Ever seen a chef-made charcuterie board in a restaurant and thought, “I wish I could make that”? Well, as it turns out, you can! Piled high with cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fruit, nuts, and more, you can make a board as impressive as the best of them. Wow your guests or just indulge yourself – either way, it’s totally feasible.
So we’ve put together a quick and easy guide for preparing a chef-grade board, right in your own kitchen. They’re the perfect appetizer for parties and group gatherings, and they’re absolutely delicious. There’s nothing stopping you from preparing a board yourself, so keep scrolling and check out our guide to the perfect charcuterie board.
Grab a suitable board.
This first one is a classic-looking board, with a natural bamboo surface that you can cut and slice on too.
Here’s another type of board.
Are you a fan of the rustic look? This charming wooden tray comes in a set of two, so you’ll have ample space no matter now many people you’re serving!
Generally, estimate how much you should portion out for each person. For meat, assume about 3-4 slices per person. As for variety, include different flavors and textures—salami, prosciutto, ham, etc.
Pick out a wide variety ranging from hard to soft, mellow to sharp. Slice up enough for a couple oz per person, and arrange them on the board.
You’ll need a good set of knives.
Naturally, a decent cutting board and an assortment of knives are essential to charcuterie preparation! Check out this combo pack from Amazon: it’s got a cutting board and set of five stainless steel knives.
Once again, just make sure you’re got a good variety going. A baguette, thinly sliced, works great! Add some grain crackers and a couple others, and you’re set.
Fresh fruit adds some much-needed color to your board—grapes and a range of different berries are an especially beautiful addition.
Add a few small bowls filled with olives, dips, jellies, and other tasty things to spread on the foods you’ve got assembled for your board. It adds some great extra flavor to the whole arrangement!
You’ll want some ramekin dishes for that.
Portion out your dips, berries, and more in style! Grab a few ramekin dishes and use them as a classically stylish method of setting out extras for the board.
And now, the finishing touches.
Instead of pointing out the different meats, cheeses, fruits, and more on your board over and over again, just use labels! These handsome mini-flags make for the perfect finishing touches on your charcuterie board.