Charcuterie boards—a thoughtful variety of finger foods, dips and treats beautifully placed on a decorative board—what’s not to love?
This Mother’s Day, consider treating Mom to a special charcuterie board, like this one from local food blogger, The Seaside Baker, who uses nine-inch wooden letter boxes (from a local craft store) to spell out M-O-M. She highlights a different theme in each: pastries, snacks and desserts.
Charcuterie boards are all about arrangement (and using a variety of colors and textures). Feel free to customize it for the recipient—you can substitute or add just about anything. Putting a charcuterie board together is a forgiving process, so get creative. Our tips and tricks will help you get started.
The Basics
- Meats
- Cheeses
- Fruit
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Dips
- Sweets
This ingredients list covers the basics, but possibilities and combinations are endless. Some people like to follow the 3-3-3-3 rule—three meats, three cheese, three starches (crackers, sliced baguette) and three add-ons like fruit, veggies or nuts—but customize the board as desired. You could choose an overall theme, such as vegetarian delights, Mom’s favorite snacks, death by chocolate or choose foods that are all one color.
Charcuterie Board Tips
- Fill small, decorative bowls with dips, fig jam or snacks such as dark chocolate, pretzels or honeycomb to add dimension and interest to the display.
- Choose a variety of cheese, such as hard cheese (parmesan, asiago), firm cheese (manchego, cheddar), semi-soft (Havarti), blue cheese (gorgonzola), or creamy (goat cheese or brie).
- Consider different flavor profiles (sweet, salty, spicy).
- Don’t like olives? Substitute with nuts, pickles or artichoke hearts.
- Does Mom love berries? Include several types (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries).
- Consider keeping savory items (meats and cheeses) separated from sweets.
- Prosciutto and salami are popular cured meats.
- Be sure to include small cheese knives and little spoons for dips or spreads.
- A small bottle of champagne, wine or sparkling cider is a fun addition that works well in the “M.”
- If you can’t find letter boxes, any decorative board or platter will work.
Find specific directions for what’s in the photo, including shopping list, design tips and storage tips at www.theseasidebaker.com/mothers-day-charcuterie-board.
Managing editor Lisa Gipson loves creating (and eating) a thoughtfully curated charcuterie board. Photo credit: www.theseasidebaker.com
