Expecting guests? Check out 5 steps to assemble the perfect charcuterie board!

Having friends over is always an event. Whether you're hosting 2 or 10 people, the desire to impress is the same! With this in mind, we've prepared some incredible content for you who want to make a good impression when hosting friends and family at your home. Sharpen your knife to cut the ingredients and keep reading this post to learn how to assemble a charcuterie board in 5 steps.

What are the types of charcuterie boards?

When assembling a charcuterie board, creativity should be explored to its fullest. There's no right or wrong; there are distinct ways to prepare the food and present it to your eagerly awaited guests.

The idea behind this type of appetizer is to impress and, at the same time, make life easier for whoever is preparing it, as all the attention should be focused on the assembly process, without much effort in cooking. There are countless combination options, you just need to choose the one that best suits your guests' preferences.

Some possible choices are:

Traditional Board

This option is composed of elements of various types that please different palates, such as:

• Cold cuts (salamis, hams, pastrami, and coppa);
• Cheeses (Gorgonzola, Parmesan, Mozzarella, and Provolone);
• Breads (toasts) and spreads (leek and olive);
• Jellies (pepper and apricot);
• Fruits (grapes and apples);
• Dried fruits (dates and plums);
• Pickles (cucumbers, quail eggs, and olives).

Cheese Board:

This is an ideal choice for cheese lovers, perfect for pairing with a good wine. If you want to surprise that person who is passionate about flavors and textures but also loves a good cheese, check out these options:

• Brie;
• Parmesan;
• Provolone;
• Gorgonzola;
• Ricotta.

Vegan Board

This one is for the #vegans! The cool thing about creating a charcuterie board is the different opportunities for experiences and pairings. We have, for example, the option of using vegan foods, to please Cruelty Free friends. Check it out:

• Vegan cheeses (Basi.co, Superbom, and Vidaveg);
• Breads (toasts and Italian bread);
• Spreads (tofu with herbs);
• Cherry tomatoes;
• Dried fruits (apricots and plums).

What are the steps for assembly?

1 – Ingredient Selection

This is the first step to surprising your guests. Flavor is the key to success! Keep in mind the taste and personality of the people who will be hosted; there's no point in trying to be too innovative with ingredients if your guests have simpler palates.

Therefore, go to the market calmly and think about foods that will create pleasant flavors. Browse various shelves and sections, looking for ideas that can enhance your charcuterie board.

2 – Cutting the Ingredients

First, grab a well-sharpened kitchen knife corresponding to the type of ingredient to be sliced, and then cut them, already imagining how they will be arranged on the board.

Important: it's essential that the knife used is well-sharpened, especially when slicing cheese, as we want it to look good in addition to tasting wonderful, right? Sharpening is not rocket science, and special techniques for sharpening the blade of the object can help you in this process.

3 – Prepare the Spreads

Of course, you can choose to buy ready-made spreads, but if your intention is truly to surprise your guests, making your own spread is indeed important. There are various recipes, and here are a few:

Olive Spread

Ingredients

• 1 cup (tea) pitted olives
• 1 clove garlic
• 2 tablespoons parsley and chives
• 1 cup (tea) mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until a consistent cream forms. After that, place it in a small bowl and serve with bread and toast.

Tofu with Herb Spread

Ingredients

• 1 block of tofu with its accompanying liquid
• Parsley to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 1 clove garlic
• 5 basil leaves
• Oregano to taste
• Salt to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until a consistent cream forms. After that, place it in a small bowl and serve with bread and toast.

3 – Arrangement of Food

This is where you truly impress!

A cool tip is to use small bowls, those little white ceramic ones, you know? They are great for separating textures, spreads, and toasts, for example. Also, divide the board's spaces by food type and follow a grouping, placing cold cuts on one side, cheeses on the other, and so on.

Appearance is key, so keep an eye out!

4 – Harmonize your Table

After making the charcuterie board presentation impeccable, it's not fair to fail in preparing the table! So, set aside some time for this task, which will make all the difference and will certainly make a good impression on your guests.

Opt for something cleaner; the board already has a lot of flavor and color information. Therefore, choose a white tablecloth or one with lighter tones, specific cutlery and glasses for each ingredient and drink, and finally, napkins to maintain organization.

5 – Enjoy! 

Phew! Now it's time to relax and enjoy with friends and family. After all the preparation, welcome your guests with the beautiful and appetizing charcuterie board you made.

Sit down and enjoy with them. Catch up and take the opportunity to exchange ideas for a next gathering. A great option is to have a complete barbecue with wonderful sides and gather everyone – after the pandemic, of course!

Have you learned how to make an amazing charcuterie board? Comment below what you thought and what other appetizers you'd like to see here.