How to Make the Ultimate Charcuterie Board
Servings 12 - 15 servings
Use this recipe as a guide to build the ultimate charcuterie board for any special occasion. You can tailor your selection of cheeses, fruits, meats, nuts and jams to fit any theme, dietary preference, celebration or holiday that you want. It's almost too beautiful to eat!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds of a variety of cheeses 3-4 varieties *See notes
- 8 oz sliced salami 2" to 3" in diameter
- 8 oz sliced prosciutto thin
- ¼ cup fig jam
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup pistachios with shells
- 2 oz dried apricots
- 4 oz kalamata olives drained and patted dry
- 6 oz blackberries washed and dried
- 1 pound red grapes washed and dried
- 2 red pears washed and sliced thin
- Assorted crackers
- Large board or serving platter
- Sprigs of fresh herbs and small flowers for garnish
Instructions
- For the prosciutto fans: Take a single slice of prosciutto with the white fat on the top and fold the bottom half up to nearly meet the top (fold horizontally), leaving the thin rind of fat peaking out. Then starting at one end, make folds back and forth on itself along the length, gathering it at the bottom. Continue until all prosciutto is fanned and set aside.
- For the salami roses: Lay down 10 slices of salami in a line so that they are overlapping about ½ way. Starting at the end nearest to you, fold the line of salami in half all the way down the line. Using the end nearest you, start rolling up the folded salami, making sure to keep it tight. Once rolled up, find a small bowl that just fits the salami and place the folded end into the bowl. Using your fingers start to slightly loosen the salami petals from the inside out until it looks more like a natural rose. Place in fridge to firm up until ready to assemble your board.
- Place honey and jam into bowls. Set aside.
- Cut the cheeses into thin triangles, rustic cubes, or small rectangles, giving variety to the shape of the cuts. Set aside.
- To build the tray, start with the cheeses and place them evenly around the board. Place the grape bundles in 2 to 3 piles around the board. Distribute the jam and honey bowls around the board. Place the salami roses evenly around the board. Use the prosciutto fans and crackers to create movement by placing them in lines around the cheeses and jams. Thinking in circles and "S" shapes.
- Continue to build the tray using the smaller items like the dried fruit and nuts to fill in the empty spaces that are left. While building the board think about grouping items by color and making sure the different colors are evenly spaced across the board creating pockets of colors. For instance, the kalamata olives and red grapes should not be placed right next to each other as they are the same color and shape. Finish by strategically placing fresh herbs and flowers around the board.
Notes
- Charcuterie boards are great for parties because everything can be left out at room temperature for up to 4 hours. If anything is left after being out for 4 hours, it should be tossed in the garbage so as not to get anyone sick. Leftovers that are put away within that 4 hour window should be bagged up separately and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- If your board can not fit the entirety of the ingredients at once, keep extra in the fridge to refill when the board starts to get low. Have all of the ingredients prepared and ready to restock. All fruit should be washed, cheeses cut etc.
- If you are making a board for a larger party, just scale up the amount of ingredients accordingly and use the refill method.
- Use a variety of whatever cheeses you have available at your local store. These are the cheeses used to create this board: 6 oz Cabernet Bellavitano sliced, 5 baby bries, 6 oz manchego sliced into thin triangles, 6 oz sharp cheddar, broken into rustic cubes.
- Choose a variety of cheeses based on flavor, texture, age and milk type. You want a variety that is soft and creamy and a variety that is hard and sharp. Choose at least one cheese made from goat, sheep, or buffalo milks.
- You may have trouble working with the prosciutto if it's too thin. You want it just thick enough to be able to handle without ripping apart. Salami is easier to make into roses with medium to large salami slices no more than 3" in diameter.
- Any type of jam can work here. Just choose something that fits your theme or color scheme.
- Feel free to add any crackers, nuts, cookies such as macarons, or fruits that would fit your theme or color palette. Have fun mixing textures and flavors, and get creative.
Nutrition
Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 17gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 859mgPotassium: 321mgFiber: 3gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 693IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 343mgIron: 1mg
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