The concept of charcuterie has expanded beyond cold cuts and cheese, and the only thing limiting what you can put on your board is your own creativity. Whether you’re serving a crowd or your family – appetizers or a meal – the mix and match, eat-what-you-like style of “boards” are perfect for sharing.
We’ve got some easy-to-execute ideas to get you started:
Breakfast: waffles, pancakes, bacon, peanut butter, granola, nuts, berries, fruit spreads, and syrup
Kid-Friendly: strawberries, apples, peanut butter and jelly wedges, turkey and cheese roll-ups, pretzels, and crackers
Greek: olives, cut vegetables, roasted chickpeas, tzatziki sauce, whipped feta, mini spanakopita, cheese, cured meats, and pita
Mediterranean: grilled vegetables, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, hard and soft cheese, pita, crostini, crackers, olives, marinated artichokes
Hummus: pea, black bean, beet, and traditional hummuses, peppers, radish, carrots, jicama, cucumber, broccoli rabe, endive, carrots, cauliflower
Dip Lover: hummus, French onion dip, olive tapenade, pesto, spinach dip, guacamole, crudité, chips, pretzels, pita, crostini
Chopped Salad: torn lettuces, chopped cucumbers, celery, carrots, red onion, roasted corn kernels, diced egg, avocado ranch
Building your board:
It doesn’t stop there! Once you have decided on your “board” concept and have your ingredients, you will need to start assembling.
- Pick out your best board. This doesn’t have to be a wood board (but it certainly can be), you can also use a serving tray or anything that you have in your kitchen or stored away that has a flat surface.
- Prep your ingredients. Wash all of your produce before assembling and cut if needed. Slice the cheese. Make any dips of your choosing.
- Gather the utensils. Grab all your small bowls and ramekins for your ingredients and don’t forget the cheese knives, forks, and spoons for serving!
- Make it pop. Once you assemble your board, think about adding fresh herb sprigs or sprinkling pomegranate seeds or berries to fill up empty space and to add color to your seasonal board. You can even add sprigs of holly, whole herbs such as star anise, mistletoe, or even twinkly lights.