Meat And Cheese Tray: Selecting The Perfect Combination

Meat and cheese trays are a great, easy option for entertaining guests. They can be served as appetisers or as a way for guests to make their own sandwiches. They are perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, family gatherings, or even as a light meal for one or two people.

The best meat and cheese trays have a variety of flavours and textures. This can be achieved by including different types of meat and cheese, as well as crackers, fruits, vegetables, dips, and nuts.

Meats for a meat and cheese tray can include:

- Salami

- Pepperoni

- Summer sausage

- Deli meats (e.g. ham, turkey, roast beef)

- Prosciutto

- Soppressata

- Mortadella

- Chorizo

- Pulled pork

- Roasted or fried chicken

- Tuna salad

- Sliced steak

- Smoked salmon

- Turkey legs

Cheeses for a meat and cheese tray can include:

- Cheddar

- Colby Jack

- Smoked Gouda

- Pepper Jack

- Brie

- Mozzarella

- Parmesan

- Manchego

- Blue cheese

- Feta

- Goat cheese

- Gruyere

- Sharp cheddar

- Gouda

- Camembert

- Provolone

Meat and cheese tray vs charcuterie board

Meat and cheese trays are a great appetizer or an easy way for guests to make their own sandwiches. They are perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, or family gatherings.

A meat and cheese tray is more of a deli-style platter than a fancy charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards typically feature everything as more bite-sized with more textures and dips. They are used more as appetizer platters or snacky trays that are not a full meal.

Meat and Cheese Tray Ideas

• Turkey – Try honey, maple, cajun, or smoked turkey.
• Ham – Black forest, honey, smoked, Virginia, maple, or brown sugar.
• Roast beef – Choose a thin cut to a thicker cut of roast beef, depending on your preference.
• Salami – This is a type of cured meat that is from pork, beef, or veal. Salami is flavored with garlic and other herbs to add extra flavor.
• Pepperoni – This reddish-colored meat is popular on pizzas but is perfect for adding an extra boost to any sandwich.
• Pastrami – This is made from beef brisket, cured in spices, and cold cut. The main ingredient of spices in pastrami is fresh black pepper.
• Bologna – A mixture of meats can make up bologna. It is a softer meat that is popular with younger kids.
• Corned beef – An Irish traditional beef that can be made into a deli meat. It still has the same great flavor as a roast.

Charcuterie Board Ideas

• Dry Cured Salami – Made of beef or pork and mostly air-dried.
• Prosciutto – Italian Dry Cured Ham.
• Sopressata – Italian Dry Salami.
• Mortadella – Italian Sausage.
• Beef, turkey or pork jerky.
• Aged: Gouda, Sharp Cheddar, Gruyere
• Soft and creamy: Brie, Camembert, Epoisses, Burrata, Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella
• Crumbly: Goat and Feta Cheese
• Firm: Parmigiano Reggiano, Manchego, Gouda
• Smoked: Smoked Gouda, Provolone, and Cheddar
• Blue cheese: Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort

Besides offering a variety of meats and cheeses, you can easily bulk up and add even more flavor and interest to your platters by adding crackers and breads, varying condiments, pickled vegetables, marinated vegetables, and fresh fruit.

Best meats for a meat and cheese tray

Meat and cheese trays are a great appetizer and are perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, or family gatherings. When it comes to choosing the best meats for a meat and cheese tray, there are a variety of options to choose from. Here are some recommendations and tips to help you create a delicious and well-rounded platter:

Variety of Meats:

It is recommended to choose two to three different types of deli meats to offer a variety of flavors and colors to your tray. Classic options include turkey, ham, and roast beef. However, you can also explore other varieties such as salami, pepperoni, pastrami, bologna, or corned beef. Salami, for example, is a cured meat made from pork, beef, or veal and flavored with garlic and herbs. Offering a mix of familiar and unique options will surely impress your guests.

Cured Meats:

Cured meats like salami, peppered salami, summer sausage, and Italian dry salami are excellent choices for a meat and cheese tray. These meats pair well with cheeses and are typically crowd-pleasers. Italian dry salami, for instance, has a savory, spicy, and sweet flavor profile due to its seasoning with Italian spices and red wine.

Budget-Friendly Options:

If you're looking for more affordable options, consider deli meats such as Black Forest Ham, Smoked Turkey, or Roast Beef. These meats are readily available and can be sliced to your preferred thickness. Ask your local delicatessen to slice the meats thinly, making them perfect for rolling or folding, which adds a nice presentation to your tray.

Presentation Tips:

When arranging your meat and cheese tray, start by placing the largest items first, such as the meat stacks. You can roll or fold the meats for a more artistic look. Then, add the medium-sized items, such as cheeses and bowls of condiments. Finally, fill in the gaps with smaller items like crackers, dried fruit, or nuts.

Amount to Serve:

As a general guideline, plan for 2-3 ounces of meat per person when creating a meat and cheese tray for a small gathering. You can adjust the amount based on the number of guests and the availability of other foods.

Remember, the key to a successful meat and cheese tray is variety and presentation. By offering a range of meats, from classic to unique options, and arranging them creatively, you'll surely impress your guests and satisfy their appetites!

Best cheeses for a meat and cheese tray

When it comes to choosing the best cheeses for a meat and cheese tray, it's important to consider both taste and texture. Here are some popular options to make your tray a success:

Aged Cheeses

Aged cheeses like Gouda, Sharp Cheddar, and Gruyere have strong, distinct flavours that can stand up to the other ingredients on your tray.

Soft and Creamy Cheeses

Brie, Camembert, Epoisses, Burrata, and Fresh Buffalo Mozzarella are soft and creamy, offering a delightful contrast to the other textures on the tray.

Crumbly Cheeses

Goat Cheese and Feta Cheese add a crumbly texture and a tangy flavour that pairs well with the meats.

Firm Cheeses

Parmigiano Reggiano, Manchego, and Gouda are firm cheeses that provide a nice base for the other ingredients.

Smoked Cheeses

Smoked Gouda, Provolone, and Cheddar add a smoky flavour dimension to your tray.

Blue Cheeses

Blue cheeses like Gorgonzola, Stilton, and Roquefort have a strong flavour and distinctive appearance that can be a conversation starter at your gathering.

When selecting cheeses, it's a good idea to choose an odd number of varieties and aim for a mix of different textures and flavours. This will create a visually appealing and tasty meat and cheese tray that your guests will love!

Extras for your party platter

Now that you've selected your meats and cheeses, it's time to think about the extras. These are the additions that will take your meat and cheese tray to the next level, adding flavour, texture and colour. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Dips and spreads – a nice strong mustard pairs well with fatty meats, or you could try red pepper jelly with crackers and cheese.
• Pickles – a small bowl of pickled relishes like tiny dill pickles, pickled okra or pitted olives will add a tangy crunch to your platter.
• Crackers – choose crackers that won't overpower the flavour of your meats and cheeses. Saltines, stone wheat crackers and water crackers are all good options.
• Fruit – fresh or dried fruits like apples, pears, berries, apricots, figs and raisins will add a touch of sweetness and a pop of colour to your platter.
• Nuts – mixed nuts such as pecans, pistachios, almonds and peanuts will provide a crunchy contrast to the other elements on your platter.
• Spreads – a spreadable herb cheese, goat cheese or chutney will work well with the other ingredients on your platter.
• Condiments – don't forget to provide small dishes of condiments like mayonnaise, mustard and pesto if you're serving bread or rolls alongside your platter.

How to arrange a meat and cheese tray

Meat and cheese trays are a great appetizer and are perfect for parties, potlucks, BBQs, or family gatherings. Here are some tips on how to arrange a meat and cheese tray:

Firstly, decide on your meats and cheeses. Meats can include summer sausage, peppered salami, deli meats such as Black Forest ham, smoked turkey, or roast beef. For cheeses, a good trio would be cheddar, Colby Jack, and smoked gouda or pepper jack. It is customary to choose three types of cheese, but you can stick to two or go up to four or five.

Next, slice your meats and cheeses. Sausages should be sliced thinly, and cheeses should be sliced into fairly thick bite-sized pieces. If you are using deli meats, ask for them to be sliced at a "2" at the delicatessen so they are easy to roll.

Now it's time to assemble your tray. Start with any bulkier items like a small bowl of pickles or olives, if you are including them. Then place your cheeses on the platter, trying to keep them in their original shape if possible, for a "wow" factor. Add your meats around the cheeses, rolling each slice up tightly and stacking them if you are using deli meats. If you are using sliced sausages, arrange them in a fish scale pattern.

Finally, fill in any gaps with crackers, fruits, nuts, dips, or other accompaniments. Try to include something sweet, something crunchy, something savory, and something smooth. For example, grapes, dried fruits, and honey can bring in sweet flavours; macadamia nuts, walnuts, and pistachios can provide crunch; and dips such as hummus or guacamole can provide a smooth texture.

Arrange your tray 30 minutes before your guests arrive or a few hours ahead if it fits in your fridge. Take the board out of the fridge 15 minutes before serving, as cheese tastes better at room temperature.

Frequently asked questions