There’s no denying that charcuterie boards are all the rage right now, and what’s not to love? They’re the perfect platter of meats, cheeses, treats, and snacks, and they’re perfect for small and large crowds alike. However, what you might not love is the price that can be associated with these delectable spreads. As a result, we decided to try our hand at making our own DIY charcuterie board- follow along to build your own Charcuterie Board!
What You’ll Need:
- A Board or Platter
- Meats
- Cheeses
- Crackers
- Filler Items Such As:
- Olives
- Honey
- Fruits
- Veggies
- Chocolate covered almonds or something sweet
The Board:
First up you’re going to need the backbone of this delicious DIY- the board. You can use a cutting board or serving tray for smaller versions, or go big and lay out butcher paper on a table for a large spread.
The Bulk:
Next up, you need your featured items– the meats and cheeses. The general rule of thumb is to have flavors and textures that complement each other instead of clash, such as a bold meat with a mild cheese, and vice-versa. This is a great opportunity to play around with some of your favorite dried meats and cheese. You’ll also want to be sure to use both hard and soft cheeses for that variety charcuterie boards are known for. Here are some common meat and cheese pairings to get you started:
- Salami and gouda
- Pepperoni and mozzarella
- Prosciutto and parmesan
- Salami and brie
- Pepperoni and cheddar
- Summer sausage and havarti
The Breads:
No charcuterie board is complete without some bread and crackers. Water crackers, crostini, bread sticks, and seed crackers are great options to add some textural variety to your board. Ultimately though, be sure to pick items that you know will be eaten.
The Accompaniments:
After you have your base items, you’ll want some smaller items for variety. For these items, you’ll want a mix of sweet and savory to break up the general flavors of the meats and cheeses. Olives, nuts, fresh fruit, veggies, condiments, and sweets are great options for this.
The Assembly:
Now lets begin the final step- putting your charcuterie board together. This is where things can get tricky, as if you don’t have enough food for the size of your board then your charcuterie board might look sparse, but you also don’t want so much food that you have too much leftover. Mashed.com has a great guide for how much food you’ll want to buy based on the amount of people eating.
Next you’re going to start by slicing your cheeses, and placing them on your board. Softer cheeses should go towards the middle, and harder cheeses toward the edge. This allows guests to quickly grab hard cheese and prevents your soft cheeses, like brie, from possibly getting things messy off of your board. Don’t be afraid to spread your harder cheeses out to take up a good amount of surface area.
Next, you’ll place your meats near their designated cheese pairings, but don’t just set them down. Try getting creative and folding your meats into fun shapes, such as salami roses or pepperoni fans, using this great guide! As a result, this will make it look more decorative and appealing to the eye. Then, lay out your crackers to take up some more of the open spaces. You’ll want to use less crackers than you think you’ll need, and replenish as needed so they don’t get stale.
Filling In
Now you’re done! If you don’t love the finished result, simply rearrange your board to your visual preference- It’s that simple! Be sure to show up your finished results in the comments below or or share a picture in our Facebook group!
Still need some help? Check out this awesome YouTube tutorial!
Final Thoughts
Charcuterie boards really are perfect to make for any occasion. Want to make it a themed board? Swap out some of the accompaniments for holiday themed items, such as valentine candies, or christmas cookies and you have the perfect party dish. No matter what, you really can’t go wrong. You also can’t go wrong by contacting us here at Fairway of the Carolinas for your mortgage needs. Whether you’re looking to buy, refinance, or just need information, we’re always happy to help!
