Pinterest Dried Beef Cheese Ball With Pecans

Find out how to make a complete appetizer platter (a.k.a. charcuterie board or cured meat and cheese platter) to impress your guests for your next party, holiday, or get-together with friends. It has different types of cheese, cold meats, seasonal fruits and veggies, nuts, dried fruits, spreads, starches such as crackers and bread, and mini desserts. There is something for everyone even for picky eaters and you don't have to cook a single thing. You can easily prep and assemble all the ingredients in 30 minutes, pop open a bottle of champagne wine, and enjoy all the goodies and chats with family and friends.

Would you like to have a relaxing time while nibbling on some great food? Well, if your answer is yes, then a meat cheese platter is just what you need!

It is quick and easy to put together, yet is elegant and a real crowd-pleaser! Why is that? Because you can choose items according to your guests' tastes and age range. That means even kids can find lots to enjoy!

I've been making different varieties of appetizer trays for a long time-- ever since Culinary School and my externship in a successful catering company in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I used to live more than a decade ago.

You can customize them for breakfast (with items such as fruits, pancakes, waffles, granola, etc), snacks (such as a fruit and cheese platter), all-desserts, specific holidays such as Christmas, and of course get-togethers. It all depends on what items that you choose to craft your cheese board.

Today I will show you how to quickly choose items on a budget and nicely assemble a charcuterie board that is sure to please everyone. The good thing is, there are no set-in-stone rules!

What is a Charcuterie Board?

Charcuterieis a French term that refers to the art of curing, smoking, and cooking meat, primarily pork.  It also refers to the place (store or delicatessen) that sells such items and to the preserved items themselves.

For those who may not know, charcuterie is pronounced shar-q-tuh-ree.

 So a charcuterie board refers toa board with cured and/or preserved meats (basically, pork) on it.

But nowadays, the term has expanded to encompass much more than cured meats. Most of them include cheeses, making it more of a meat and cheese tray.

Some even include items for breakfast, desserts, and pretty anything else you can think of.

What Comes on a Charcuterie Board (Cured Meat and Cheese Board)?

Technically, the charcuterie board should include a variety of sliced cured and/or cold meats. However, in modern times it has evolved into more of a cured meat and cheese platter that can also include other savory and sweet items to pair with the animal proteins.

Examples of extra food items that you can add to craft your own meat and cheese board include: fresh and/or dried fruits, nuts, spreads and dips, pickled or brined foods, jams, crackers, chocolate truffles, etc.

Another thing is, you can use something else other than a wooden board, although there is a coolness factor to it. A simple platter or tray will do, especially if you are making a small cheese tray or cheese and cracker platter.

But always keep in mind that even with all these extra items added to the board,cured meats are still the star of a charcuterie board, followed by different types of cheese. In fact, if you don't include any cold/cured meats on your spread, it's no longer a typical charcuterie board.

On the other hand, a meat and cheese platter like ours can include any type of cooked/smoked or cured meat. Sausages, pulled pork, roast chicken or fried chicken, pepperoni, grilled salmon, sliced skirt steak, turkey legs or sliced roast turkey for Thanksgiving party, sliced honey baked ham for a Christmas get-together, and more.

Some restaurants serve charcuterie boards as appetizer platters with 3 or more types of cured meats, cheeses (soft, semi-hard,  and/or hard), grainy Dijon mustard, mixed olives, and sliced bread. Of course, the charcuterie remains the star, but these extra items help fill it out.

Moreover, on Pinterest and Instagram, you can find many other suggestions to craft different types of boards. I have to admit it is super fun to watch something that you can later assemble at home yourself.

Why Make a Cured Meat and Cheese Platter?

Because it is super fun and requires no cooking! It is a dream for any food lover, wouldn't you agree?

Imagine a whole spread of foods that you can nibble on, nicely assembled for your leisure or entertaining.... It all creates a composition of flavors and textures like a harmonious symphony (sweet + savory, sour + fatty, bitter + sweet + tangy, creamy + crunchy, etc).

But that's not all! Here are a fewmore reasons to fix a meat and cheese board:

• It makes a no-cook appetizer or meal for a party.
• It is perfect not just for summer but for all year round. It is not a seasonal thing, although you should choose seasonal items to make it budget-friendly.
• The variety increases your chance of satisfying different palates!
• Great for when you're having guests over for the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter, Halloween) and want to impress, but without all the hassle.
• A great opportunity and excuse to clean out your fridge or pantry using fresh fruits, veggies, pickled items, nuts, sauces, crackers, proteins, and other finger foods. A clever way to avoid waste!
• Ideal for when you want a light meal with different items to choose from.

What Makes a Good Meat and Cheese Tray

To me, the best meat and cheese board is one that has a little bit of everything.

Size isn't the main thing! You can make a small tray for 1-2 people with a few food items such as cheese, crackers, and fruits or a large platter for 6-12+ people with lots of foods to choose from. Both can be good!

What matters is that your meat and cheese board has a variety of components with different flavors and textures. Mixing and matching food is a must!

Here are the elements that you should put on a board, platter, or tray listed according to their category (flavor and texture):

• SAVORY/FATTY:cured meats (like salami, prosciutto, pastrami, capocollo, Spanish chorizo, Jamón Ibérico, soppressata, mortadella, pepperoni),hard cheeses (like cheddar, Parmesan, manchego), semi-soft (like mozzarella balls and havarti), soft cheeses (like ricotta, cottage cheese, goat cheese, cream cheese or requeijao, brie, feta, and blue cheese), olives (like kalamata and Spanish green),dips(hummus and guacamole), spreads (compound butter), fresh veggies (baby carrots, celery sticks, baby bell pepper halves).
• SWEET:fresh seasonal fruits and/or dried fruits (cherries, cranberries, peaches, figs, raisins), jams,honey/maple syrup, candied nuts such as our glazed cashew nuts, mini desserts.
• SALTY: salted roasted nuts, crackers (at least 2 different types), cured meats, and olives.
• SOUR/TANGY:pickled veggies (cucumbers, red onions, beets, or pepperoncini), Dijon mustard,tangy cheeses (like goat cheese),vinegar-based sauces (vinaigrettes, chimichurri).
• BITTER: leafy greens like arugula orfresh herbs.
• SPICY:pickled chiles,spicy jam,hot sauce, fresh black pepper, pepperoncini, red pepper flakes,spicy cured meats.

How to Prepare a Charcuterie Board

If making a small tray for 1-2 people, it will take up to 10 minutes to prep, depending on the number of items that you use. But if you are preparing a large charcuterie board with a wider variety of items like ours, it'll take about you 30 minutes to prep everything and assemble on the board.

To make the process as simple as possible, do the following:

• Take The Cheeses Out of the Fridge: Before you start to prep any items, remove your cheeses from the fridge to warm up. They not only taste better when close to room temp, but some are also easier to slice, while others such as cream cheese get better to spread.
• Chop the Veggies: Wash and pat dry all the produce. Then either slice or chop the fruits and veggies into bite-size pieces.
• Slice the Meats and Cheeses: If your meat is in log form, for example, thinly slice it into rounds. If they are pre-sliced, pull them apart and then fan or roll them apart for easy spreading on the board. If your cheeses come in brick or ball form, either slice them or cut them into small cubes.
• Gather Other Items: Grab all the other items like jars or packages (jam, nuts, pickles, spreads like hummus) and leave in a place of easy access to assemble the board.
• Grab the board & utensils: Leave them near the items so you can spread all the ingredients on the board.

How to Make a Cured Meat and Cheese Platter

1. (Optional step): If you're using wood, spread a layer of parchment paper on your board so that the fatty foods like meats and cheeses don't leave grease stains. If you are using marble, like I did, or a metal sheet pan, you don't need to worry about that!
2. Start by choosing one or more focal points. It can be anything! I placed a few bowls of jam, hummus, pomegranate seeds, and mozzarella balls with olives on the board first to establish my focal points. They are often placed either in the center or in spots where you will place other items around. But in this case, since those bowls don't contain the main items (meats and cheeses), you will have to leave space enough to layer the main items around those focal points. These small bowls make the board more visually appealing, especially if you choose some with different sizes/height/shapes.
3. Next, layer one ingredient at a time on the board, starting with the two key items: cured meats (like Calabrese, prosciutto, and capocollo) and cheeses (I chose a hard cheese like cheddar which is popular among kids, and some other hard cheeses like manchego. loved by adults).
4. Then arrange the starches such as crackers, breadsticks, and toast on the board, followed by in-season fruits and veggies on the board. Different colors of produce make for a bright, vivid, and beautiful board! I picked some that my kids would eat such as grapes and strawberries.
5. Nestle into small bowls or tuck into tight spots small items like nuts and dried fruits.
6. If you are serving mini desserts for a complete and modern charcuterie board, like I did, remember: before you start to assemble the board, reserve a corner just for them.
7. Garnish with fresh herbs and edible flowers.
8. Place mini spoons, mini skewers, toothpicks, or any other needed utensils close to the food items they will be used with.
9. Serve with a sparkling drink, wine, or any other beverage of your choice. Cheers! Ours is a complete charcuterie or cured meat and cheese board – it has enough appetizers for a full meal plus desserts.

Food Items for the Seasonal Charcuterie Board

Here are the items that you can use to make our charcuterie board:

• Cured meats: You can select any of your choices. I got a package in the store that came with 3 cured types of meat: prosciutto, capocollo, and Calabrese salami. You may either choose them individually or buy a variety pack, which usually has a better price!
• Cheeses: our meat and cheese board has 3 different types of cheeses: two hard kinds of cheese (cheddar and manchego) and a semi-soft cheese (marinated mozzarella balls and I paired them with Spanish green olives).
• Starches: 2 types of crackers, Italian breadsticks, and baguette toast composed our board.
• Fruits: I used dried cranberries and also a variety of seasonal fresh fruits like grapes, pomegranate, and strawberries.
• Veggies: Anything seasonal and that would appeal to your picky eaters. I used celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, and baby carrots.
• Nuts: They cost more so I chose only one type which was pecans. But you can buy mixed nuts in a can or pick one or more of your preference.
• Spreads: For the sweet spread I picked an orange marmalade and for a savory spread/dip, hummus.
• Desserts: I chose mini treats such as macarons, caramels, meringues, and chocolate truffles. They don't occupy much space and you can easily buy them in most stores. Anything that is small, proper for the occasion, and that you love goes well.

Expert Tips For Seasonal Charcuterie Boards

• Choose and use the produce & other foods based on what is in season and/or on sale. In the summertime, for example, pick seasonal fruits such as watermelon, peaches, and cherries. If you're making a winter meat and cheese platter like I did, grapes and pomegranates are some of the best picks, For fall, apples, pears, and figs are better choices. In the spring, maybe apricots and rhubarb. The same goes for veggies! Buying seasonal produce will save you money and also will taste better.
• Place food items next to what they will be eaten with: For example, crackers close to a cheese, cured meats closer to toast, veggies close to dips, etc.
• Choose a board or platter with handles or a rim when possible: After putting the board together in the kitchen you will be able to easily carry it wherever you'll be serving the food.
• Break the most popular food items into small groups: Because most people go for cured meats, crackers, and bread as well as cheeses first, it works better if you scatter them across the board with space in between them. That way, more than one person can serve themselves at the same time instead of having to wait their turn.

Ideas For Using Up The Leftovers

Depending on the size of the board and how many people you need to serve, you may wind up with leftovers. Hey, that's not a bad thing if you put them to use later.  Here are some ideas for taking care of the leftovers:

• Use the mozzarella and tomatoes to make a sandwich or Caprese breakfast egg cups.
• Use nuts and dried fruits to serve with the perfect oatmeal.
• Make a fruit salad, a smoothie bowl, or even use the fresh fruit leftovers as a topping for this acai bowl recipe.
• Hummus makes a great spread for sandwiches!
• Veggies are great for making this cabbage soup loaded with veggies or a hearty beef stew.

Be creative and put your meat and cheese platter leftovers to use!

Storage:

Store any leftovers, wrapped or covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make use of them as soon as possible!

More Appetizer Recipes to Try:

• Shrimp cheese ball
• Rissoles (Ham and Cheese Empanadas)
• Coxinha de frango (Chicken fritters)

PIN AND ENJOY!

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Meat and Cheese Platter (Charcuterie Board)

Find out how to make a complete appetizer platter (a.k.a. charcuterie board or cured meat and cheese platter) to impress your guests for your next party, holiday, or get-together with friends. You can easily prep and assemble all the ingredients in 30 minutes, pop open a bottle of champagne wine, and enjoy all the goodies and chats with family and friends.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keywords: appetizer recipe, charcuterie board, meat and cheese platter

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 16 people

Cost $ 6,00 per person

• Board, tray, or platter

• Cutting baord

• knife

• Small bowls

• 3 different types of cheese ideally a mix of hard, semi-soft, and soft (I used manchego, cheddar, mozzarella balls)
• 3 different types of cured meats thinly sliced (I used prosciutto, capocollo, and calabrese salami)
• 3 different kinds of fresh seasonal fruits (grapes, berries, and pomegranate seeds)
• 3 different types of fresh veggies I used whatever was available in the store and had a good price: baby carrots, celery sticks, and mini tomatoes
• 2 different kinds of spreads I used hummus & marmalade
• Marinated Spanish green olives
• 2 different types of crackers
• Baguette toast
• Nuts I used only one type (pecans because nuts cost more and I wanted to save some money.
• Dried fruits: I chose dried cranberries because it was winter time but you can pick others, depending on the season or your taste.
• Mini desserts: You don't have to serve them but I wanted to make a complete platter that would be a full meal main and dessert. The meat and cheese board itself is an appetizer but it is so filling that you think you are having a complete meal. I used meringues, caramels, chocolate truffles, and macarons.

• (Optional step): If you're using wood, spread a layer of parchment paper on your board so that the fatty foods like meats and cheeses don't leave grease stains. If you are using marble, like I did, or a metal sheet pan, no protection is required.

• Start by choosing one or more focal points. It can be anything! I placed a few bowls of jam, hummus, pomegranate seeds, and mozzarella balls with olives on the board first to establish my focal points. They are usually placed either in the center or in spots where you will place other items around. But in this case, since those bowls are not filled with the main items (meats and cheeses), you will have to leave enough space to layer the main items around those focal points. These small bwols make the board more visually appealing, especially if you choose some with different sizes/height/shapes.

• Next, layer one ingredient at a time on the board, starting with the 2 key items: cured meats (like Calabrese, prosciutto, and capocollo) and cheeses (I chose a hard cheese like cheddar which is popular among kids, and some other hard cheeses like manchego, loved by adults).

• Then arrange the starches, such as crackers, breadsticks, and toast on the board, followed by the seasonal fruits and veggies on the board. Different colors of produce make for a bright, vivid, and beautiful board! I picked some that my kids would eat such as grapes and strawberries.

• Nestle in small bowls or tuck into tight spots small items like nuts and dried fruits.

• If you are serving mini desserts for a complete and modern charcuterie board, like I did, before you start to assemble the board reserve a corner just for them.

• Garnish with fresh herbs and edible flowers.

• Place mini spoons, mini skewers, toothpicks, or any other needed utensils close to the food items they will be used with.

• Serve with a sparkling drink, wine, or any other beverage of your choice. Cheers! Ours is a complete charcuterie or cured meat and cheese board – it has enough appetizers for a full meal plus desserts.

Calories will depend on what you eat and how much!

** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.

Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.

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Source: https://www.easyanddelish.com/meat-and-cheese-platter-charcuterie-board/

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