The concept of grazing and gathering is a great one! With our large family, grazing tables and charcuterie boards have become standard practice for most get togethers. Skip the sit down dinner or the buffet, opt for a grazing table. Use your dinner table, your kitchen island -whatever works in your home. Stay tuned for some incredible grazing table ideas, but for this post, we are going to focus on charcuterie boards.
Small boards
The board to the left is a small circular board – it will serve 2-4 people for appetizers. The actual wood platter we used below is circular and is 13 inches wide.
To make this board, purchase:
- 4 types of cheeses
- 2 types of meats
- 2 types of crackers
- 4 different fruits
- 1-2 types veggies
- 2 varieties of nuts
- olives
- You can also substitute hummus or another dip for the olives.
We typically place the cheese and meat on the board first and build it out from there! Have fun with it! You can also change any of the items in this list according to your preference – the best part of building charcuterie boards is customizing them!
Medium boards
The photo to the right is one of our medium-sized boards built in a charcuterie to-go box – meaning you can take it anywhere. Think housewarming party, picnic with friends. We made this for a day spent on a boat and everyone was so happy when we pulled it out! This charcuterie box will serve 8-10 people as an appetizer. The box is 14 x 19 in size. It has an attached lid. We get boxes from brpboxshop.com.
To make this box, purchase:
- 6 types of cheeses
- 3 types of meats
- French bread
- Pita bread
- Breadsticks
- 2 types of crackers
- 4 different types of fruits
- 4 different types of veggies
- 2 varieties of nuts
- Hummus & any other dips or olive oil
- Sprigs of rosemary and thyme for garnish
We made the charcuterie board above for a New Years Eve celebration in 2021. Below is a list of what we used to build it:
Meats
- genoa salami
- prosciutto
- salami-wrapped mozzeralla
Cheeses
- brie
- jalapeno havarti
- monterey jack
- sharp cheddar
- unexpected cheddar
- pecorino romano
- cranberry goat cheese
Crackers & bread
- French bread
- Pita bread
- breadsticks
- 3-4 different types of crackers (fig & olive from Trader Joes was a favorite)
Fruits & veggies
- blueberries
- raspberries
- grape tomatoes
- pomegranate seeds
- cranberries
- edamame
- mini peppers/green peppers
- english cucumbers
Nuts & sweets
- marcona almonds
- milk & dark chocolate almonds
- chocolate coconut almonds
- pistachios
Large boards
There is no better way to host a party than with a party-sized charcuterie board! We personally love to make charcuterie boards that spell out words, numbers or in the shape of a symbol, depending on the theme of the party. A board of this size and variety will satisfy all and has something for everyone. It is very easy to replicate on a kitchen counter (cover counter with wax paper or parchment paper). All items in the board were purchased from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. Bag any extras and replenish as the night goes on!
