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What is a charcuterie board? And why is it so popular? From the old world to the modern day, the meat and cheese board has been a popular party staple and a delectable culinary experience.
What could be better than an assortment of bite-sized nibbles displayed like a piece of art that you can easily make at home?
What is a Charcuterie Board?
Charcuterie (shaar – koo – tr – ee) is a 15th-century French term roughly translates to “cooked flesh.” Before refrigeration, curing meat was a necessity, and pork products were made into sausages, ham, pates, and terrines. So charcuterie simply means cured meat.

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Today, charcuterie boards, also known as meat and cheese boards, have become popular because they are so easy to make and are very versatile. There are many options for making a board, from adding high-end luxury foods to your favorite summer Quick Pickles.
Or you can make a casual board like this Parmesan Cheese Charcuterie. That’s the beauty of a charcuterie; you can make it any way you want, so have fun and be creative.
To be a true charcuterie board, there needs to be cured meat on it, and fortunately, there is such a wide variety of meats to choose from.
What goes on a charcuterie board?
You get to determine what to serve on your board, but here are suggestions you can mix and match. The key to making a visually appealing board is to add variety, color and texture.
Meats: These are the stars of the board, so choose a mix of different cured meat products like salami, prosciutto, ham, cured sausages, or Soppressata. You can be creative and add an assortment of Air Fryer Bacon Appetizers to your board.
Cheeses: Add a variety of mild- and sharp-flavored cheeses that are soft, semi-soft, and crumbly, and don’t forget the hard cheeses. Go for cow, sheep, and goat milk cheeses for different flavors.
Savory component: This should complement the meat and cheese, such as pickles, nuts of all types, spreads, fresh vegetables, mustard or a dip like this Lemon Baked Ricotta.
Bread and crackers: Use a variety of crispy crostini, breadsticks, and crackers, and why not add some Cheese Crackers to go along with the cheeses on the board? Different types of bread, like sourdough, rye, or fruited bread are always a good choice, and baguette slices are the perfect size to add to the board.
Add something sweet: Dried and fresh fruit is always a good choice to add to the board, along with jam, honey, candied nuts, or even chocolate.
How to build a charcuterie board
With just a few simple steps, you can create your own edible work of art. But first, determine how many people you are serving so you have enough food and end up with a pretty presentation.
Essential items for serving
Boards, platters, and more: Typically, a wooden board is used to hold the food, but so many other items will work, like a platter, trays, baking sheets, pieces of slate, marble tiles, or cutting boards. Your options are limitless.
Ramekins and bowls: Jams, honey, spreads, dip, olives, and pickles should go in bowls. But feel free to add other foods like nuts or other small items that can get lost among the meat and cheeses.
Cheese knives, spoons, and forks: Supply serrated or forked knives to cut blocks of cheese or pick up pieces of cheese. Small spoons and forks are needed for food in bowls for serving.
Putting the board altogether
There are no hard-set rules; just have fun because whatever you create will be delicious.
- Add the large elements such as the meats, cheese, and bowls first
- Place the hard cheeses on the outside of the board
- Make sure you have a mix of color and texture
- Plan on 1 to 2 ounces of sliced meat per person
- Slice the meat thin so it can be easily folded and layered; thin is easier to eat.
- Add some ambiance to the board with a candle or edible flowers
- Add in-season fruits, such as cherries in spring, strawberries in summer, apple slices in the fall, and mandarin segments in the winter.
Serve your charcuterie board for all seasons, holidays, and themes. Here is some inspiration to get you started.
Make a Spanish-inspired board by adding chorizo, Carne seca, and Serrano ham. For the cheese, add manchego, Chipotle cheese, and queso fresco. Add Jicama sticks and radishes for a nice crunchy element. Figs and dried apricots are always a nice addition along with Marcona almonds.
Game day boards are always popular. Think about what is served at a ballpark, such as sausages and bacon-wrapped hot dogs. Add beer nuts, peanuts, and pretzels with a beer cheese dip.
4th of July means picnics and parties, so build a board around all things red, white, and blue. Select the cured meats, cut star-shaped cheese slices, and add blue corn chips. Blueberries, strawberries, and a handful of ruby chocolates will add patriotic colors to the perfect celebration board.
Pack it up: You can take your board on a picnic or take it for a seaside getaway snack.
The one-serving board: Make a meat and cheese board just for you. Use a dinner plate and add your favorite salami, slices of ham, tangy cheese, and some crispy crackers. Sounds delicious.
Make ahead for those busy days
You can make the whole board, wrap it with plastic, and store it in the refrigerator. Add the bread, crackers, and nuts when ready to serve.
What if you can’t fit the board in the fridge? Just slice the meat, cheese, and bread, then wrap them up. Put dips and spreads in bowls and cover them with plastic wrap.
Wash and prepare the fruits to have ready. Refrigerate the perishable items. All of this prep work will make it easy to assemble your board right before serving time.
How long can a charcuterie board sit out?
Because you have meat and cheese on the board, there is a time limitation to leaving your board out to avoid spoilage. Two hours is the maximum; if it is summer or a particularly hot day, one hour is the maximum.
Can you think of an easier way to serve a tasty spread of many delectable ingredients?
Next time you are entertaining guests, treat them to a gourmet spread of meat, cheeses, and all of the flavorful sides. And the fun thing about making a charcuterie board is each one will be a unique creation.
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This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
Pancake Charcuterie Board
Whether for breakfast or brunch, this pancake charcuterie board is the perfect way to start the day. Mix and match fluffy pancakes with your favorite toppings!
Ingredients
- 20 pcs big pancakes
- 9 pcs medium pancakes
- 28 pcs mini pancakes
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1 cup blueberries
- ½ cup blackberries
- ½ cup dates
- 2 pcs bananas
- 3 pcs nectarines
- 1 pc orange
- ½ cup almonds
- ½ cup cashews
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella balls
- ¼ cup Nutella
- 1 sauce cup plum jam
- 1 sauce cup peach jam
- 1 sauce cup honey
- Chocolate chips for toppings
- Rainbow sprinkles for toppings
Instructions
- Make the pancakes and set them aside.
- Gather the ingredients for your pancake charcuterie board.
- Place the pancake toppings, sauces, and syrups on the four corners of the wooden board.
- Arrange the largest pancakes in a circle in the center of the board.
- Distribute the remaining large pancakes around the bowl of cream cheese.
- Place the stack of medium pancakes between the large pancakes at the top of the board.
- Group the mini pancakes into two and place them underneath the large pancakes.
- Slice your bananas and nectarines. Arrange them between the toppings, sauces, and syrups.
- Slice the orange and a few strawberries.
- Fill the remaining areas on the board with nuts and berries.
- Continue filling the charcuterie board with more fruits and nuts until there are no more gaps. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- The easiest way to cook pancakes is on a griddle, but if you don’t have one, a non-stick skillet works too! I also suggest using a pancake mold to achieve uniform-sized pancakes.
- For picture-perfect pancakes, remember only to flip them once the surface bubbles. Then, continue cooking for a minute or until the pancake is lightly golden.
- Did you know that you can make pancakes extra tiny? Try our take on the viral TikTok mini pancake cereal and arrange several stacks of these cute pancakes all over your charcuterie board. They’re surprisingly easy to make, and you won’t need special kitchen tools!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 397mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 5g
* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.