Basic Charcuterie Board for Beginners
An elegant-yet-easy DIY charcuterie board that's perfect for beginners! Made with budget ingredients to keep it affordable & simple additions that feel fancy.
Equipment
- large wooden board (from 9x13 to 12x18-inches, or larger)
- 3-4 small pinch bowls for dips, spreads, olives, toothpicks, etc.
- 1 small jar (optional) for crunchy breadsticks
Ingredients
Spreads & Brined Items (served in pinch bowls)
- ¼ cup prune jam
- ¼ cup grainy mustard
- ⅓ cup green & kalamata olives
- 20 + toothpicks to skewer mozzarella balls
Charcuterie Meats & Proteins
- 3 oz salami
- 3 oz prosciutto
- 3 hard boiled eggs halved
Cheeses
- 4 oz sharp cheddar squares
- 4 oz Swiss cheese squares
- 4 oz mozzarella balls
Crackers & Breads
- 20-30 Raincoast Crisps or crackers of choice
- 15-20 crunchy breadsticks arranged in a jar
Fruits & Vegetables
- 20 prunes
- ½ red bell pepper sliced
- 1 cucumber sliced into ribbons & rolled
Snacks & Garnishes
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup walnuts
- 8-10 fresh thyme sprigs (and/or rosemary)
- sprinkle of black pepper
Instructions
How to Arrange a Basic Charcuterie Board
- Fill small pinch bowls with dips & spreads, brined items like olives, and toothpicks for skewers (if needed). On this board, I also served crunchy breadsticks in a small mason jar.
- Place bowls on the board first (as well as any other large items like blocks of soft cheese or meat roses). Use these items as focal points & build around them.
- Next add meats, cheeses, & crackers. Arrange items like rolled meats & mozzarella pearls in small piles. Layer items like sliced meats, cheese squares, or crackers in a line so they look nice. (Move items around & adjust your design as you go!)
- Fill in the board with produce & snacks. Continue arranging items in rows or small piles, next to meats or cheeses you think they’ll pair well with. (And try to spread some color across your board!)
- Finish with garnishes. Add a crack of black pepper on the mozzarella pearls, then garnish the board with a few sprigs of fresh thyme.
*How to Make Cucumber Ribbons* (optional)
- Cut the ends off of a cucumber and slice it in half lengthwise. Using a mandoline (and a safety glove), thinly slice the cucumber into ribbons ~¼” thick.
- Roll up each cucumber ribbon, then add the cucumber rolls to your charcuterie board.
- (For a simpler presentation, slice the cucumber into rounds or crinkle-cut it to give it some texture.)