What is a Charcuterie Board & How to Make a Meat / Cheese Platter (2024)

FAQs

What is a Charcuterie Board & How to Make a Meat / Cheese Platter? ›

Many American restaurants now serve charcuterie boards as appetizer platters with 3-4 types of cured meats, a couple of cheeses (soft or hard), maybe a bit of grainy mustard + mixed olives and sliced bread. The charcuterie remains the focus, but these complementary ingredients help fill it out.

While they are wildly similar, a charcuterie board is one where the center of attention is the cured meat, while a cheese board revolves around cheese. That's not to say that either type of board can't borrow ingredients from one another, but the main selection has to remain true to its name.

What is the 3-3-3-3 Rule for Charcuterie Boards? No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies.

While cheese and other complementary items may be included in a charcuterie board, the primary focus is on the meats. This means that the selection of meats is often more diverse and extensive than what is typically found on an antipasto platter.

Arrange the items on the board – Once you've selected your meats, cheeses, and accompaniments, it's time to start arranging them on the board. Start by placing the larger items, like meats and cheeses, on the board first. Then, fill in the gaps with the smaller accompaniments.

As with everything else, we're shooting for variety in flavor and texture so aim to include at least three types of cheese. To please palates of all kinds, you can start with a milder choice like our mozzarella or provolone.

How to make a nice meat platter? ›

Place one ingredient at a time on the board, starting with the two most important items: cured meats and cheeses. I used salami, prosciutto, goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, medium cheddar cheese, and Manchego cheese. Next, place the veggies and fruits on the board.

Charcuterie is the pairing of two French terms — chair meaning meat and cuit meaning cooked — and came about in the 15th century for shops specializing in cured meats.

A charcuterie board is an appetizer typically served on a wooden board or stone slab, either eaten straight from the board itself or portioned onto flatware. It features a selection of preserved foods, especially cured meats or pâtés, as well as cheeses and crackers or bread.

Any flat surface that is food safe can be used. Wooden cutting boards, ceramic or glass platters, slate trays. Or, line your dining table or kitchen island with butcher paper and lay out your charcuterie directly on it.

But as these communal boards have gotten more popular for entertaining at home, the definition has expanded to include abundant displays of meats, cheeses, dried and fresh fruits and vegetables, toasted nuts and briny olives, plus complementary condiments like honeys, jams, jellies, chutneys, mustards and more!