How to Create a Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie Boards are one of the easiest and most fun ways to provide an appetizer or a meal for family and friends. Each board is unique and there are really no rights or wrongs to choices for what to include on your board. Welcome, Friends, to today’s Blog. Charcuterie Boards are very popular right now so thought I’d show you the process I go through as I put together a Board for a Springtime meal.

I like to start with the guest list. I try to take into consideration the preferences of the people who will be enjoying this great Appetizer. Next I will make a list of foods that I want to include on the Board.

My list for this one will include fruits: grapes, melon; cheeses: baked brie with jam, mushrooms stuffed with herb cheese; vegetables: broccoli, red pepper; meats: prosciutto, smoked salmon; dips and extras: avocado dip, almonds, black olives, crackers and some fresh herbs for garnish.

After the food choices comes the Board choice. So, do you want a really large Board? Perhaps a rimmed dish will work best? Maybe two smaller Boards will work or, perhaps, lay everything out on the countertop defining the space with some butcher paper? All of these suggestions will work well. Consider the type of gathering. Is it formal, casual, a special occasion or an impromptu gathering. Then choose your dish accordingly. I chose a large rectangular wooden board to use for this occasion.

Next comes the fun part…..putting the Board together.

You can start by selecting small bowls that will hold dips, olives, or any small items that you might add to the tray. Above is Avocado Dip that is held in a small white bowl.

Black olives are in a small white tulip bowl, the avocado dip is next and then a natural container is provided by a mushroom that holds a serving of herbal cheese that has been baked in a 400 degree oven for 10 minutes and then placed under the broiler for a minute. They make for a tasty finger food.

Slices of ripe melon are wrapped with individual slices of prosciutto pairing the salty flavor of the ham with the sweetness of the melon. This is easy to pick-up and enjoy.

Vegetables are sliced or broken into bite-sized pieces and arranged in sections of the board. Tomatoes were used as a garnish for the green vegetables and herbs for the red peppers.

Grapes were gathered into bundles and placed at intervals around the tray. they are flanked by some rosemary and thyme and some almonds.

Brie baked with jam, brown sugar and a bit of cinnamon was wrapped in pastry and baked in the oven until browned. It has a prominent position on the board.

The stuffed mushrooms were placed close to the Brie and the board was ready to go.

Here you can see the smoked salmon in the bottom right of the board. Colorful plates accompany the food and a simple basket of crackers. Guests can sit or gather a plate and eat at the bar while socializing.

Plates were filled and Friends and Family enjoyed the appetizers. An added perk of these boards is an easy clean-up. Serve with a nice glass of wine and you are ready to enjoy.