When I make a charcuterie tray, I thrown the rules out the window and create it just the way we like it. The range of favors and textures never disappoints, no matter what type of wine we decide to open. Create your own charcuterie tray to serve as an appetizer or enjoy as a romantic meal by following a few suggestions.
The key to creating a great spread is selecting foods with a variety of flavors so that every bite is a fresh experience.
Using some or all of categories below as a guide, see what combinations you can pull together.
- 4 to 5 cheeses mixing savory, sharp and mild
- 2 to 3 meats
- Dried or fresh fruits
- Dried or fresh vegetables
- Nuts or seeds
- Something spicy or sweet
- Toasted bread or plain crackers
Instead of using a traditional cutting board, I loaded everything onto a tray and placed it on the coffee table. The galvanized tray is lined with brown parchment paper squares. Then I added a slim cutting board set at an angle, to make space for meats and small dishes on another level.
Each time I create a charcuterie board or tray I experiment with new combinations. I also like to included something unexpected. This time it’s a small plate of cream cheese with Pickapeppa Sauce drizzled on top. It has a little kick of spice which compliments some of the milder flavors on the tray. The other small plate of cream cheese is topped with fig preserves for a sweet traditional taste.
Ingredients for this charcuterie tray
- Double Gloucester Cheese
- White sharp cheddar
- Smoked blue cheese
- Aged gouda
- Cream cheese with fig preserves
- Cream Cheese with Peckapeppa Sauce
- Mozzarella wrapped with prosciutto
- Hard Salami
- Fresh cherry tomatoes
- Kalamata olives
- Dried Okra
- Dried Mango
- Pistachios
- Raw almonds
- Plain Crackers and toasted bread slices
Thank you so much for joining me today. Do you enjoy making a charcuterie board during the holidays? If so, tell me your speciality.
Cheers!
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Click on any of the items below to go to the source (contains affiliate links).
- Galvanized tray
- Parchment Paper Sheets
- Appetizer plates
- Small white bowls
- Paddle cutting board
- Cheese knife set
- Wine glasses
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©2017 Create Your Own Charcuterie Tray was first published on Thistle Key Lane™
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Wonderful presentation and choices of cheeses, charcuterie, and fruits; for sure a crowd pleaser!
Thank you so much!
Beautiful presentation, I will pin in! But a question, I always thought charcuterie referred only to the preserved meats and sausages, so this tray would be charcuterie plus? By any name it is perfect.
Hi Gayle, I love your description of a “charcuterie plus”. You’re correct, traditionally a charcuterie tray would be preserved meats. However it’s so much fun finding new and interesting flavor combinations, that I have a hard time following the rules.
Don’t you just eating off platters like this? My favorite dinner. Yours is so beautiful too!
Thank you! Yes we do eat off the platter, but I have been known to reserve certain favorites on a plate of my own. 😉