How to Put Together a Charcuterie Board JAN

Thinking of what appetizer to offer your guests in your next gathering? Why not a charcuterie board? Learn how to put it together quickly with these tips by Great Harvest of Newtonville, MA.

Decide Your Theme

The beauty of putting together a charcuterie board is that it can be whatever you want it to be. From the classic styles to an event-themed one, and eve one, or even one for the children's table. Charcuterie boards are also versatile for people with different food preferences and customized to your liking. Some examples include:

• The classic charcuterie board consists of various types of cheese, bread, crackers, spreads, and fruit.
• An event-themed charcuterie board could include ingredients to make sliders, chicken wings, vegetables for dipping like celery and carrots, chips, and dips.
• A charcuterie board for children could include fruits and veggies, an assortment of finger foods, and maybe even some candy, as well as dips or spreads.

Charcuterie boards are also great for people with allergies or guests with specific food preferences as they can be customized as much as you'd like. It's easy to customize them to be vegetarian, vegan, or to remove ingredients that could cause allergic reactions.

For freshly made bread and a delicious lunch menu in Newtonville, MA, your best option is Great Harvest Bread Co. Have a look at their full menu online, or give them a call at 617-928-1162 to place your order today!

What Size Should You Make it?

A charcuterie board can be whatever size you prefer it to be. From a large board to a plate, the size of your board will depend on the size of your gathering. You can put together a two-person board that can be an excellent substitute for dinner, a couple's date night, or make more than one if you have a big group coming over. Now for the actual board, you don't have to break the bank by going out and buying a board for the occasion; you can use a cutting board you already have in your kitchen or a serving tray. A large plate can also do the trick if you don't have either.

Gather Your Ingredients

Once you've decided what type of board you what to make and what size will feed your guests or family, the next step is to gather all your ingredients. You'll need different kinds of cheeses, bread, and crackers to make a good charcuterie board; let's go over some classic elements:

• Bread: Try having two types of bread, one neutral in taste and one more on the sweeter side, so it pairs well with different toppings. Here are some great options from Great Harvest.
• Cheese: Choose different types of cheese that bring different textures and flavors to your board. Think of cheeses like brie, blue cheese, a sharp cheddar, and manchego.
• Crackers: Additional to the bread, two types of crackers can be great to add a bit of crunch to your board.
• Spreads: Have two types of spreads, one sweet and one tangy, to spread on the bread and crackers. We like honey or fig jam for sweet, and we recommend grainy mustard or some chutney for savory.
• Meat: A charcuterie board wouldn't be complete without adding meat to the mixture like prosciutto, Spanish chorizo, or serrano ham.
• Fruit and vegetables: Add fruits like grapes, raisins, peeled oranges, and apple slices.
• Nuts: As a finishing touch, you can add an assortment of nuts for an added crunch.

Add some freshly baked bread from Great Harvest Bread Co. to your charcuterie board. Call them at 617-928-1162 to place your order anytime!

Board Assembly

Lastly, you'll need to put everything together for it to look nice, tidy, and delicious. Do this by starting with the bowls that will contain your spreads. You can use different bowls and place them strategically around your board. Next, add the bread and crackers for structure and borders around the board. Next, assemble your cheeses; some like manchego, which looks nice cut in cubes, while others like brie can be cut in wedges. Do so and spread them around the board. The next step is to add the meat. You can fold them into wedges or an accordion, depending on your slices. This can help them stand up and look nicer on the board. Once you're done with the meat, add the fruit, vegetables, and nuts in the remaining spots.

Your board wouldn't be complete without freshly made bread from Great Harvest Bread Co., where they bake daily with the best ingredients. Give them a call today at 617-928-1162 to place your order.