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Charcuterie boards have been around a long time but only recently made it into the mainstream. Charcuterie boards can be sweet and simple or enormous and extravagant. They are functional as food layout and can also set the mood and give guests a food experience. Charcuterie boards allow the host or hostess to tell a story with food.
I love boards and how they can bring people together. They can be fun, unique, and the talk of the party.
Charcuterie boards for beginners
Even with all their beauty and potential, boards can be intimidating! Just yesterday, I was talking to a young professional woman in the market, and she said, "I just don't know what things to pair together. I get kind of overwhelmed and just don't do it at all!" I've heard these sentiments a lot.
Although I'm not an expert in putting together charcuterie boards, there are a few basics of charcuterie boards for beginners I've learned along the way that may help the hesitant charcuterie board designer.
There is no rule book
While there are a zillion tutorials and design ideas out there, the first thing you should know is that there is no perfect way to design your board. All that exists in the charcuterie world are helpful hints and ideas.
Resist the belief that someone will know you are a "charcuterie imposter" by breaking some imaginary rules that don't exist. Rules like perfectly pairing meats, cheeses, and wines are truly opinions -- not hard and fast rules.
It is interesting to see how flavors change when paired together. Instead of taking someone else's opinion for it, try things together and make up your own mind.
More is not always better
Charcuterie boards are filled with unique tastes and flavors, and that's the beauty! Unless you're creating a kid's board, resist the urge to fill it with meaningless (and cheap) products. It's better to have a smaller board with unique items than fillers like Ritz Crackers and summer sausage, which make their way onto charcuterie boards for beginners. Instead, be willing to pick up things you wouldn't buy every day, like a quinoa or flower cracker.
Make something handmade
Make one thing from scratch gives your charcuterie board interest and personality. For example, slicing a pear on a mandolin and drying it out in the oven for dried fruit, or baking bread, or turning apples into roses can take a standard board to another level of fun.
Pick a theme
Picking a theme will help direct you. I love holiday or seasonal themes. My theme for this month's board was spring, so I picked yellow and peach flowers. You can also coordinate the colors of food, flavor themes -- sweet & spicy or sweet & salty -- or collect your own personal favorites to share with friends and family.
Start small
While it's tempting to dig into a large board or enormous spread because you've seen some beautiful examples on Instagram, for charcuterie boards for beginners, starting with a small board with just a few perfect things is more meaningful. A small charcuterie board is also more attractive than huge boards overflowing with unorganized foods and treats.
Have fun!
This is an opportunity to be creative and show your personality. Enjoy the process of creating something people will love. Each charcuterie board pro has learned charcuterie boards for beginners, just like you. Your charcuterie board doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be perfectly you!
If you're not sure where to start, order this month's Good Things Gourmet Charcuterie Board box with tasty treats to get you inspired!