Have fun arranging—and eating!—your own colourful spread
C harcuterie boards have become a popular item on social media. Thousands of people have shared their renditions of the fan favourite cheese board all over Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Charcuterie boards are essentially the art of arranging cheese and meat on a plate or slab of wood. In recent times creators have expanded this to include baguettes, crackers, fruits, vegetables, olives, herbs, nuts, jams, hummus, and other dips. It is an appetizer that is just as yummy as it is aesthetically pleasing.
This is my go-to charcuterie board. Feel free to get creative with the placement of your treats, and incorporate some of your favourite ingredients. This is more of a guide or an inspiration than a recipe, so be sure to prepare to your own liking! It’s easy to assemble and the perfect appetizer for holiday parties that will definitely impress your guests.
Ingredients
- Assorted dips, spreads, and preserves
- Try different kinds of hummus, pesto, jams, or spreads.
- Fresh fruit
- I like to use green grapes, cherries, strawberries, blackberries, tangerines, etc.
- Dried fruit
- Dried apricot, mango, dates, figs, etc.
- Cheeses
- You can incorporate whichever cheeses you like best, either soft cheese (like brie, mozzarella, blue cheese), or sliced cheese (try cheddar, havarti, provolone, monterey, etc.). If you’re looking for a plant-based cheese, try cashew or tofu-based cheeses.
- Meat
- Salami, prosciutto, ham, or other smoked meats. You can opt-out of this for a plant-based charcuterie board.
- Crackers and fresh breads
- I like to use sliced baguettes, and assorted crackers.
- Fresh herbs for garnish
- Rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, etc.
Steps
- Transfer all dips and preserves into small dishes, and place on a board of your choice.
- Next add all cheeses, meats, crackers, and fresh bread, placing them neatly throughout the board.
- Lastly, fill in the spaces with dried fruit, fresh fruit, fresh herbs, and any other extras you want.
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