As a hostess, my favorite part of prepping for a party is making the appetizer board. I view them as a challenge: It is like a little puzzle (but with cheese). As intricate as charcuterie boards may look, they are actually quite simple- there is no need to feel intimidated!
I found a picture of the first charcuterie board I ever made completely by myself- the photo was dated 2015. It was a little embarrassing, to say the least. Not that it was all that bad, but I was just shocked at how much I have grown since then in my skills! So fear not. In the next few paragraphs, I will be summing up all of my charcuterie-wisdom to help make you a pro.
Basic Ingredients
There a few staple items that, in my opinion, should always be on a basic charcuterie board. So, if you have absolutely no idea where to start, here's what you should get:
- Crackers (Harvest market always has really nice options)
- A quality, toasted baguette
- Grapes
- Olives (I prefer Castelvetrano or Kalamata)
- Two hard cheeses
- Two soft cheeses (Goat and Brie are crowd-pleasers)
- Cured meats (Salami, prosciutto, etc.)
- Veggies (carrots and cucumbers are my favorite for boards)
- Hummus
- Jam (fig is my favorite as it pairs with a lot of different items)
- Apples or other seasonal fruit
- Dates & Nuts (to fill in any empty spaces)
Map Things Out
This helps me a lot when I know I am going to be a little crunched for time and need to just be able to throw everything on the board at once.
I like to use little bowls to help add dimension to the platter. Typically, I place olives, hummus or jam in them as it makes it easier for guests to serve themselves. When I'm mapping out my space, I always place the bowls down first.
All other ingredients will go around the bowls. Next, I place down the cheeses. These are often the most popular items on the board, so it's good to make sure that they are in easily accessible spots.
After the bowls and cheeses are placed, I don't really have any specific order or spot for the rest of the items. But I highly recommend thinking logically about placements. For example, place crackers next to the cheese so that people can grab them easily. Or put apples by sliced cheddar to promote pairing them together. That type of thing can make your board come together seamlessly.
Don't Leave Empty Space
Empty spaces in between ingredients (especially on the middle of the board) make things look awkward. Putting everything together is the fun, creative part! Don't be shy to play around with making shapes and patterns with your ingredients!
Having the proper board size is everything. If the board is too big, it will make your creation look less abundant. If it is too small, things will fall off or will look too cramped. Invest in a good platter or wooden board- it will pay off time and time again! I recommend getting a couple of different sized ones.
Have Fun, Don't Stress & Add Your Personality!
Charcuterie boards are one of those things that you have complete creative freedom over. You can add whatever you want. It is all in your control.
My favorite thing to do just to bring my creation up a notch is to add garnishes. In the winter, I love to add rosemary. In the summer, I add edible flowers from the garden or mint. Play around, that is the fun part! Allow yourself room for growth. We all have to start somewhere. Enjoy the journey and have fun along the way!
If you are wanting to expand your charcuterie wisdom or have a special event coming up, check out some of my favorite board-based books!
Graze-$17.29 Platters and Boards-$16 Beautiful Boards-$14.48
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