No matter what the occasion is, learning how to craft the perfect charcuterie board is a must if you enjoy entertaining, but it can also sound a little intimidating. By incorporating an ideal balance of salty and sweet flavours [1] with a pop of colour and accompaniments, you can easily impress your friends with a sensory exploration of the perfect food platter [2].
While it might seem challenging to find the ideal array of food items [3] to include, don't worry — we've got you covered. Here's a simple guide on how to assemble an out-of-this-world charcuterie board for any party, whether it be a girls' night in your dorm room or a house warming party in your first solo apartment [4]. By following these 11 steps, you can easily master the task at hand. Even your most discerning foodie friends will be salivating!
Choose a Theme
Before you head to your favourite delicatessen to pick up the food items that will be on your platter, the first thing you'll want to do is choose the theme of the charcuterie board. The most popular choices are typically based on international cuisines, including Mediterranean, Spanish, Italian, or French — and don't be afraid to combine multiple regions!
Pick Your Platter
The next step is to think about what serving platter you're going to use. How much space do you have to fill? It's okay to use more than one and different shapes are encouraged.
Consider Texture
The best part about a charcuterie board is you can mix and match different textures of food. For example, include soft pâté and hard salami, creamy and firm cheeses, chewy dried fruits, and crunchy crackers and nuts. The more textures the better.
Select Your Meats
Choosing high-quality meats is a must for a delicious charcuterie board. A rule of thumb is to include something pre-sliced (thin cured meats), something you can slice (hard salami), and something you can spread (meat pâté).
Add Accents
Based on your theme, choose food accents that complement the platter. This could include fresh or dried fruits, pickled vegetables, olives, mustard, quince paste, jams, and more.
Add Colour
To make your charcuterie platter pop, add some bright colours. You can easily do this by incorporating edible flowers or other festive foods such as berries, citrus, green olives, figs, or exotic dragon fruit.
Crackers, Bread, and Nuts Are a Must
For a well-balanced platter, you're going to need crackers, bread, and nuts for your guests to nibble on as they graze the charcuterie board. Be sure to have an extra stash on hand because these items usually get eaten quickly!
Plate It
Now for the fun part — plating. Tap into your inner food artist and create your charcuterie board masterpiece. This is where you can really have fun. Start by placing one thing down, like the cheeses, and build around it.
Pair It
Now that you have the perfect charcuterie board, don't forget to offer a selection of wines to pair with the fare. Since you'll be enjoying charcuterie, look for earthy red wines such as Pinot Noir, bolder red wines with balanced acidity to cut through fat flavours such as Barbera, or if you're looking to cleanse your palate after each bite, stick with Cava or Champagne.