How To Brand A Charcuterie Board (Meat In Addition To Cheese Platter)

Learn how to build a gorgeous appetizer platter (charcuterie board) that'll impress everyone together with disappear speedily at your side yesteryear side party. This one's loaded amongst cured meats, cheeses, seasonal create (easy to swap out), together with lots of sugariness & savory bite-sized nibbles, thence there's something for everyone. Prep & get together the uncomplicated ingredients inwards nearly thirty minutes (so easy), pop opened upwards a bottle of sparkling vino or mineral water, together with relax piece everyone grazes together with chats.

Note: This is a sponsored conversation written yesteryear me on behalf of Albertsons Companies. In render for my fourth dimension together with creative effort, I'm beingness compensated financially for this post. Thank you for supporting brands I partner amongst thence I can keep creating dandy content hither on . As always, the opinions expressed hither are 100% my own.

I am SO pumped to finally portion my accept on a charcuterie board amongst y'all. Why? I'm legit obsessed! These fancy looking, yet easy-to-make platters are my go-to for a light, no-cook dinner all twelvemonth long, but peculiarly during the hot summertime months when fruits & veggies are inwards abundance.

Think of charcuterie boards as a to a greater extent than well-rounded (in damage of nutrition), sophisticated alternative to "wine & popcorn" (a.k.a. piece of cake adult dinner) when you're tired together with only desire to unplug. They also build the perfect piece of cake appetizers when you demand to throw something together for a last-minute gathering.

I've been making unlike variations of charcuterie boards for years (my sis & I conduct hold a yearly tradition of fixing mutual depression temperature appetizer plates over the holidays) together with when I sent her a pic of this summer-inspired spread, she got super hungry & jealous! :P

However, I also shared a snapshot on my Instagram Stories together with asked folks in that location if they've ever heard of or fixed a charcuterie board. Almost everyone who responded had no experience amongst them, thence that agency there's a pretty proficient conduct chances you're inwards the same situation. So, permit me give you the basics existent quick.

What is a Charcuterie Board?

Charcuterie is a French give-and-take (and a noun) for "a store [referred to specifically as a delicatessen] where [ready-made, i.e. cured] pork products (hams, sausages, together with pates) are sold" but it also refers to "the items sold inwards such a store" (definition is from my dictionary.com app + Merriam Webster online). So, the term charcuterie refers to both a type of nutrient place together with also the specific foods sold inwards said place.

In instance you conduct hold no thought how to nation it (you & me both), charcuterie is pronounced shar-q-tuh-ree. (Confession: I'm trying to drill the right pronunciation into my caput because I e'er accidentally proverb CHAR-q-tuh-ree similar charcoal. Whoops!)

So, amongst that Definition established, a charcuterie board really manifestly refers to a board amongst cured and/or prepared meats (typically pork) on it. As you maintain reading, you'll run across the name/term "charcuterie" has expanded to comprehend much to a greater extent than than that.

What Comes on a Charcuterie Board?

Technically, it's only a sampling of charcuterie (sliced cured meats). However, these days, the term "charcuterie board" has morphed into a to a greater extent than full general term for a cured meat & cheese platter that can also (totally optional) include sweet & savory ingredients that complement the proteins.

Examples of extra foods that powerfulness live added: Fresh or dried fruits, nuts, sauces, dips, pickled or brined foods, chocolate, crackers, etc. It also doesn't conduct hold to live served alone on a wooden board (although that ups the cool factor).

It's of import to depository fiscal establishment annotation that fifty-fifty amongst all these extra ingredients added to the board, cured meat is notwithstanding the star of a charcuterie board, followed closely yesteryear the cheeses. If you don't include whatsoever cured meats on your spread, it's no longer a charcuterie board.

By contrast, a meat & cheese platter could include whatsoever type of cooked or cured meat. Summer sausage, BBQ pulled pork, roasted or fried chicken, pepperoni, tuna salad, grilled or cast-iron steak, smoked salmon or turkey legs (this would live dandy for a autumn or Thanksgiving party).

Many American restaurants at nowadays serve charcuterie boards as appetizer platters amongst 3-4 types of cured meats, a duet of cheeses (soft or hard), perhaps a chip of grainy mustard + mixed olives together with sliced bread. The charcuterie remains the focus, but these complementary ingredients aid create total it out.

Of course, in that location are notwithstanding places where you tin lodge meats, cheeses, olives & pickled veggies a la carte (like i of my favorites Italian restaurants inwards Chicago - Quartino) but fifty-fifty then, I similar diverseness thence much that I volition oftentimes lodge 3-5 unlike modest plates thence I tin pair foods together.

ll impress everyone together with disappear speedily at your side yesteryear side political party How to Make a Charcuterie Board (Meat together with Cheese Platter)

Why Make a Charcuterie Board?

Ummm...because they're fabulous? Seriously, they're a nutrient lover & snack-a-holic's dream!

Imagine a whole spread of snackable, beautifully plated pantry + refrigerator nutrient (including some seasonal produce) that you tin nibble on at your leisure, all the piece combining bites of unlike foods to create novel flavor combos (sweet + salty, sour + fatty, bitter + creamy, sugariness + tangy, salty + herby).

If you to a greater extent than excuses, hither are a few totally legit reasons to ready a charcuterie board:

you're throwing or attention a political party & demand a no-cook appetizer (this is perfect for the hot summertime months - peculiarly fourth of July together with Labor Day)
you experience similar grazing for dinner instead of fixing a large meal
you're entertaining for the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter, Halloween, etc.) together with desire a pretty + tasty spread that volition impress
you desire to exercise a fridge/pantry cleanout of fresh fruits, veggies, pickled things, nuts & sauces (grab some cured meats + cheeses together with crackers & you're proficient to go)
you're having a vino tasting or wine-themed political party & demand some snacks (in that instance live certainly to seek my easy citrus white vino spritzers or white vino sangria)
you desire a light, exciting repast amongst unlike tastes & textures that compliment & contrast i another
good for repast prepping snacks & calorie-free meals (make i board amongst plenty elements & you'll conduct hold plenty of grab n' larn nutrient for days)

What Makes a Good Charcuterie Board

To me, a proficient charcuterie board is one that has a piffling chip of everything.

Size isn't important. You tin build a modest plate for 1-2 people amongst a handful of items or a large platter for 6-12+ people amongst lots of foods. Both are every bit good

What matters is that the charcuterie board has a diverseness of flavor components. Mixing & matching nutrient is i of the best parts.

Here are the elements I seek to gather onto each plate/board/platter I make, fifty-fifty if I only exercise i type of nutrient to stand upwards for that category.

SAVORY/FATTY: cured meats (like salami, prosciutto, Castilian chorizo, soppressata, mortadella, pepperoni), hard cheeses (like cheddar, parmesan, manchego, gouda), soft cheeses (like brie, caprine animal cheese, cream cheese (heavenly amongst jalapeno jam), mozzarella, bluish cheese), olives (like kalamata, Castilian green, niçoise), dips (hummus, guacamole, herbed sour cream), raw veggies (good vessels for the dips + they are refreshing)
SWEET: fresh or dried fruits (cherries, peaches, figs, pineapple, blueberries, raspberry, strawberries, oranges), preserves/jam, honey, candied nuts
SOUR/TANGY: pickled veggies (like cucumbers, cherry-red onions, or pepperoncini), mustard, tangy cheeses (like caprine animal cheese), vinegar-based sauces (like vinaigrettes, chimichurri, or hot sauce)
SALTY: salted roasted nuts (like my rosemary spiced nuts) or smoked nuts, crackers (at to the lowest degree 2 unlike types for unlike textures), cured meats (especially prosciutto), olives, or sea common salt (good sprinkled on chopped melon)
BITTER: leafy greens or fresh herbs (or sauces similar basil pesto or chimichurri sauce)
SPICY: fresh or pickled chiles, spicy jam, hot sauce (jalapeno, habanero, ghost pepper), fresh dark pepper, cherry-red pepper flakes, spicy cured meats

Shopping For Charcuterie Board Ingredients

I love when I tin build fancy appetizers similar this charcuterie board without a bunch of work. By "work", I hateful driving to v unlike stores inwards i afternoon to uncovering just what I need. Please tell me I'm non the only one. When I'm feeling determined, I volition waste matter lots of fourth dimension & gas. :P

Thankfully, I grabbed everything for this charcuterie board at my local Tom Thumb. Only i stop! That's amazing (for me).

Why Tom Thumb? They conduct hold an exclusive business of products called Primo Taglio®, which include a fabulous assortment of high-quality meats & cheeses made amongst the finest of ingredients that are genuinely affordable. A charcuterie board needs proficient meats & cheeses (they're the essence of the appetizer plate), together with it's overnice to live able to larn high-quality foods without spending a fortune.

It's also worth noting that Tom Thumb also has an fantabulous selection of seasonal produce, jarred pantry goods (pickles, olives, jams), freshly baked baguettes, crackers, condiments, together with nuts. This makes shopping for additional ingredients to jazz upwards a meat & cheese platter super easy!

When I was browsing through the Primo Taglio meats & cheeses on my lastly trip (they're located yesteryear the deli section), I had a difficult fourth dimension non getting them all! They genuinely conduct hold a broad assortment of products, thence I'll conduct hold to larn dorsum over again shortly to seek something new.

For this summer-themed charcuterie board, I settled on prosciutto & salami for the meat chemical element (both pre-sliced - super convenient), together with thence for the cheese, I chose caprine animal cheese (it goes beautifully amongst summertime fruits/jams), Manchego (an aged Castilian sheep's milk cheese amongst a lovely flavor that's non overwhelming), a ball of fresh mozzarella (practically mandatory for basil pesto & in-season tomatoes) & medium cheddar cheese (classic selection for picky eaters). Next fourth dimension I'm grabbing some chorizo & crumbled feta, together with brie. :)

Features of The Primo Taglio Cheeses & Meats That I Love:

cheese sourced from high-quality, local milk together with thence prepared using quondam basis techniques from Italia (for mozzarella & provolone) together with French Republic (goat cheese)
meat amongst no binders or fillers, artificial colors or MSG*, much of which is minimally processed together with uses whole musculus meat instead of random parts. (*With the exception of some classics similar American cheese & certainly value meats.) For example, their prosciutto (which is manus trimmed & salted together with dry-cured for 7+ months) is only ham + salt. No nitrates or MSG. Now that's impressive!

Where to Find Primo Taglio

Primo Taglio products (like the cured meats & cheeses pictured) are available inwards the Dallas, Texas surface area alone at my local Tom Thumb stores.

Want to grab some at nowadays piece they're on sale? Discover savings on Primo Taglio items at nowadays through only for U®. (Offer valid 6-16/2019 through 7/8/2019.)

Don't alive inwards the Dallas surface area similar me? Look for the Primo Taglio products at your local Albertsons, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, or Shaw's stores.

How to Prepare a Charcuterie Board

If you're making a modest plate for i or 2 folks, it takes nearly 5-10 minutes to prepare. For a bigger charcuterie board amongst to a greater extent than diverseness (like the i pictured today), it'll accept you 30-ish minutes to prep everything together with layer ingredients across the board.

Take Off The Chill: First, laid your cheeses out on the counter to warm upwards piece you larn everything ready. They gustation improve when they're closer to room temperature together with it makes soft cheeses much easier to spread.
Chop The Veggies: Wash together with dry out all the produce, together with thence piece or chop the fruits & veggies into bite-size pieces.
Slice & Cube The Meats/Cheeses: If your meat is inwards a log, thinly piece it into rounds, together with if your cheeses are inwards brick or ball form, cutting them into modest cubes. If the meats are pre-sliced, clitoris them apart thence you tin scroll or fan the pieces across the board for piece of cake snacking. (You don't desire each somebody to conduct hold to pick upwards the whole stack of salami slices together with tegument it off i yesteryear one.)
Gather Other Ingredients: Grab all the other jars/containers/packages (jam, nuts, pickles, mustard, etc.) together with larn ready to assemble.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

Set upwards the board & utensils:

Grab your chosen vessel (board, tray, plate) together with laid it side yesteryear side to the charcuterie ingredients for piece of cake assembling.
Pick a few modest bowls, plates or jars for belongings the wet/messy ingredients that you desire to maintain split upwards from everything else (jams, olives, dips, pickles, salt, pepper, etc.) + whatsoever mini skewers or toothpicks for cheeses/veggies. These modest containers build the board to a greater extent than visually appealing yesteryear creating contrast inwards height/shape together with breaking upwards the groups of foods.
Also grab some spoons & knives (small ones if you conduct hold them) for folks to serve themselves the moisture ingredients, dips & softer cheeses.
(Optional): If you're using wood, spread a layer of parchment newspaper or wax newspaper on your board thence that the obese foods (meats & cheeses) don't locomote out grease stains. You tin also opt for a metallic canvass pan (good for a large tray), which requires no protective barrier.

Grab your ingredients & start assembling (get creative & conduct hold fun amongst the styling!):

Place i ingredient at a fourth dimension on the board, starting amongst the 2 most of import items: cured meats together with cheeses (those pictured are all from the Primo Taglio business found at Tom Thumb - salami, prosciutto, caprine animal cheese, fresh mozzarella, medium cheddar cheese, together with Manchego cheese).
Next, identify the veggies together with fruits on the board. I select what I'm going to exercise based on what's inwards flavour together with seek to larn for ones amongst bright, vivid colors thence they build the board to a greater extent than eye-catching. Since it's early on summertime right now, I used sugariness cherries, watermelon, cherry-red grapes, cucumbers, yellowish & orangish sugariness bell pepper, together with multi-colored heirloom cherry tomatoes.
Nestle inwards the modest bowls & containers amongst the wet/messy ingredients together with thence stick inwards the spoons/knives for serving. Pictured is roasted cherry-red pepper hummus (good poly peptide & thence yummy amongst grapes, crackers & caprine animal cheese), basil pesto (for the mozzarella, tomatoes together with baguette bread), blackberry jam (good amongst caprine animal cheese & crackers), pickles (I used cornichons), mixed olives (I used a mixed jounce amongst green, kalamata & niçoise olives), together with mustard (I used a rock basis i today but in that location are thence many options here).
Fill inwards the remainder of the empty spaces as best as possible amongst crackers/sliced staff of life (I used butter & H2O crackers + sliced sourdough baguette), nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans or shelled pistachios would live good), together with leafy greens or herbs (I used outflow mix but arugula would add together a peppery bite).

My Favorite Flavor Combos inwards This Summer Charcuterie Board

Before nosotros jump into what specific ingredients you'll demand to replicate this gorgeous platter at home, lemme tell you which ones were my favorite foods to pair together - seize amongst teeth for bite.

Mozzarella (drizzled amongst a thick, aged balsamic vinegar) + Basil Pesto + Cherry Heirloom Tomato (I used a mini bamboo skewer a.k.a. large toothpick to pike a piece of mozzarella, together with thence a cherry tomato plant together with and thence dipped both inwards the basil pesto earlier eating all 3 together!)
Watermelon chunk + a piece of Prosciutto (wrapped unopen to the outside). It's sugariness & juicy + salty heaven. Now I larn why thence many folks love the prosciutto + cantaloupe combo
Goat Cheese + Blackberry Jam + Butter Cracker. I could swallow these for daaaaays - no joke! Soft, creamy cheese + buttery, crisp/crumbly cracker + sugariness shine jam = a classic combo for whatsoever grouping of folks you're entertaining. It's fifty-fifty improve if you follow upwards a seize amongst teeth amongst a sip of a bubbly vino spritzer.
Red Grapes + Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. Seriously. Just seek it! Grab a grape together with dip it into the hummus. Commence total satisfaction. If you're feeling adventurous, throw a modest chunk of soft cheese into that seize amongst teeth (flavored harvati is my personal favorite hither but caprine animal cheese would live fabulous, too).
Manchego + Salami + Water Cracker. Semi-strong cheese + flavorful aged meat + crisp neutral cracker. Spread a piffling mustard on the cracker commencement to switch things up. Make it fifty-fifty improve yesteryear pairing the manchego amongst a modest drinking glass of mutual depression temperature Vinho Verde (dry sparkling Portuguese vino amongst a lower alcohol content). I verbalize from personal experience here! :)
Cheddar + Red Grapes. I love cheddar amongst sugariness fruits (especially apple tree & pear). It's magical. I don't empathise the scientific discipline of why fruits build cheddar gustation fifty-fifty better, but they do!
Cherries + Almonds (best if they're toasted and/or salted). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 classic combo that's made fifty-fifty improve if you conduct hold some squares of dark chocolate to pair amongst them. Mmmmm.

Okay, I've gotta halt in that location or I would listing everything!

Tips & Tricks For Fixing Seasonal Charcuterie Boards

Use this recipe as a template together with swap out the create & other ingredients based on what's inwards flavour and/or on sale. Right at nowadays it's full-on summer, thence I used watermelon, cherries, basil pesto & tomatoes. If you're making a fall charcuterie board, you may opt for apples, pears, figs, together with roasted butternut mash instead. In the winter that powerfulness live oranges, clementines, grapefruits, kale & beets. In the spring, perhaps artichokes, rhubarb, strawberries, together with carrots. Being flexible & using what's available volition relieve you coin & ensure everything tastes better.
Place ingredients side yesteryear side to what they'll live eaten amongst (if possible) to encourage folks to mix things. Example: basil pesto side yesteryear side to the tomatoes, hummus side yesteryear side to the grapes (yes - they're thence yummy together), jam nigh the caprine animal cheese, mustard yesteryear the salami, pickles yesteryear the meats, together with thence on.
If possible, choose a board or platter amongst handles or a rim thence it's piece of cake to get together all the ingredients onto the surface inwards your kitchen together with thence bear the board to wherever you'll live serving the food.
Break some of the foods into modest groups that are scattered across the board amongst infinite inwards betwixt thence that if i somebody is earthworks into a detail meat/cheese, some other somebody tin exercise the same without having to stand upwards together with hold back for their turn. I don't e'er exercise this amongst the cheese, but almost e'er amongst the meats because that is typically the most pop nutrient aside from crackers or bread.

Ideas For Using Up Leftover Charcuterie Board Ingredients

After everyone's had their fill, you may halt upwards amongst leftovers (yay). You tin proceed grazing on them for days (easy repast prep) or repurpose them individually into novel meals. Here are some ideas:

use the mozzarella, tomatoes & pesto for hot Caprese cheese dip or creamy pesto penne pasta
use the caprine animal cheese for strawberry salad or chicken naan wraps amongst chimichurri sauce
use the salami, prosciutto, olives together with leafy greens on a Mediterranean salad, a grilled cheese sandwich/panini, or stir it into a one-pot creamy pasta
use the hummus + whatsoever raw chopped veggies (tomato, cucumber, bell pepper) for chicken hummus naan wraps
use the fruit jam for baked brie
use the nuts to transcend overnight steel cutting oats or bake them into banana muffins or blueberry muffins
use the fresh cherries to build a homemade cherry pie filling
use the pickles & mustard for stovetop bratwurst

More Appetizer Recipes You'll Love:

charcuterie board, how to make, best, easy, meat together with cheese platter

Appetizer

French

Yield: 12 as an appetizer, vi as a calorie-free meal

Author: Elaina Newton -

How to Make a Charcuterie Board (Meat together with Cheese Platter)

prep time: thirty Mcook time: total time: thirty M

Learn how to build a gorgeous appetizer platter (charcuterie board) that'll impress everyone together with disappear speedily at your side yesteryear side party. This one's loaded amongst cured meats, cheeses, seasonal create (easy to swap out), together with lots of sugariness & savory bite-sized nibbles, thence there's something for everyone. Prep & get together the uncomplicated ingredients inwards nearly thirty minutes (so easy), pop opened upwards a bottle of sparkling vino or mineral water, together with relax piece everyone grazes together with chats.

ingredients:

4 unlike kinds of cheese, ideally a mix of difficult together with soft (I used caprine animal cheese, Manchego, fresh mozzarella, together with medium cheddar from Primo Taglio)
2-3 unlike types of cured meats, thinly sliced or cubed (I used prosciutto together with Italian dry out salami from Primo Taglio)
3 unlike kinds of fresh, in-season fruits (I used sugariness cherries, watermelon & cherry-red grapes)
3 unlike kinds of fresh, in-season veggies (I used sugariness bell pepper, cucumber & heirloom cherry tomatoes)
2 unlike kinds of dip (I used roasted cherry-red pepper hummus & basil pesto)
mixed olives (I used a jounce amongst a blend of green, kalamata & niçoise olives)
fruit jam or preserves (I used blackberry jam)
mustard (I used rock basis mustard)
pickles (I used cornichons/gherkins)
two unlike kinds of neutral crackers (I used butter crackers & H2O crackers)
Fresh crusty bread, sliced into modest chunks or rounds (I used a sourdough baguette)
nuts (I used toasted almonds - rosemary spiced nuts would live great, too)
leafy greens (I used outflow mix)
salt & pepper (optional) - for sprinkling on a diverseness of foods

instructions:

How to ready How to Make a Charcuterie Board (Meat together with Cheese Platter)

Grab your board or preferred serving platter, along amongst whatsoever modest bowls (for moisture ingredients) together with knives or spoons for serving.
Optional: spread a layer of parchment or wax newspaper over the board to maintain the fats/oils from the meat & cheese from seeping into the wood.
Slice or cube the meats & cheeses (if needed), together with thence launder & prep the veggies together with fruit.
Arrange all the ingredients on the board, starting amongst the meats & cheeses, followed yesteryear the fruits & veggies, together with thence the moisture ingredients inwards modest bowls (olives, dips, sauces, condiments). Fill inwards whatsoever gaps amongst crackers, sliced bread, nuts together with bunches of leafy greens.
Serve instantly amongst toothpicks, napkins and/or modest plates. Replenish pop ingredients as needed (this almost e'er happens amongst crackers).

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