Bushra Griffith
Charcuterie boards have gained popularity as a staple for entertaining at home. While the term charcuterie refers to the preparation of cured meats, it has now expanded to include a variety of meats and cheeses, along with crackers, nuts, fruits, vegetables, sauces, and spreads. When creating a charcuterie board, it's essential to offer a range of flavors and textures. For cheeses, consider an odd number of options, such as three, five, or seven, depending on the party size. Some popular choices include Manchego, aged cheddar, Parmesan, pepper jack, smoked Gouda, Havarti, and Brie. Don't forget to include seasonal fruits like grapes, peaches, and melon, which complement the meats and cheeses perfectly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Cheeses | An odd number of cheeses (3, 5, or 7) depending on the party size |
| Flavours | Include a variety of flavours such as salty, spicy, and smoky |
| Examples | Manchego, aged cheddar, parmesan, pepper jack, smoked gouda, havarti, brie |
| Pairings | Grapes, seasonal fruits (such as peaches and melon), honey, jams, jellies, chutneys, mustard, nuts, olives |
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What You'll Learn
Hard and soft cheeses
When creating a charcuterie board, it is important to include a mix of hard and soft cheeses, as well as salty and sweet options. A good rule of thumb is to select 2-3 types of cheese, with 2-3 ounces of cheese per person.
For soft cheeses, brie is a popular choice, pairing well with fruits such as grapes, apples, and peaches, especially in the summer. Goat cheese is another great option as it comes in a variety of flavors, including lavender, herbs, spices, wines, and berries.
Manchego, a semi-soft sheep's cheese made in Spain, is a versatile choice that can be paired with either sweet or salty ingredients. It has a strong flavor, so a little goes a long way. For a unique twist, try rosemary Manchego.
When it comes to hard cheeses, smoked gouda is a favorite, although it may not pair well with all wines. Piave vecchio and asiago are also excellent choices, especially for those who are new to cheeses, as they are easily accessible and tend to be crowd-pleasers. These salty, crumbly cheeses go well with fruit, which balances out their flavor.
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Salty and sweet cheeses
Salty and sweet flavours are a perfect combination for a charcuterie board. When selecting cheeses, it's important to have a mix of hard and soft cheeses, as well as salty and sweet options. A good tip is to layer flavours by serving the cheese with fig spread, jam, honey, or peppered jelly.
Some popular salty cheeses include feta, goat cheese, and manchego. Goat cheese is a great addition to any charcuterie board because it comes in a variety of flavours, including lavender, herbs, spices, wines, and berries. Manchego, a semi-soft sheep's milk cheese from Spain, has a strong flavour and pairs well with salty meats. It has a deep yellow colour and a flavour profile described as tangy, nutty, and grassy. Feta is a salty, briny cheese that pairs well with sweet accompaniments like honey or fruit.
Sweet cheeses are often those with a mild flavour that pairs well with fruit. Some examples include brie, havarti, and gouda. Brie is a soft, creamy cheese with a mild, buttery flavour that can be paired with sweet accompaniments like jam or honey. Havarti is a semi-soft cheese with a mild, buttery flavour that also pairs well with sweet accompaniments. Smoked gouda is a semi-hard cheese with a smoky flavour that can be enhanced by pairing it with sweet fruits like apples or quince paste.
In addition to these options, there are also sweet and salty combinations that can be created by pairing a salty cheese with a sweet accompaniment. For example, goat cheese can be stuffed inside dates and wrapped in bacon for a savoury, sweet, and salty treat. Another option is to pair a slice of manchego cheese with a piece of dark chocolate for a salty and sweet combination.
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Cheeses from different animals
When crafting a charcuterie board, it is important to include a variety of cheeses with different flavours, textures, and aesthetics. A mix of hard and soft cheeses, as well as salty and sweet options, is ideal. Here are some cheeses from different animals that you can consider for your charcuterie board:
Cow's Milk Cheeses
Cow's milk is the most common type of milk used for cheese-making, and there are numerous cow's milk cheeses to choose from. Some popular options for charcuterie boards include:
- Cheddar is a classic choice that can be cut into bite-sized cubes or wedges. White cheddar has a bold bite, and you can also find unique flavours like the Queen Bee Porcini Cheddar, which has an earthy, sweet taste.
- Smoked Gouda is a popular choice that pairs well with fruits. It has a salty, crumbly texture that balances well with the juicy sweetness of fruits.
- Brie is another well-loved cheese that can add variety to your charcuterie board. It has a soft texture and a mild flavour.
- Parmesan is a hard Italian cheese with a strong flavour. It can be grated or shaved over other foods on your charcuterie board.
Goat's Milk Cheeses
Goat's milk cheeses are known for their distinct flavour and texture. They are a great addition to a charcuterie board due to the variety of flavours available:
- Manchego is a semi-soft sheep cheese made in Spain. It has a deep yellow colour and a tangy, nutty flavour with grassy aromas. It is strong in flavour, so a little goes a long way.
- Flavoured Goat Cheeses can add interest to your charcuterie board. Look for cheeses incorporating lavender, herbs, spices, wines, or berries.
- Feta is a brined cheese that can be made with either sheep's milk or a combination of sheep and goat's milk. It has a salty, tangy flavour and a crumbly texture.
Sheep's Milk Cheeses
Sheep's milk cheeses have a rich, buttery flavour and a distinct texture:
- Pecorino is a sheep's milk cheese produced in Italy. It has a strong, salty flavour and is often used as a grating cheese.
- Roquefort is a famous French sheep's milk cheese known for its creamy texture and pungent flavour.
Other Animal Milk Cheeses
While less common, cheeses made from other animal milk can be found:
- Moose's milk cheese is produced in Sweden and offers a unique, local option.
- Yak, horse, camel, and donkey milk cheeses can be found if you're looking for something truly unusual.
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Crowd-pleasing cheeses
When creating a charcuterie board, it's important to include a mix of hard and soft cheeses, as well as cheeses made from different types of milk (cow, sheep, goat). You should also consider the flavours your guests will enjoy and whether they will pair well with the other items on the board. Here are some popular cheeses that are sure to be a hit:
Cheddar
A classic, crowd-pleasing option, cheddar can be cut into bite-sized cubes or wedges. For something a little different, try Beehive Cheese's Queen Bee Porcini Cheddar, which has an earthy, sweet taste thanks to the addition of porcini mushroom dust.
Manchego
This semi-soft sheep's cheese from Spain has a deep yellow colour and a tangy, nutty flavour with grassy aromas. It pairs well with salty, spicy meats, bread, marinated olives, and Marcona almonds. Thin wedges are best as the flavour is strong.
Goat's Cheese
Goat's cheese is a great choice for a charcuterie board as it comes in a wide variety of flavours, including lavender, herbs, spices, wines, and berries.
Brie
A soft, mild cheese, brie is a popular choice for charcuterie boards, especially when paired with seasonal fruits like peaches and melon, or grapes, sliced apples, and pears.
Smoked Gouda
While this may not pair well with most wines, smoked gouda is a personal favourite for many and can be served with sliced apples or quince paste.
Piave Vecchio or Asiago
These are hard cheeses with a salty, crumbly texture that pairs well with fruit. They are very accessible and crowd-pleasing, especially for kids.
Remember, it's always a good idea to include 2-3 ounces of cheese per person and to choose cheeses your guests will enjoy and recognise. You can also add some colour and extra flavour with fruits, spreads, nuts, crackers, and dips.
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Cheeses that pair well with meats
When creating a charcuterie board, it's important to include a mix of hard and soft cheeses, as well as cheeses made from different types of milk (cow, sheep, goat). You should also consider adding some salty and sweet options, such as fig spread, jam, honey, or peppered jelly. Here are some specific cheese suggestions that pair well with meats:
Manchego is a popular choice for charcuterie boards. It is an earthy, semi-soft sheep cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain. It has a deep yellow colour and a tangy, nutty flavour with grassy aromas. Its strong flavour means you don't need to include a lot of it on your board. It pairs well with salty, spicy meats, as well as bread, marinated olives, and Marcona almonds.
Brie is another popular choice for charcuterie boards, especially when paired with fruits like grapes, apples, and pears. It also goes well with prosciutto and smoked sausage.
Smoked gouda is a good option, although some find that it don't pair well with most wines. It can be served with sliced apples or quince paste.
Goat cheese is a great addition to a charcuterie board because it comes in many varieties, including flavours that incorporate lavender, herbs, spices, wines, and berries.
Havarti is a semi-soft cheese that pairs well with soppressata, a type of salami made from leaner cuts that are more coarsely ground.
When creating your charcuterie board, don't be afraid to get creative and include your favourite ingredients and those you think your guests will enjoy. You can also add crackers, nuts, fruits, vegetables, sauces, and dips to complement the cheeses and meats.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many cheeses that work well on a charcuterie board, including brie, triple cream, goat cheese, havarti, burrata, cream cheese, blue cheese, gorgonzola, gouda, and cheddar.
A good rule of thumb is to choose 2-3 oz of cheese per person, selecting a variety of hard and soft cheeses made from different types of milk.
It is recommended to use an odd number of cheeses, such as 3, 5, or 7, depending on the number of guests.
Soft cheeses such as brie, triple cream, goat cheese, burrata, and cream cheese with pepper jelly on top are popular choices for charcuterie boards.
Hard cheeses such as Piave from Italy, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Manchego are tasty options that pair well with meats and other cheeses.
