Food
36 Gorgeous Charcuterie Board Recipe Ideas
Who can resist an epic party platter?
Additional reporting by
Taryn Pire
Believe it or not, you don’t need to be artistically inclined to make a memorable charcuterie board (although it definitely doesn’t hurt). It’s a pretty formulaic process that’s as simple as breaking the board up into categories, then choosing complementary ingredients for each one.
- First, get the proportions in order. Mentally split the board into fours, reserving equal quarters for meat, cheese, some kind of crackers or bread and whatever other accoutrements you’re craving.
- I like to choose soft, pre-sliced meats (like prosciutto or jamón Ibérico) and a couple harder meats that require cutting (like a log of salami or soppressata).
- Start by placing your harder cheeses, like a block of sharp cheddar or Manchego, alongside the meats.
- Weave in some complementary easy snacks. Think crackers, jam, bread, pickles, fruit, honeycomb and whatever else you fancy.
- Organize it well. There’s no best order or layout when it comes to making a charcuterie board. All you need to keep in mind is that the meat, cheese and accoutrements should be accessible from all or most angles of the board. I like to layer meat, cheese and crackers or bread across the entirety of the spread, then nestle small bowls of jam, olives, pickles and more between them or at the corners of the board.
- Dress it up. Beyond serving it on a pretty wooden butcher block or a marble cutting board, consider working in other decorative elements. Tiny label tags are both cute and helpful, while little bowls and plates for preserves or fruit offer color and dimension to the spread. Fresh herbs are always a solid finishing touch as well.
