Description
Create an impressive and delicious charcuterie board perfect for gatherings or casual snacking. This recipe guides you through selecting a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, and accompaniments, along with tips for assembling a visually stunning and flavorful spread.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 8 ounces Brie (or other soft cheese)
- 8 ounces aged white cheddar (or other hard cheese)
- 5 ounces goat cheese (or other tangy cheese)
- 8 ounces manchego cheese (or other semi-hard cheese of choice)
Spreads & Dips
- 8 ounces pesto (or other savory dip/spread)
- 8 ounces fig jam (or jam of your choice)
- 8 ounces marinated olives (or marinated roasted peppers)
Meats
- 8 ounces thinly sliced pastrami (or any other sliced meat from your deli)
- 8 ounces peppered salami (or other salami of choice)
- 8 ounces Capicola (or prosciutto, or other)
Fruits & Vegetables
- 1 pear (sliced thin)
- 1 apple (sliced thin)
- 1 lemon (juiced, for coating apple and pear)
- 1 pint blueberries
- 1 pint strawberries (or raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
- 4 cutie oranges (opened and split into sections)
- 1 small box cherry tomatoes (or carrots, cucumbers, or celery)
Bread & Crackers
- 1 baguette (sliced, and toasted if you like)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for the baguette slices)
- Salt and pepper (for the baguette slices)
- 1 box Fig and olive crisps (or any cracker you like)
- 1 box Club crackers (or any cracker you like)
- 1 box Sesame crisps (or other artisan cracker that you like)
Extras
- 2 ounces honey (or honeycomb, spicy hot honey can also be fun)
- 1 cup dried apricots (or dried figs, or any dried fruit)
- 1 cup Marcona almonds (or any nut)
- 1 cup sesame cashews (or any nut)
- Rosemary sprigs (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Start by sourcing all your ingredients, preferably from an upscale grocery or deli. Choose your cheeses with variety in mind, pick meats to your liking, and select one or two types of marinated olives or roasted peppers. Ensure you have a suitable board, cheese knives, small spoons, and bowls ready.
- Toast Baguette: Preheat your oven to 450°F. Slice the baguette diagonally, brush both sides with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then toast on a baking sheet for about 5 minutes until firm but not overly browned. Remove and let cool.
- Arrange Cheese: Unpack all cheeses and place them spaced apart on the board. You can slice them now or leave them whole. Add the appropriate knives or spoons for each cheese for easy serving.
- Add Anchor Bowls: Place small bowls filled with fig jam, pesto, and marinated olives on the board. Use smaller bowls if the jars are too large to maintain balance.
- Arrange Meats: Roll or fold the sliced pastrami, salami, and capicola, and arrange them neatly on the board in your preferred layout.
- Add Fruits and Vegetables: Thinly slice the pear and apple, and toss them with lemon juice to prevent browning. Peel and section the cutie oranges. Place blueberries, strawberries, and cherry tomatoes attractively on the board.
- Add Crackers and Bread: Arrange the toasted baguette slices, Fig and Olive crackers, Club crackers, and Sesame crisps either on the main board or on a separate dish to keep them from getting soggy.
- Add Fillers and Nuts: Pour honey into a small bowl and add a honey dipper or spoon. Scatter dried apricots, Marcona almonds, sesame cashews, and garnish with rosemary sprigs if desired. Fill any gaps on the board to create a full and inviting display.
- Serve and Enjoy: Invite guests to dig in and enjoy your beautifully curated charcuterie board. Store leftovers in airtight containers and refrigerate.
Notes
- For a simple pesto: blend fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Use lemon juice on sliced fruits like apples and pears to prevent browning.
- Toast baguette slices until firm but not too browned to maintain a pleasant texture.
- Keep crackers separate from moist ingredients to avoid sogginess.
- Leftover charcuterie items should be stored in airtight containers and consumed within 3-4 days.
- Feel free to customize the board with seasonal fruits, your favorite cheeses, and preferred nuts.
