Where did charcuterie boards come from & how do I make one? Well, let me tell you!
I like to joke that charcuterie boards are within my major food groups. I mean meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, pickles… It’s an adult lunchables. How could you not want that everyday? Recently as I crafted an epic grazing board, I started thinking, “where did these magically gluttonous spreads come from?” Well, the word itself is actually French, (low blow to my Italian pride), and comes from the words chair meaning flesh and cuit meaning cooked. Back in the day, the word described French shops that sold mainly pork products that were salted and smoked. Some of the techniques the French utilized date as far back as the Roman Empire. Now with that said, the Italians did take a variation of their own which is where the incorporation of cheeses and pickled veggies came into play (Hallelujah).
How can I make my own charcuterie board?
Now, there is no right way to do charcuterie boards anymore. There are a wide variety of items to place on your board, but I personally have a collection of items I like to have on my board.
Generally two types of preserved meats, prosciutto & salami are my go-tos
Two to three types of cheeses, we enjoy a super funky blue cheese (Point Reyes Blue Cheese is an excellent choice), a soft cheese (if you can find a good brie that would be an excellent choice), and a hard cheese (perhaps an aged gouda)
Pickles or sour element (gherkins and olives are a perfect choice, although really any pickled element can go well)
Fruit (dry or fresh - it’s really up to you. Grapes are a traditional choice and add some necessary sweetness to balance your board. I am a fan of dried apricots as well. These are usually a little juicier than other dried fruits and again provide that sweet element.)
Mustard (This is vital! We enjoy whole grain mustard. It is jam packed with pockets of flavor.)
Jam - We make our own! It’s super simple and really delicious! We make our own Date Jam with only two ingredients - Dates & Water! For one charcuterie board for two people you could get away with five to six pitted dates in a saucepan. Barely cover the dates with water and bring it to a boil. Once it is boiling, turn it off and pour the ingredients into a food processor and blitz it until smooth. We place it in the fridge to bring it to room temperature before eating. You can store it in the fridge and it keeps for a week. With no additional sugar we enjoy this jam option.
Lastly, crackers! Some say this could be the most important ingredient. If you are serving quality meats and cheese on a cheap cracker or baguette then what’s the point. Be sure to splurge on artisanal crackers or make your own.
You see, there is no accurate way to craft a charcuterie board, but by having your meats, cheese, fruits, nuts, mustard, jam, and crackers you hit on all textural and flavor elements. So get creative and be sure to pair yourself a glass of wine or two or three.
