The Perfect Charcuterie Board!

PERFECT CHARCUTERIE BOARD

With the holidays fast approaching (is it November already?!) we’re already thinking about what to cook up for our guests! One of the most popular dishes we’ve put together in the past is our charcuterie board. It has a little something for everything and it’s usually gone within the first 30 minutes of guests arriving! Below is an outline of the different items and arrangements that we include but feel free to get creative to make it your own. Our only recommendation is - variety, variety, variety! This ensures that everyone is satiated!

First, start by picking out the perfect cutting board or serving plate to display your charcuterie board on. Depending on the number of guests you’ll have, we recommend a 28-inch board - either round or square. Then, start by creatively arranging each different category of food on your board. We like to keep some things together (like crackers strategically paced next to the dip) but overall, clustering each into separate piles onto the board is your best bet. Having several piles placed in different areas on your board makes it easier for your guests to pick at it, versus having to constantly reach over someone to get to the specific treat they’re eyeing!

CRACKERS:

Pro-Tip: Putting in a good mix of soft/hard and plain/decadent crackers is a great way to ensure your guests preferences are met!

  • Soft Pita Bread

  • Everything Crackers (think everything bagel)

  • Gluten-Free Crackers (the small, circular sesame crackers at Trader Joe’s are our favorite!)

  • Thin Water Crackers

  • Thin-Cut Fresh French Bread

OLIVES:

Pro-Tip: We like to have a good balance between all the different types of olives. Whole Foods by far has the best olive bar selection. We typically like to get a good mix of spicy/non-spicy as well as pitted versus non-pitted. If you’re including olives with pits, don’t forget to set out a small dish for the discarded pits after eating!

  • Black Olives

  • Green Olives

  • Greek/Mediterranean Olives

  • Stuffed Green Olives with Feta or Blue Cheese

  • Spicy, Red Pepper Olive Assortment

MEATS:

Pro-Tip: The meat selection at Trader Joe’s is our favorite! You can get individually packaged meats that are already sliced perfectly for a charcuterie board.

  • Thinly Sliced Prosciutto

  • Thicker Cut Pepperoni

  • Thinly Sliced Peppered Salami

  • Thicker Cut Genoa Salami

CHEESES:

Pro-Tip: Be sure to include both soft and hard cheeses, as well as some ‘safer’ cheese (such as mild cheddar) for the more inexperienced palettes.

  • Goat Cheese

  • Extra Sharp Cheddar

  • Mild Cheddar

  • Brie Cheese

  • Spicy Monterey Jack Cheese (Pepper Jack)

FRUITS:

Pro-Tip: A mix of both dried and fresh fruit is what we see works best. We typically don’t include too much dried fruit, but sprinkling inconsistently through the board will at the very least give some it some aesthetic. Our favorite to include is bunches of grapes and blackberries!

  • Fresh Blackberries

  • Dried Apricots

  • Small Bunches of Fresh Green or Red Grapes

PICKLED VEGGIES:

Pro-Tip: If you’re into pickling and already have some handy, pick your favorites and mix it up! These can make or break a charcuterie board! People either love or hate pickled veggies, but we find that the ones who hate them are fewer and farther in between. Our recommendation - use sparingly in comparison to the meats, cheeses and olives. A little goes a long way!

  • Pickled Cauliflower

  • Pickled Carrots

  • Small, Sweet Pickles

DIPS:

Pro-Tip: Be sure to include both sweet and savory, as well as hot and cold. Like many of the other ingredients that we use, we find that the pre-made dips at Trader Joe’s are both healthy and salivating-inducing if you don’t have time to make your own from scratch!

  • Spinach Artichoke Dip

  • Hummus with Freshly-Drizzled Olive Oil

  • Good Ole’ Olive Oil Mix with Garlic and Fresh Cracked Pepper

  • Orange Fruit Spread

KENDAL MAESTRI