How to Elevate Your Charcuterie Boards
The last couple of years have brought plenty of culinary trends—some good, some bad and some just downright ugly. But while not every food trend was a total winner, there's one that we're happy to have seen transform from trend to staple: charcuterie boards.
Whether they feature actual charcuterie or not (we'll be the first to show some love for the vegetarian-friendly boards out there), this once-niche presentation of grazer-friendly DIY bites has quickly become both an art form and a beloved dish for every host out there. After all, the beauty of a board is the customizability!
Now that we're all familiar with pairing the perfect bite of cheese-plus-bread-plus-accoutrements, how can you take a basic board to the next level? Worry not, charcuterie artists out there—we're here to help. No matter what sort of event (or lack thereof, as there's nothing wrong with a little treat yourself moment on the couch) you're building your board for, let's talk about how to elevate it in a way that leaves all your guests impressed.
Start With the Board Itself
If you've just been serving up your charcuterie on a basic wooden cutting board or cheese platter, now may be the time to step it up with something more creative. There's nothing wrong with the classics, of course, but a unique or just downright beautiful board can make for the perfect base for your next creative hosting venture. For example, this stunning Antropologie serving platter made with natural agate ($78), which adds a pop of color to liven up even the most basic of board ingredients.
(via Antropologie)
Also read about: All the Biggest TikTok Food Trends of 2023 (So Far)
Up Your Accessory Ingredients
Naturally, the star of a cheese or charcuterie board is usually the selection of meats and cheeses themselves. However, you can't forget about the huge importance of the "accessory" ingredients—think jams, nuts, dried fruits, olives and other extra things that add an extra oomph to every bite. After all, without these items, a board really kind of is just a grownup Lunchable. To elevate your entire board, go above and beyond just choosing your accessory ingredients wisely by choosing ones that are unique and more mature in flavor profiles. We recommend using jams that you wouldn't find at your average grocery store, like this apricot lavender one ($14) or even this carrot, passionfruit and vanilla one ($28), both from Beauty Habit, which go great with any brie or camembert out there.
(via Shutterstock)
Forget the Boring Assembly
Just because all of the hard work you put into the board is going to disappear into guests' mouths as soon as they arrive doesn't mean you shouldn't strive to make it a work of art. We've seen everything from charcuterie roses to swirling patterns, but the key to taking it up even just a notch from your usual "place everything in different areas" presentation is to have some sort of flow of your board's layout. Trust us—your more sophisticated guests will appreciate it.
(via Shutterstock)
Also read about: 12 Best Instagram Captions for All Your Photos of Cheese
Get Creative
Charcuterie boards aren't just for charcuterie anymore, as recent history has seen everything from dessert boards to butter boards become popular. While you really can't go wrong with a standby selection of cheeses, meats, crackers, breads and accessories, why not let your heart run wild when shopping for ingredients next time? Nothing has to be over your budget, either, as elevating your boards has more to do with creativity than cost. If you want to stick to the basics, try a baked brie next time instead of a raw one (topped with jam or caramelized onions, this one from Rind Snacks is pretty hard to beat), a blueberry vanilla goat cheese instead of a normal one or even some tangy dried fruits instead of your usual dried cranberries.
(via Shutterstock)
Of course, no charcuterie board would be complete if you didn't post it with the perfect caption! Get some inspiration for your next post by clicking HERE for our list of the best.