What goes well with charcuterie boards?

Are you putting up a charcuterie board as an appetizer and wondering what to provide to entertain visitors at a party or special occasion? There are several flavor and texture options to meet everyone’s taste buds, ranging from salty to spicy and sweet.

What goes well with a charcuterie board? A charcuterie board is often offered with a selection of meats and cheeses accompanied by nuts, fresh or dried fruits, slices of bread, and crackers that go well with beer, wine, or champagne.

Charcuterie board is a mixture of varied components that is notable for its flexibility, affordability, and ease of preparation while looking high-end and attractive. A certain color, season, geographical place, or theme may be included into the item combination.

This article covers all you need to know about serving charcuterie. The commonly asked questions are answered here to help you plan, construct, and organize your next charcuterie board. Come along to find out more!

Can a charcuterie board be a meal?

Indeed, a charcuterie board may be considered a dinner. It is high in protein from meat and cheese, as well as lipids, fiber, vitamins and minerals from fruits and nuts.

As a result, it meets all of the criteria for a full meal. The board should provide healthful and satisfying food regardless of the event or time of day.

Typically made for three to five people, but may be altered to accommodate a larger population. Nevertheless, the portion may be adjusted for two to three persons by removing the assortment and cutting down the quantity of each component.

What appetizers goes with a charcuterie board?

While a sophisticated charcuterie board is considered an appetizer, it may easily be combined with additional appetizers on the side. Choose appetizers that complement a charcuterie board, such as fresh or dried fruits, bread, crackers, and cheese.

What to add on charcuterie board?

While assembling a charcuterie board, consider flavor, texture, and diversity. A perfect mixed platter should include fatty, crunchy, pickled, carbohydrate-rich, sweet, salty, savory, and brined foods.

Try include the following things on your charcuterie board:

Meat

Be sure to include at least three different types of meat. Prosciutto is the most popular cured meat, while soppressata has a more fatty taste. This meat comes in sweet and spicy versions that go well with soft, creamy cheeses and fruits like blackberries.

Gouda or brie cheese, on the other hand, pairs well with genoa salami. Add chorizo to the board for a spicy and fiery taste variation. In fact, it goes well with goat cheeses and hard cheeses like manchego.

Cheese

Brie and blue are two common types of cheese to use on a charcuterie board. It has a moderate taste and a creamy texture that complements walnuts or pecans well.

Goat cheese and mozzarella are two more soft cheeses. When serving hard cheese, manchego and cheddar cheese are ideal since they have a mild nutty taste that pairs well with crackers, cured meats, and fruits.

Crackers

Whether plain or seasoned, crackers serve as a little platter to convey meats and cheeses to the tongue. Choose three or more varieties for big boards. Choose crisp and gritty crackers to provide texture.

For a charcuterie board, water biscuits, crostini, whole wheat, saltines, and artisan crackers are ideal.

Jam

Hot and peppery jam complement any basic or mild cheese and meat combinations. The spread gives the board a lot of character. Jams that are often utilized include fig, raspberry, apricot, peach, and strawberry jams.

Mustard

The mustard should be chosen to complement the intensity of the cheeses, bread, meat, and other components used. It should also contrast with the other components’ textures and tastes. Dijon mustard is often recommended.

Bread

Choose two or three bread kinds based on the size of the charcuterie board. The most prevalent are baguettes, multigrain, sourdough, gluten-free bread, and flavored artisan bread.

Replace heavy bread with little croissants, muffins, or pretzel nibbles for smaller charcuterie boards or brunch sweet boards.

What flavor goes well with a charcuterie board?

The charcuterie board changes with the seasons and may be customized in a number of ways.

Use summer fruits like grapes, peaches, or melon to bring acidic or sweet taste to the board. Apples, pears, grapes, figs, and pomegranate are also suitable for autumn.

To give the foods an earthy taste, add some tarragon, rosemary, mint, or fresh basil.

Jams, honey, mustard, and fruit compotes are must-haves if you like items that are especially sweet. To give it a kick, add some jalapeos or red pepper.

What to drink with a charcuterie board?

A charcuterie board goes well with alcoholic drinks such as wine, champagne, and beer. In fact, they are a must-have on the charcuterie board to bring all the tastes together in a festive way.

Here are some wines, champagnes, and beers to go with your meat and cheese platter:

Wine

When searching for a wine to pair with charcuterie, we suggest concentrating on the meats and cheeses rather than the other way around. Furthermore, always include both white and red alternatives.

To counteract the richness of the cheese, pair it with fruity red or white wines. Light-bodied wines such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc are ideal, as are medium-bodied wines such as Merlot and Pinot Noir.

Zinfandel, chianti classico, Chardonnay, Malbec Gamay, and Verdejo are excellent matches for more refined palates.

Champagne

The champagne you serve with a charcuterie board is heavily influenced by what’s on the board. Whether or whether the board needs champagne is mostly determined by the cheese.

For example, a powerful champagne companion is required for the old cheddar on the board, which has a deep and nuanced taste profile. Champagne’s brioche notes bring out the peppery essence of the cheese, and baby swiss or alpine-style cheeses sometimes need champagne as well.

Demi-sec or brut champagne is ideal for a charcuterie platter due to its balanced appeal.

Beer

While beer is not often served with charcuterie boards, it is not impossible. When combining with beer, choose a beer that complements the cured meat.

When serving hot and peppery pork shoulder, use IPA to sweeten and soften the flavor. Pair with a creamy and richly flavored Porter or Stout if the cured meat contains fennel, spicy peppers, or paprika flavoring.

Since it has enough acidity to cut through the fat, Italian dry salami pairs best with a Kolsch or Pilsner beer, while peppered salami pairs best with amber ale, and Genoa salami pairs well with a light European lager or an American Adjunct Lager.

Prosciutto is a popular cured meat that pairs well with Pilsner or Gose.

Pair with mortadella for Saison and IPA fans.

Eat With Charcuterie: Conclusion 

While creating a charcuterie board, be sure to mix and match various tastes and textures. To provide diversity, serve hard salami slices beside the paper-thin, delicate prosciutto, as well as sausages and hard and soft cheeses.

Remember to include bread, crackers, fruits, spreads, pickled veggies, and beverages for contrast and diversity. These varied elements not only provide sweet and salty notes to the board, but also tang and acidity, while others give texture and a sweet twist.

Because of its adaptability, it may be served as a meal or as an appetizer before the main course. This plate is full of good nourishment and may be enjoyed at any time.

Charcuterie boards cannot be the sole appetizer for bigger groups. To complete the feast, serve with artichoke dip, hummus, pickles, guacamole, ceviche, salad, deviled eggs, and shrimp cocktail.

So stock up on the meats, cheeses, crackers, and breads that go well with wine, champagne, or beer. The options are endless, so provide a variety of textures, colors, and tastes by season so that your visitors may mix and combine as they choose.