates and confit. Mild ribbons of prosciutto or jamón (ham) are a great addition, as well as a selection of salami such as soppressata or coppa.
Bread and Crackers
Bread is a must when it comes to your board, but it doesn’t just have to be slices of a baguette! I especially love crackers, including those with cranberries and seeds which complement most cheeses so well. Water crackers and buttery crackers are other favorites, as well as breadsticks (I have olive breadsticks you can try!). You can also slice up some naan or pita!
Sweet Bites
Sweet bites add so much depth of flavor the cheese and charcuterie. I love adding honey or honeycomb (so delicious with pungent cheeses), dried fruits such as apricot and cranberry, candied lemons, quince paste, and fig spread!
Savory Bites
Savory bites are a must to balance the sweet so definitely include your favorite olives, pickles, and nuts to your board! Quicos (large Spanish style corn nuts) are also a great addition! You can also add dukkah or pesto!
Fresh Bites
Add whatever is in season! I love how fresh bites add balance to the indulgence. In summer, that means all the fresh fruits and vegetables such as plump berries, cherries, snow peas! In the fall and winter, crisp apples, grapes, pears, carrots all do beautifully.
Dessert Bites
No meal is complete without dessert! Add bites of good quality chocolate, nougat, cookies, or petit fours, for example!
PrintBeautiful Charcuterie Boad
- Prep Time: 5 Min
- Cook Time: 5 Min
- Total Time: 10 Min
- Yield: 10-20 People
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Ingredients
Cheeses
- A soft and creamy cheese such as Brie, Camembert, or Goat cheese. (A fresh cheese, like burrata or mozzarella, is wonderful, too!)
- A firm cheese such as a Parmigiano-Reggiano or Manchego.
- An aged cheese such as lovely aged sharp Cheddar or Gruyere.
- A blue cheese such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort, or Maytag Blue.
Charcuterie
- salami/sausages such as soppressata or coppa
- ham such as prosciutto or jamón
- pate
- confit
- terrine
Bread and Crackers
- Baguette
- Crackers
- Crisps
- Breadsticks
Sweet Bites
- Honey or honeycomb
- Dried fruit such as apricot and cranberry
- Candied citrus
- Quince paste
- Fig spread
Savory Bites
- Olives
- Pickles
- Nuts
- Quicos (corn nuts)
- Dukkah
Fresh Bites
- Sliced fruits
- Berries
- Grapes
- Carrots
- Sugar snap peas
- Tomatoes
Dessert Bites
- Chocolate
- Noguat
- Cookies
- Petit fours
Instructions
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Begin building your board by selecting a trio of cheeses. I like to select three of the following: a soft creamy cheese, a firm cheese, an aged cheese, or a blue cheese. This is your foundation.
-
Add the charcuterie includes the whole umbrella of meat products from sausages and terrines to pates and confit. Mild ribbons of prosciutto or jamón (ham) are a great addition, as well as a selection of salami such as soppressata or coppa.
-
Arrange your sliced baguette, breadsticks, crackers or crisps.
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Fill in the rest of the board with sweet bites, savory bites, fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Optional (but nice to have) – dessert! Add some bites of good quality chocolate, nougat, cookies, or petit fours!
- Cuisine: American
