Make the Perfect Charcuterie Board

November 29, 2021 By Snake River Farms

Make the Perfect Charcuterie Board

Building an impressive charcuterie board is easy with Snake River Farms small batch salami. This board of plenty is a fabulous start to a special dinner but deserves to be the main attraction at your next party or wine tasting. Piled high with cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fruit, nuts and more, your guests will be wowed by this gorgeous and delicious spread.

In the French tradition, charcuterie (pronounced "shahr-ku-tuh-ree") is the art of preparing and assembling cured meats and meat products. The idea of charcuterie has become very popular outside of France, and the term has evolved to include a variety of foods besides meat.

Choose A Board

Start by choosing a board, it can be as simple as a wood cutting board, serving tray, etc. If you are having a large event, consider making more than one board to ensure your guests have plenty to snack on.

Start With Bowls

Small bowls work great for jams, dips, honey, mustard, or olives. The best part is they don’t have to match! Use different bowls to avoid a matchy-matchy look. Bowls also create a great foundation to rest crackers against, stack cheese by, etc.

Add the Cheese

Pick 2 to 3 cheeses with different textures and milk types. Some great options that can be found at most grocery stores are goat cheese, brie, and sharp cheddar. Soft cheeses like goat cheese and brie don’t necessarily need to be cut before, just be sure to include a serving knife.

Pile on the Meat

Authentic French charcuterie features cured meat, so here is where to include your favorite varieties. We used two different types of Snake River Farms salami (which is like French saucission) for their rich and savory flavors. 

If you're feeling French, you can also add pates, terrines or rillettes. 

Regardless of what you use, be generous to add balance to the board. 

Add Some Crunch

A variety of crackers can add dimension to your board. Check the deli section and cracker aisle of your grocery store – look for rounds, rectangles, wheat, white, etc. Another great option is cutting a baguette into small slices.