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You don’t have to be a fancy chef with deep pockets to build an Instagram-worthy charcuterie board. We’ll show you how to combine flavors and textures that will wow your palate, for any occasion.

I fell in love with charcuterie (pronounced [shar-koo-tuh–ree] boards a few months ago when I found a how-to guide in my local supermarket. I knew I had to make one for our upcoming Friendsgiving party. My friend Gagan put it all together, but the reaction we got to this easy to prepare appetizer was epic, to say the least.

Charcuterie is the art of preparing cured or smoked meats. Charcuterie boards are essentially meat’s response to a cheese board, and boy are they good.

What is Charcuterie?

The word charcuterie is derived from the French words for flesh (chair) and cooked (cuit) and was used to describe shops in 15th-century France that sold products that were made from pork.

Today, people commonly use the name “charcuterie board” or “cheeseboard” to describe a board made with a mix of ingredients made with meats, cheeses, fruits, spreads, jams, nuts, olives, and more.

Easy Affordable & Absolutely Delicious

Anyone can build an indulgent charcuterie board in a few simple steps. Mix and match high-quality ingredients to create a picture-perfect spread for any occasion.

Step 1- Boards, Dishes, & Tools

Use round, square, or rectangular boards and choose from a variety of materials. Keep ramekins, small bowls, and little plates on hand. Stock your cabinets with specialty knives, graters, fondue sets, and other fun kitchenware. 

Step 2- Cheese & Meat

Choose cheeses in a variety of flavors ranging from mild to sharp flavor profiles. Textures of cheese include soft, semisoft, hard, fresh, crumbly, and blue. Select a mix of meats, like soppressata, Italian Dry, Genoa salami, or prosciutto. Serve at room temperature for the best flavor.

Step 3- Crackers & Breads

Experiment with different types of crackers and breads. Crunchy crostini, fresh baguettes, and artisan crackers may include a variety of ingredients, like specialty salts, herbs, and grains. 

Step 4- Something Sweet

Add more flavor complexity to your charcuterie board by pairing your meats, cheeses, crackers and breads with dried or fresh fruits, jellies, jams, spreads, chocolate, candied nuts, or honey. 

Step 5- Something Savory

Complement the other textures and flavors with mustards, olives, nuts, seeds, pickles, fresh vegetables, or savory spreads and dips. Put on finishing touches if you’d like- such as decorative herbs and flowers.

Build Your Toolkit

Want to serve an elegant charcuterie spread that looks as good as it tastes? You’ll need a few things on hand to create your masterpiece.

knives- Cheese Knife and Fork Set

boards- Bamboo Cheese Board and Knife Set, Premium Bamboo Cheese Board Set 

graters- 4in1 Cheese Knife Set

small bowls- LIFVER Serving Bowls

plates- BTaT- Ramekins 4 oz Square, Set of 6

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Easy Affordable & Absolutely Delicious Charcuterie Board

miloveoflife

Anyone can build an indulgent charcuterie board in a few simple steps. Mix and match high-quality ingredients to create a picture-perfect spread for any occasion.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 8 people

Equipment

• Boards, Dishes, & Tools
• Use round, square, or rectangular boards and choose from a variety of materials. Keep ramekins, small bowls, and little plates on hand. Stock your cabinets with specialty knives, graters, fondue sets, and other fun kitchenware.

Ingredients

  

Cheese & Meats, Crackers & Breads, Something Sweet, and Something Savory

Instructions

 

Cheese & Meat

• Choose cheeses in a variety of flavors ranging from mild to sharp flavor profiles. Textures of cheese include soft, semisoft, hard, fresh, crumbly, and blue. Select a mix of meats, like soppressata, Italian Dry, Genoa salami, or prosciutto. Serve at room temperature for the best flavor.

Crackers & Breads

• Experiment with different types of crackers and breads. Crunchy crostini, fresh baguettes, and artisan crackers may include a variety of ingredients, like specialty salts, herbs, and grains.

Something Sweet

• Add more flavor complexity to your charcuterie board by pairing your meats, cheeses, crackers and breads with dried or fresh fruits, jellies, jams, spreads, chocolate, candied nuts, or honey.

Something Savory

• Complement the other textures and flavors with mustards, olives, nuts, seeds, pickles, fresh vegetables, or savory spreads and dips. Put on finishing touches if you’d like- such as decorative herbs and flowers.

Notes

  

Keyword appetizers, charcuterie board, cheese board

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to pin this photo to save it for later:

Check out these amazing adaptations to this classic appetizer here:

https://www.skinnytaste.com/how-to-make-an-epic-charcuterie-and-cheese-board/

My amazing SF State alumni Zherranne’s super cute Charcuterie Box:

https://youtu.be/A_fq0qCT_as