Charcuterie boards are an eye-catching arrangements of cheese, fruits, and savory snacks that look effortless when done right. But there’s much more to assembling a great charcuterie board than meets the eye.
When you’re making a grocery list for your board, it can be hard to dream up the perfect combination of snacks your guests will love snacking on throughout the night. And we haven’t even mentioned all it takes to put it all together in an artistic, photo-worthy fashion.
But never fear — we have a few simple tips to help you bring it all together with ease. Keep reading to get the details on pulling off a charcuterie like the Queen Martha Stewart herself.
Ingredients
Every great charcuterie board includes a delicate balance of tasty bites, ranging from creamy and intense to light and crunchy. Make sure you include a selection of at least three cheeses and something to dip them in. But after that, the assembly is up to you. Add in-season fruits, crunchy vegetables, olives and Italian meats, or nuts and breadsticks. Here are more ideas to draw from when you design your board:
Cheeses:
- Goat cheese
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Blue cheese
- Gouda
- Brie
Fruits:
- Grapes
- Figs
- Apple slices
- Dried apricots
- Berries
Meats:
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Sopressata
- Ham
- Smoked chorizo
Veggies:
- Carrot slices
- Cucumbers
- Snow peas
- Red peppers
- Grape tomatoes
Crunchy Snacks:
- Baguette slices
- Crackers
- Marcona almonds
- Cashews
- Candied pecans
- Breadsticks
Dips:
- Fig jam
- Raspberry jelly
- Jalapeno jelly
- Olive oil
- Hummus
- Bruschetta
Other:
- Olives
- Artichokes
- Pickled peppers
- Marinated mushrooms
- Fresh basil
- Rosemary
Assembly Tips
Once you’ve selected your charcuterie board ingredients, it’s time for the tricky part: putting it all together in a pretty presentation. Look for a wooden serving board or square wooden cutting board to display all of your snacks. Place the ingredients in small groups, without leaving blank space in between. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you get the look you’re going for. Here are some tips to make the board look more professional:
- Fold cured meats into quarters to make a more stunning presentation.
- Choose fresh herbs or whole fruits as the finishing touch to fill in spaces.
- Place dips and nuts in small bowls to add interest to the board, and separate messier ingredients.
- Pick a board with a lip so ingredients do not fall off the board.
- Choose fruits and vegetables in a color scheme to tie the presentation together.
- Slice some of the cheese ahead of time and lay the rest of the block on the board to diversify the look of the arrangement.
- Place similar-colored ingredients away from each other so the board doesn’t look boring.
Order Your Ingredients Today
Armed with all the pro tips for your own charcuterie board, it’s time to start shopping! Order your ingredients from All Seasons today. We offer high-quality grocery delivery service in Park City and the surrounding area, so your mountain getaway can go off without a hitch. Leave the grocery shopping to us, and enjoy your time in Park City with the ones you love. Start your order today.