As we near the end of November and slide into December (the holy grail month of parties and gatherings) we wonder "How can I make my cheese, meats and crackers look better?". Well do I have the answer for you!
The Charcuterie board. Sounds fancy and french right! While you may see them on Facebook or Instagram, and feel intimidated to try and make one your-self, they are extremely easy to prepare and you will have your guests raving about it!
First how do you pronounce Charcuterie? [shahr-koo-tuh–ree].
Now how do you make this thing!
Charcuterie boards are usually filled with a wide variety of foods such as cured meats, vegetables, pickled foods, cheese, nuts, olives, crackers and more. They are the perfect food selection for dinner parties or appetizers to share with groups. You want to consider choosing a variety of foods with different textures, spices, acidic notes, and sweetness. The 5 different flavor profiles include salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami (umami is all of the savory flavors like shiitake mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.). These pairings should complement each other and not be overbearing in flavor.
Now lets break it down:
Meat:
Salami, sausages, prosciutto, smoked meats such as ham, chorizo
Cheese:
Smoked Gouda, aged cheddar, brie, gorgonzola, Swiss, mozzarella
Grains:
Bread, crackers, crostini, breadsticks, pita
Fruits and vegetables:
Cherry tomatoes, grapes, blackberries, figs, dried apricot
Nuts:
Pistachio, unsalted almonds, smoked almonds, cashews
Preserved:
Pepperoncini, dill pickles, pickled onions, Kalamata olives, manzanilla olives
Others:
Mango chutney, spicy jams, garlic aioli, Dijon mustard, cream cheese spreads, raspberry or fig jams, balsamic glaze
Now you know how to make a Kick A** Charcuterie board!! Don't have a charcuterie board? I'll be at The Markit at the Cochrane Alliance Church on November 24 from 10 am - 3 pm where you can buy one there!!