Charcuterie Board: 5 Ways To Perfect It For The Festive Season
Charcuterie boards are essentially a culinary means to put your favourite snacks onto a wooden slab for consumption because of the effortlessness they lend, yet exuding a hint of exotic locale.
Read on for tips on how to crack the assembly of the perfect charcuterie board.
Say Cheese
The first step in creating a successful charcuterie board is to offer a varied selection of cheeses. You can begin by picking one cheese each from different parts of Europe to give your DIY snack platter a well-travelled look, loaded with depth and diversity. A good rule of thumb to follow is to try and include a variety of flavours and textures, i.e. soft, hard, strong, and mild, etc.
To start things off, you can choose from some of these popular European cheeses:
Brie (France): A soft, creamy cheese which has a mild yet nuanced flavour. It pairs wonderfully with sparkling wine or Champagne.
Manchego (Spain): This firm, nutty sheep’s milk cheese has a depth of flavour that goes with dry white wine or some sherry.
Gorgonzola (Italy): A bold blue cheese, Gorgonzola has a tangy, sharp flavour that cuts through the palate and is perfect for pairing with sweet dessert wines or port wine.
Gouda (Netherlands): This semi-hard cheese has a buttery, silky, almost caramel-like taste. Pair it with red and white wines to maximise its flavour.
Cheddar (England): This cheese adds a familiar flavour to your platter, pairing well with a robust red wine or cider.
Pro Tip: Always remember to serve your cheese at room temperature to allow for the full depth and complexity of the cheese’s flavour to shine through.
Adding Cured Meats
Apart from cheese, some other ingredients that can be on your charcuterie board are equally important if you’re looking to create a truly well-rounded platter. European charcuterie has an amazing selection on offer that you can choose from for your platter:
Prosciutto (Italy): A thinly sliced, dry-cured ham which has a delicate and salty flavour that perfectly complements soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert.
Chorizo (Spain): Spicy and smoky, this bold Spanish sausage makes a tasteful pair with Manchego (and other hard cheeses).
Salami (Italy/France): Spicy or mild, plain or herbed, salami makes for an incredibly versatile choice that goes well with almost any cheese on the platter.
Incorporating Fresh and Dried Fruits
Fruits bring in fresh and juicy elements to a charcuterie board with the contrast to the rich cheeses and flavourful meats and serve as the in-between palate cleansers of your platter. Try to incorporate a combination of fresh and dried fruits to your DIY snack platter to brighten it up.
Apples, pears, fresh grapes and figs along with dried apricots and figs are some choices that you can make.
Nuts and Crackers for Texture
Nuts and crackers bring in the essential texture that every charcuterie board needs. They offer a crunchy contrast to the creamy, luxurious cheeses, adding a different element to the entire charcuterie-eating experience.
Complimentary Condiments
Adding the right condiments to your charcuterie boards can transform your culinary creation. Honey, fig or quince paste, and olives are all excellent add-ons for your DIY cheese and snack platter.
