Charcuterie-style meat and cheese boards have become very popular outside of France, and the idea of charcuterie has evolved to include many foods besides meat. No matter what types of foods are included, the key element of all charcuterie boards is that they should bacon dates goat cheese artfully arranged for an attractive presentation. If you want to offer charcuterie on your menu, we’ll explain the basics and help you make an impressive completed board.
Charcuterie Definition Charcuterie is a branch of cooking involving prepared meats, such as ham, sausage, bacon, confit, or other pork products. The word charcuterie originated in France, and it translates to “pork-butcher shop. While the original French translation refers to pork, many modern charcuterie boards include other types of food like pate, cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, and dips. In French, the cook who prepares the meat is called a Charcutier. The English pronunciation of charcuterie varies slightly from the original French.
The correct French pronunciation of charcuterie is “shar-coo-tree. How to Make a Charcuterie Board If you’re just getting started with charcuterie, we’ve created a simple guide to inspire you. The common elements of a cheeseboard are meats and cheeses, but there are no rules when it comes to charcuterie. Play around with your favorite ingredients and themes. Before serving your board, take a picture of it for future reference. It will come in handy the next time you want to build a charcuterie board.
Choose Your Board There are so many shapes and styles of charcuterie boards that it can be a little overwhelming. Shape – Rectangular boards are easy to work with and their shape makes a great canvas for laying out ingredients. Round boards are the next most popular shape, but they’re a little more challenging when it comes to your portions. Once you’ve mastered a rectangular or round board, try experimenting with different shapes. Size – For a standard size board that feeds 2 to 3 guests, go with something around 9″ x 13″. A larger board with a length over 20″ is suitable for 4 or more people. Material – Melamine breadboards are a convenient option because they are more lightweight than slate or wood boards, but they provide the same rustic look.
Large boards with many ingredients tend to become very heavy. To recreate this charcuterie board, use a 12″ by 24″ slate board. Charcuterie Cheeses Everyone knows cheese is the main event! Begin by adding your cheeses and spacing them out evenly across the board. For smaller boards, stick with two types of cheese you know your guests will enjoy.