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Elevate your gatherings with our guide on crafting a stunning yet simple charcuterie board. Impress guests effortlessly with our expert tips!
Featured with this recipe
For a little but of sweet, savory, crunchy, creamy, and a whole lot of classy, this Simple Charcuterie Board is the perfect thing. Easy to put together for a small gathering, it has a little bit of everything. There’s something for everyone! Something about a charcuterie board really elevates a gathering. Although it is just a platter that is essentially a cheese board with cured meat, jams, fresh fruit, vegetables, and some dried herbs, it looks like a work of edible art that you purchased in a specialty store. But trust me, you can make this yourself, and after you make one, you aren’t going to want to stop. It’ll be charcuterie boards for every occasion from here on out.
Ingredients in a Simple Charcuterie Board
- Two Meats – on this board I used prosciutto and applewood smoked salami
- Two Cheeses – I chose Manchego and a dill-flavored Havarti
- One Starch – for this board I used whole wheat crackers
- One Briny Snack – I used pickles
- One Dip or Spread – for this board I used fig butter
- One Fruit – blackberries were my choice
- Garnishes – I thought thyme sprigs looked so pretty on this board!
More Simple Charcuterie Ideas
Meats
- Prosciutto
- Salami
- Choizo
- Ham
- Cured Sausages
- Bacon
Hard Cheeses and Firm Cheeses
- Parmesan
- Aged Gouda
- Asiago
- Gruyere
- Cheddar
- Roquefort
Soft Cheeses
- Goat cheese
- Blue cheese
- Camembert
- Burrata
- Marscarpone
- Brie
Starches
- Pita
- Crackers
- Pretzels
- Crostinis
- Bread
Briny Snacks
- Cocktail onions
- Pepperoncini
- Olives
Dips and Spreads
- Olive tapende
- Hummus
- Chutney
- Mustard
- Honey
Fruits or Dried Fruit
- Grapes
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Mango
- Raspberries
- Pears
Nuts
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Marcona almonds
Garnishes
- Berries
- Fresh herbs
Tips for Creating Your Simple Charcuterie Board
This recipe can be used as a jumping off point for your own creations! If you want to copy exactly what I did, then I can help you do that. However, if you are wanting to create something all your own, I have some tips for you.
- Charcuterie Boards are all about looking full and abundant. If you have a smaller group, then start off with a smaller board so you can fill it up!
- Head to a grocery store with a bulk section. Then, you can pick lots of different items without having to buy a huge box of each one.
- Try to find ingredients of all sizes, shapes, textures, colors, and flavors. The more variety, the more vibrant and interesting your board will look!
- When you are styling your board, start with the bowls, then add larger items, then smaller items, then garnishes. Try to arrange it so similar colors aren’t touching. This will create depth and a more pleasing visual!
- If I am serving this at a party, then I will bring along any remaining items that didn’t make it onto the board. Then, if something runs out I can replenish it.
Traditional vs. Modern Charcuterie Boards
The word “charcuterie” comes from the French words “chair” for flesh, and “cuit” for cooked. Looking back, ‘charcuterie boards’ originated in 15th century France where they would butcher an animal and, not wanting any part of it to go to waste, they would salt and cure every piece of it and sell their offerings. These little salty pieces were delicious, sold up on their charcuterie boards. As time has gone on, people have added to the perfection, putting cheese and fruit with the meat to create what has grown to be the modern charcuterie board. Nowadays, there are charcuterie boards for all occasions, including Halloween and Christmas, even Vegan varieties! You might find marshmallows and chocolate on a board now, as likely as you are to find any type of jam under the sun. Oh, what a time to be alive!
Recipe Tip
Start putting your board together by placing the bowls on the board first. This will give you an anchoring point for the rest of the items.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cutting board, wooden or otherwise, a serving tray, or your countertop would all work. Keep your eyes peeled at places like Target and the thrift store for the perfect board that you can use again and again.
They say the perfect charcuterie board has 3 cheeses, 3 meats, 3 starches, and 3 accompaniments for a balanced and perfect board. If you are wanting to create a smaller or more personal board, just create with your heart.
Charcuterie boards are traditionally served as an appetizer, but depending on the event and what you put on it it can be a side dish or even a main!
Read Next: Charcuterie Board Ideas
More Board Ideas
How to Make a Simple Charcuterie Board
Simple Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- large serving board or cutting board
Ingredients
- 5 ounces manchego cheese sliced
- 5 ounces havarti cheese cubed
- 3 ounces salami
- 3 ounces prosciutto rolled
- 1/2 cup fig butter
- 1 cup baby dill pickles
- 1 pint blackberries
- wheat crackers for serving
- thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and dry your board. Place fig butter and pickles into small bowls. Place on the board.
- Add meats and cheeses.
- Fill in any gaps with crackers, blackberries, and thyme sprigs.
Notes
- Nutrition Facts are approximate and do not include crackers.
- Make sure to keep perishable items cold until right before serving.
- Keep extras close by for easy refilling.
