Thank you for sharing!

Looking at a Traditional Charcuterie Board is like looking at artwork. A well-arranged bunch of cured or cooked meats and colorful treats that go with them is mouthwatering.

Charcuterie  (commonly pronounced as “shahr-ku-tuh-ree” and some pronounced it as “shar-coo-tree”) is a French word that translates to pork-butcher shop, where it originates. Then the word kind of grew and became a whole culinary branch that involves prepared and cured meats like Salami, ham, bacon, prosciutto, mortadella, sausages, and many more. Most of them are Italian or French, and so deliciously yummy. LOL!

The Charcuterie boards became a traditional way of serving these different meats along with a bunch of different kinds of cheese, fruits, vegetables, pickles, dips, sauces, bread, and more.

And now it’s become a crazy mishmash of doing all sorts of combinations of food like this fun hot cocoa charcuterie board I puttogether a few weeks ago.

But the traditional charcuterie? It’s my favorite…

Preparing a Traditional Charcuterie Board

Whether the Charcuterie Board is well planned or in a rush, preparation is very easy. There are a lot of prepared meats to choose from. There are also a lot of foods that can be paired with the meat. 

For an important event, occasion or celebration, it is better to plan what should be is on the board. It should show what’s the event is about. However, there are times that we need to rush. And I get that – so just grab whatever you’ve got and toss it on the board. That’s kind of one of the best things about charcuterie!

What Goes on a Traditional Charcuterie Board?

When I first tried to prepare this, I made a list. I thought I need to choose well what goes best with the meats. After the first time, it becomes easy to make. It’s like mix and match, and you just know what you ate the time before so it becomes a kind of evolving idea.

Your typical choice of meats like salami, ham, bacon sausages, prosciutto, and other cured meats. sliced thinly. I’m sure you are already thinking of your favorites.

Those meats go well with all sorts of different hard cheeses, bread slices, complimenting fruits like grapes, berries, olives. If there are spicy or salty meats, you can compliment them with something sweet or something sour like pickles. Your world is really open.

I like to have something spreadable, too, like pate, dips, hummus, and the like. You can even use jelly, honey or salsa.

I also vote for bready accents like breadsticks, rolls, cookies, and crackers, fried or even steamed vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, and more.

To start with, choose the tray you’d like to use for the presentation. I like to use a wooden one, but go for a flat piece of clean wood, a baking sheet, anything. Literally any shape will do. My board is a wide rectangular oversized cutting board.

Just make sure it’s clean and dry. If you don’t have the wooden tray, any wide tray will do as long as it’s clean and presentable. You can make your own board, like this 8-Bit Mario Cutting Board.

When putting the “elements” together, arrange them like you are making a design. Meats can be placed side by side or opposite each other. Arrange the other foods in between the meats, have clustering similar shapes, colors or even flavors together.

Play with the presentation and try complimenting each element with their shapes or color or variety. It’s all about making a mix and match thing when it comes to presentation.

And once you have everything in place, you’ll be able to see what other things you need to add or maybe even things you want to reposition. Then next time, you’ll remember and be able to build on the idea!

But if you feel like you need a reminder, don’t forget to Pin this to your favorite easy meals board to make it easier for you to find it again.

While you’re thinking, get your yummy recipes on that you might want to make too!

Here are More NerdyMamma Ideas You need to try:

Super Delicious Leftover Turkey Meatloaf

Easy Ham and Goldfish® Cracker Sushi Bites

 

How to Make a Cheap Ham Taste Amazing

 

Bacon-Wrapped Turkey and Mushroom Poppers

Thank you for sharing!