19 Unique Charcuterie Board Ideas That aren't Meat and Cheese | Party Food Favorites (2024)

FAQs

What to put on a charcuterie board besides cheese and meat? ›

Believe it or not, it's super simple to create an impressive presentation of cured meats, specialty cheeses and all the colorful complements. Get creative with olives, antipasti, fresh fruit, nuts, spreads, crackers and more.

Instead of focusing on meats and cheeses, all the attention is on veggies! This fancy crudites platter features radicchio, radishes, grape tomatoes, small carrots with pretty stems still on them, green beans, co*cktail cucumbers, and more!

Creating Interest with the 3-3-3-3 Rule

Choose three cheeses, three meats, three starches, and three accompaniments for a perfect and balanced board, every time!

There are a few that I would stay away from eggplants, brussels sprouts, turnips, beets, zucchini and mushrooms. Many of these vegetables taste best when cooked, and Charcuterie boards generally don't include steamed or cooked veggies.

Charcuterie is divided into three types: forcemeats, sausages and salumi, an Italian word for “salted meats,” which includes preserved whole cuts of meat. Forcemeats are spreadable mixtures of meat and offal (organ meats) like rillettes, pâtés and terrines.

Include creamy cheeses, crunchy pickles, crusty bread, and delicate slices of cured meats. The interplay of different textures can add depth and interest to your pairings. Think about visual appeal: Consider the visual aspect of your charcuterie board.

Briny, pickled or marinated: olives, co*cktail onions, cornichons, dill pickles, pepperoncini. We love green olives stuffed with garlic or feta, and I also like including olive tapenade and bruschetta. Savory Dips and spreads: Whole ground mustard, hummus, ranch, balsamic dip. Veggies – cold cut, if desired.

What should you not put on a charcuterie board? You'll want to avoid overly juicy fruits whose juices will run across the board and turn your crackers and bread soggy. Skip fruits like watermelon, pineapple, and tomatoes and stick with grapes, berries, and apples or dried fruits.

Many ingredients used in charcuterie boards are high in sodium, including deli meats, dry sausages, cheeses, salted nuts, pretzels and crackers. The recommendation for daily sodium intake for adults is 2,300 milligrams or less. To reduce the sodium load on your board, add more fresh or dried fruits and raw veggies.

Place cheeses of different shapes and colors strategically, and layer cured meats in a cascading fashion. Creating symmetry or asymmetry can both be aesthetically pleasing so do whatever you feel works best for your ingredients. Consider placing meats and cheeses that you want to encourage pairing next to each other.

What can you add to a creative charcuterie board? ›

You can have a little fun with your charcuterie board in the fall by adding some seasonal fruits and veggies. Some good options are pears, apples, figs, and butternut squash. You can also add some cooked meat like chicken or turkey if you want a heartier board.

A charcuterie board is primarily made up of meats accompanied by cheese, crackers, and other ingredients like nuts or spreads. Meanwhile, crudités is essentially a fancy word for a vegetable platter that has raw vegetables like carrots and tomatoes paired with complimentary dips.