Meats To Pair With Cheese And Crackers

A charcuterie board is a great way to impress your guests with a simple, no-cook appetizer. The best meat and cheese boards include a variety of cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, dips, and spreads.

For meats, consider cured meats like prosciutto, salami, chorizo, or summer sausage. If you're on a budget, try deli meats like Black Forest ham, smoked turkey, or roast beef.

When it comes to cheese, choose a variety of hard and soft cheeses made from different types of milk. Go for crowd-pleasers like cheddar, Colby Jack, or smoked gouda, and include at least one cheese that your guests will recognize.

As for crackers, opt for neutral varieties like saltines, stone wheat crackers, or water crackers, which won't overpower the other flavours on the board.

Meats: Prosciutto, salami, ham, summer sausage, and pepperoni

Meats are an essential component of a meat and cheese platter, also known as a charcuterie board. When selecting meats, it is best to go with an equal number of cheeses used. For example, if you use three types of cheeses, pick three types of meats.

Prosciutto

Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham, thinly sliced, and often served uncooked. It has a delicate, slightly salty taste and a soft texture. Prosciutto is versatile and can be wrapped around fruits like cantaloupe or breadsticks for added flavour.

Salami

Salami is a cured sausage, typically made from beef or pork and air-dried. It has a distinct, savoury taste that pairs well with cheeses and crackers. Salami can be folded or fanned out on the board for visual appeal and easy grabbing.

Ham

Black Forest Ham is a popular choice for charcuterie boards, offering a delicate, slightly sweet flavour. Deli hams are sliced thin and can be rolled up and stacked on the platter.

Summer Sausage

Summer Sausage is a cured sausage that is often chewy, so it's essential to slice it thinly. It pairs well with cheeses and crackers and is a crowd-pleaser.

Pepperoni

Pepperoni is a type of sausage made from cured beef and pork. It has a spicy, bold flavour and is a popular choice for charcuterie boards.

When arranging the meats on the board, it is best to fold or roll them for easy grabbing and a visually appealing presentation. Meats can be placed alongside the cheeses or used to wrap around fruits or breadsticks.

Remember to include a variety of textures and flavours on your charcuterie board to create a well-rounded and appealing platter for your guests.

Cheeses: Brie, Cheddar, Goat cheese, and Blue cheese

Meat and Cheese Pairings

Brie

For a classic pairing, serve brie with a cured meat such as prosciutto, salami, or soppressa. For a lighter option, sliced apples or pears are a great complement to the creamy cheese. If you're looking for a sweet treat, try drizzling honey over the brie and serving it with a warmed fruit spread made from raspberries or blackberries.

Cheddar

Cheddar pairs well with cured meats such as salami and pepperoni. For a more indulgent option, try pairing it with buttered baguette crisps or hunks of French bread. If you're looking for a cracker, Carr's whole wheat crackers are a good option, as they have a sturdy, slightly sweet, biscuit-like quality that goes well with cheddar.

Goat Cheese

Goat cheese has a tangy flavour that can be enhanced by serving it with cured meats such as salami. For a vegetarian option, try pairing it with crackers that have a hint of sweetness, such as Craize corn crackers in the sweet corn or coconut flavours. For a more indulgent option, serve goat cheese on top of a buttered cracker or bread, such as pain aux amandes.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is a strong-flavoured cheese that pairs well with sweet and nutty crackers, such as Beecher's Crackers. For a more indulgent option, try pairing it with a sweet cracker such as graham crackers or sugar cookies. If you're looking for a lighter option, wafer crackers from Olina's Bakehouse are simple, light, and airy, and they have a bit of cheese powder in them to enhance the umami flavour of the blue cheese.

In general, when creating a meat and cheese platter, it's a good idea to include a variety of textures and flavours to make the pairing more interesting.

Crackers: Stone wheat, Saltines, and Water crackers

When it comes to crackers, stone wheat, saltines, and water crackers are all great choices for a meat and cheese platter. These crackers are fairly neutral in flavour and won't overpower the other components of your platter. They also have different textures, so your guests can enjoy a variety of crunchiness.

When arranging your meat and cheese platter, it's best to start with the bulkiest items first. Place the meats and cheeses on the platter, then add any bowls of dips, relishes, or condiments. Finally, use the crackers to fill in any gaps. This way, your platter looks full and abundant.

As a general rule of thumb, plan for 2-3 ounces of meat and 1-2 ounces of cheese per person. If you're serving a group of six, that translates to about 12-15 ounces of meat and 10 ounces of cheese.

Remember to take the cheeses out of the fridge about 10-15 minutes before serving. They taste best at room temperature, and it will be easier for your guests to spread or cut them.

Extras: Dips, spreads, and relishes

Dips, spreads, and relishes are the perfect accompaniments to a meat, cheese, and cracker platter. They add a variety of flavours and textures to the platter, making it more interesting and appealing. Here are some ideas for dips, spreads, and relishes that you can include:

• Mustard: A strong mustard blend pairs well with fatty meats like salami and summer sausage. You can make your own by mixing together 3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard and 3 tablespoons of whole-grain mustard.
• Red pepper jelly: This pairs well with crackers and cheese, especially cheddar.
• Homemade pimento cheese: This spread is an extra special addition to your platter and can be served alongside the other cheeses.
• Pickles: Tiny dill pickles, pickled okra, or pitted olives add a sour, tangy flavour to the platter.
• Hummus: A classic dip that goes well with crackers and vegetables. You can find hummus in most supermarkets, or make your own by blending cooked chickpeas with olive oil, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and salt.
• Roasted red pepper and walnut dip: This dip adds colour and variety to your spread.
• Fig jam or other sweet preserves: These pair well with cheeses like brie and goat cheese, and crackers.
• Olive tapenade: A savoury spread made from olives, capers, anchovies, and olive oil.
• Bruschetta: A tomato-based spread that can be served on crackers or bread.
• Herb cheese spread: A spreadable cheese with herbs adds a fresh flavour to the platter.
• Chutney or preserves: These sweet and tangy condiments can be paired with cheeses and crackers.
• Honey: Local honey, especially with the comb, adds a unique touch to the platter and pairs well with cheeses and crackers.

Assembly: Arrange meats and cheeses first, then add crackers to fill gaps

When assembling a meat and cheese platter, it is customary to choose three types of cheeses. Cheddar is a versatile cheese that pairs well with both smoked meats and most deli meats. Colby Jack is a touch milder in flavour, making it a good neutral option. You can also add something a little different, like smoked gouda or pepper jack.

For the meats, summer sausage and peppered salami are great choices as they pair well with the cheeses and are crowd-pleasers. Make sure to slice the sausages thinly as they can be chewy. Deli meats such as black forest ham, smoked turkey, or roast beef are also good options and are more budget-friendly.

When it comes to assembly, start by placing the meats and cheeses first. If using sliced sausages, arrange them in a fish scale pattern. If using deli meats, roll each slice up tightly and stack them. Then, add crackers to fill in any gaps.

Step 1: Arrange the Meats and Cheeses

Place the meats and cheeses on the platter first. If using sliced sausages, arrange them in a fish scale pattern. If using deli meats like ham, turkey, or roast beef, roll each slice up tightly and stack them. For cheeses, leave some room on each side so you can alternate with meats and fill in gaps with fruit, nuts, or crackers. If the cheese is firm, slice it thinly or cut into small cubes. If it's a soft spreadable cheese, provide a knife so guests can easily spread it on crackers or bread.

Step 2: Add Crackers

Use crackers to fill in any gaps on the platter. Look for crackers that don't have too much flavour of their own, so they don't overpower the meats and cheeses. Saltines, stone wheat crackers, water crackers, or pita crackers are good options.

Step 3: Include Extras (Optional)

To make your meat and cheese platter extra special, you can add some extras like dips, spreads, or pickled relishes. A strong mustard blend pairs well with fatty meats, and red pepper jelly goes well with the cheeses. You can also add something pickled like dill pickles, pickled okra, or olives.

Frequently asked questions