Charcuterie boards are a tasteful, space-saving way to present a variety of foods for guests at holiday gatherings. Select different tastes and textures and arrange them just so to fit with the aesthetic of your event. Charcuterie boards are also excellent options when you're asked to bring a dish to someone else's party.
Here's one checklist for building your own board:
- Plan for 2 oz. cheese and 2 oz. meat per person
- Cheese: 2-3 varieties in different styles (hard, creamy, funky or aged)
- Meat: 2-3 varieties including flavorful deli meats, cured Italian salamis and spreadable styles like pâté or 'nduja
- Salty palate cleansers: Nuts, olives or cornichons
- Fruit: Dried fruits are perfect when quality, fresh fruit is hard to source
- Condiments: Use small bowls to serve jams, chutneys or mustards
- Crackers: Choose your favorites - buttery rounds, grissini or grilled french bread are great options
- Garnishes: Add visual impact by incorporating rosemary, oregano or microgreens on your board