The Simple Art of the Charcuterie Board

A simple, delicious and very aesthetically pleasing way to present food at your next garden party is in the form of a charcuterie board. Originating from France, deriving from the French word Charcutier (someone who prepares meat), the charcuterie board is a creative way to present cured meats, cheeses, fruits and breads. You can get really creative with the food you are offering and make something that not only looks impressive but is extremely simple and quick to pull together.

 

Step by step guide to building your perfect charcuterie board:

1. Pick your theme – The classic charcuterie board typically features a selection of meats, cheeses, breads and crackers, fruit and veg. The meat is seen as the key ingredient given the charcuterie origins however you can very much put your own stamp on your board and tweak it to suit your theme and your guests. See our inspired charcuterie board theme ideas below.
2. Buy your ingredients - opt for fruit and vegetables that are bright in colour and varied in textures giving your board a vibrant and appealing look, mixing and breaking up the meats, cheeses and breads.
3. Select your board - go for a classic wooden board, a rustic slate or a more contemporary marble board. Your board can be as big or as small as you like, it depends how many people you are entertaining.
4. Time to build your board - put your bowls down first, these are for your dips, chutneys, pickles and olives, they are also useful for nuts and crisps, keep the dipping bowls small so they do not take up too much space on your board (the number of bowls depends on your size of board). Once the bowls are placed, add your meats and cheeses, starting with the larger items and presenting them in different ways e.g. sliced and cubed or keeping some cheeses as wedges e.g. camembert or brie placing a little cheese knife on top. After this, lay out your breads and/or crackers on your board. Finish with fruit, vegetables and garnish, filling in the gaps, choosing items that complement the cheese and meats you have already placed on the board.
5. Dinner is served – serve up your board by making sure all dips have a little spoon and place out cocktail sticks or olive forks so your guests can pick away until their heart’s content.

Charcuterie Board Inspiration

Antipasto Charcuterie Board – An Italian inspired twist on the classic charcuterie board

Cured meats – salami, prosciutto, chorizo, pepperoni

Cheeses – provolone, fresh buffalo mozzarella, grana Padano, gorgonzola

Bread and Crackers – Ciabatta, rustic bread, breadsticks, crostini

Fruits – berries, dried apricots, grapes, apples Vegetables – sundried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, artichokes, mushrooms

Pickles and Preserves – olives, gherkins, chilli jam, pesto Garnish – basil

Top Tip: Vary up the cheese selection, contrasting smooth, creamy and light cheeses with harder, sharper cheeses.

Christmas Charcuterie Board

Meats – Duck Pate, Prosciutto, shredded ham hock

Cheeses – Camembert, Blue Cheese, Wensleydale

Bread and Crackers – crusty baguette, wafer crackers, oatcakes Fruits – dried cranberries, figs, sliced apples

Preserves and Chutneys – cranberry sauce, caramelised onion chutney, honey Salted nuts and crisps

Top Tip: Bake your camembert in the oven and place in the centre of your board for dipping

Breakfast Charcuterie board

Not your typical charcuterie board but a lovely way to present breakfast in a different way; why not do two boards, one with a continental meats and cheeses theme like our antipasto board and one with sweet breakfast treats in mind.

Dairy and cereals – yoghurt, granola, muesli

Breads – bagels, toasted sourdough bread, wholemeal toast, drop scones and croissants

Fruits – Lots of fresh fruit, berries, mango, banana and dried fruits including sultanas and raisins.

Preserves and spreads – butter, jams, marmalades, honey, Nutella and peanut butter.

Top Tip: Choose from a selection of soft breads, crispy crackers, salted and plain, keeping in mind the meats and cheeses they are to complement.

 

Can you make a charcuterie board in advance?

You don’t want to make your board too quickly before your guests arrive. To ensure your foods stay fresh we recommend assembling your board about half an hour before you intend to serve it.

Top Tip: Mix up your fruit and veg using a variation of fresh and dried fruits, fresh, pickled and oil-packed vegetables.

What can I do with the leftovers?

If you are lucky enough to have some leftovers, wrap up your meats and cheeses individually and put them back in the fridge. Put all dips and chutneys back in their jars and seal and keep any leftover crackers in an airtight container so they don’t go soft.

If you are planning on venturing into the world of charcuterie boards for your social gathering, we would love to see how they turn out. Tag us in your photos using the hashtag #takemehome.