Creating a Charcuterie Board

This Valentine’s Day I want to be fancy, but I don’t want to cook. If that’s also your mood— consider making a charcuterie board for your sweetie. Simple to assemble, little mess to clean, and a lovely presentation. Open a good bottle of wine and curl up by the fire: the perfect dinner for two.

When choosing your ingredients, keep in mind a great charcuterie board has a balance of flavors, textures and colors. Consider the following elements as you assemble it…

The Cheese

Ideally there should be a mix of hard and soft cheeses, three to four types.The terms mild, medium or strong refer to the flavor strength of the cheese, which is largely determined by the length of time a cheese matures. Some of my favorites include:

Hard: Pecorino Romano, Parmigiana Reggiano, Grana Padano

Semi-Hard: Manchego, Gruyère, Comtè

Semi-Soft: Fontina, Havarti, Munster

Soft: Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata, Chevrè

The Meat

Various textures are ideal here as well, but also consider the spiciness of your selections. Pepperoni and salami is often made with enough red pepper to give it a serious kick, so balance your board out with a sweet prosciutto or a buttery mortadella.

“Charcuterie: /noun/ cooked, processed, or cured meat products, originally and typically pork products, as sausages, pâtè, hams, etc.”

Something Savory

Include least two of the following: stone-ground mustard, an assortment of olives, nuts, or cornichons (gherkins).

Something Sweet

Cheese pairs well with sweet components such as honey, jam, or chutney. I always keep a jar or two of Dalamata Fig Spread on hand, and also love Cloister Honey—especially their Bourbon Infused or Whipped with Ghost Pepper. Fresh berries or dried apricots, figs, or dates are nice additions as well.

The Bread

Finally, arrange two to four types of bread on your board. Breadsticks are perfect for some visual height, as well as crostini, crackers, or a whole fresh baguette.

The Extras

Flowers. Colored small candies. Fresh herbs. All are lovely garnishes, and a pretty way to dress up you board, especially if you are feeling festive about a holiday, birthday or anniversary.