Holiday Entertaining
Holiday entertaining is something that I truly enjoy and with Christmas and New Years upon us I wanted to share one of my go-to appetizers. A charcuterie board or snack platter is something that is easy to make, requires no cooking and can satisfy anybody with dietary restrictions. Making a spectacular charcuterie board or snack platter doesn’t have to be difficult, in fact it can be really fun! Here are some tips and tricks that I have learned over the years.
The Components
Meats- I like to choose between 4-6 varieties of meats (salami, smoked salmon, prosciutto, capicola, ham, pepperoni, chorizo, mortadella, etc.)
Cheese- I like to have 3-5 different cheeses. You can offer a variety of milks as well; cow, goat, sheep.
Soft- Brie, Cream Cheese, Fresh Mozarella, Camembert
Firm- Cheddar, Mangchego, Gouda
Aged- Parmigiano-Reggiano, Gouda, Gruyere
Blue- Roquefort, Gorganzola
Fruit- A variety of fresh and dried seasonal fruits is the way to go. Dried apricots, cherries and apples make it onto many of my boards/platters. Fresh grapes and berries are always a lovely addition. Here are some fresh seasonal favorites as well;
Winter- pomegranate, orange, grapefruit, pear, persimmon, fig
Spring- apricot, strawberry, mango, honeydew
Summer- blueberry, blackberry, cherry, strawberry, raspberry, peach, nectarine
Fall- apple, pear, cranberry, dates
Nuts- My all time favorite nuts to use are marcona almonds, Trader Joe’s sells a truffle flavor that is AMAZING! I also like a variety of nuts, some plain, roasted and candied. Pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds and cashews just to name a few.
Pickled- Pickled vegetables adds brininess, I like to add a variety of olives, peppers and capers as well (you can just choose a variety from the olive bar at your local grocery store).
Crackers- I think an array of crackers and bread completes a charcuterie board or snack platter. A loaf of fresh crusty bread is nice to have in addition to crackers/crunchy bread sticks. My personal favorite are the Simple Mills Sea Salt crackers.
Sauces- Add fancy mustards, jam/preserves, honey and even cranberry sauce. You could even have dips as well or you can create a separate crudite platter with seasonal vegetables and dips (hummus, cream cheese dips, guacamole, etc.)
Extras- Fresh herbs and spices can add a pop of flavor and color. Try a good quality course sea salt, cracked pepper, fresh basil or rosemary.
Assembly
Gather your ingredients, a serving platter or cutting board, small knives, small bowls and toothpicks.
You will want to start with the bigger items. I typically place my cheese first, I like to pre-sliced some of the cheese as well as keeping some in full wedges for guests to cut themselves.
Next I will add the meats- I like to make piles with some and roll others, get creative!
Now I add any small bowls that I will use for olives or sauces.
Then crackers, fruit and nuts fill the empty spaces.
Once the empty space is filled I will add the finishing touches, fresh herbs and spices.
Once complete, cover and refrigerate. Pull out just before your guests arrive.
Enjoy!
