How to make a Rustic Bakery Charcuterie Board

Serves 8-12

What is Charcuterie? Charcuterie is a French word used to describe a variety of smoked and cured deli meats, fish, or pate. The meat is the hero on the board, which makes an impressive appetizer or meal.

Ingredients

4 oz Gouda Cheese
4 Oz Goat Cheese
4 oz soft Brie
4 0z Blue Cheese
4 oz Parmaggiano Regiano
3 oz Walnuts (or mix of nuts you like)
3 oz dried fruit (Apricots, figs, Dates..)
3 oz Olives or Cornichons
3 oz Fig Jam
3 oz Salami
3 oz Prosciutto
3 oz Bresaola
3 oz Spicy Calabrese
A combination of fresh Fruit such as Berries, Grapes, Pears, Apples, Figs, Pomegranate

Optional

Small ramekins/bowls - to hold jam, mustard
Cheese knives
Jar of honey & honey dipper
Small ramekin of Whole grain mustard

Instructions

Select a large wooden board or a beautiful large Serving Platter to hold your charcuterie.
Use a mixture of hard and soft cheese to create complexity of flavors on the board
Place the Cheese on the board in alternating positions of the board as shown
Use a mix of spicy, salty and bold flavored meats to compliment the fresh flavors on the board. You could also add in pate, the combinations are limitless.
Create ribbons of meat on your board by layering and overlapping the meat. Moving the meat in a swirling pattern creates depth and adds interest to your board.
For very thin slices of meat (prosciutto), fold and bunch up the slices and let it fall back and forth on the board, in almost a fan type pattern. You can also cut the slices of meat in half to create more servings and to change up the meat sizes.
Fold the salami pieces into quarters, standing them up next to one another, fanning out accross the board.
Add dried and fresh fruit for pops of color while adding sweetness to your board - red & green grapes, fresh berries, and dried fruit are all good options.
Place your spreads in little jars or ramekins and add them to the charcuterie board.
Fill in spaces on your board with dried nuts, Olives, dried Fruits and the Fig jam in between the Cheeses and the meats.
FIll in all visable space with food, trying to make the positioning as random as possible.
Garnish with fresh herbs sprigs.
Fresh rosemary and/or fresh thyme look great on your board and add in pops of greenery.
Add in your favorite Rustic Bakery Flatbread, Flatbred bites and Artisan Crisps on the outside of the board, it is also okay to serve them separately on another plate
You want your board to look elegant and offer a variety of serving options for your guests. Each time your guest dives in, they can create a new bite of flavor.
If you have excess meat, cheese, or ingredients (other than crackers) - keep refrigerated until you are ready to replinish the board.
You can create your board up to one to two days in advance, leaving out the crackers or crisps, cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate, pull out your board 1/2 hour before you want to serve to your guests.
This guide is a mere suggestion, fill your board with your hearts desire of favorite cheese, meat and snacks. You can switch it up each time you make a board to discover your favorite way to enjoy.
We also suggest adding in Rustic Bakery holiday cookies to your board to make it seasonal and festive!