Kamil Perry
A cheese board is a versatile dish that can be served at any gathering. The key to a good cheese board is variety. It should offer a range of flavours, textures and shapes to create visual interest and give your guests plenty of choice. A good rule of thumb is to have one hard, one soft and one blue cheese, with three to five different cheeses in total. Popular options include Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Aged Cheddar, Asiago, Gruyere, Edam, Gouda, Comte, Swiss, Camembert, Brie, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort, Danish blue, Chevin (soft goat cheese), Mozzarella, Manchego, Boursin, Havarti, Raclette and Fontina.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | A good rule of thumb is 3 different cheeses, but you can add more depending on the number of guests. |
| Types of cheese | Hard, soft, blue, goat, semi-hard, aged, brie, gouda, cheddar, havarti, smoked, manchego, triple cream brie, dill havarti, flavoured, aged gouda, smoked gouda, parmesan, etc. |
| Other food items | Crackers, bread, crostini, breadsticks, baguette, dried fruits, nuts, honey, jam, olives, cornichons, pickles, cured meats, chocolate, etc. |
| Visual appeal | Fill every space on the board with nuts and fruit to make it look abundant. Add colour with seasonal fruits. |
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What You'll Learn
Quantity: 3-5 different cheeses
When creating a cheese board, it's important to have a variety of flavours and textures to create visual interest and make the board more delicious. A good rule of thumb is to choose between three to five different types of cheese, depending on the number of guests. For instance, if you're building a cheese board for two, buy three kinds of cheese and reserve the extra for more cheese boards in the future.
- Sharp and crumbly cheeses: Such as cheddar or Parmesan.
- Soft and bright cheeses: Like goat cheese.
- Firm and nutty cheeses: Such as Manchego or Gruyère.
- Tangy and funky cheeses: Like blue cheese.
- Ripe and oozy cheeses: Such as Brie.
In addition to the cheeses, you can add crackers, bread, and other accompaniments. For the bread, a fresh-sliced baguette is a good option. As for crackers, you can choose from a variety such as buttery crackers, thin mild crackers, and seedy, grainy crackers. You can also add something crunchy like nuts, crispy chickpeas, or even dried fruits and fresh fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, and berries.
To add a salty element to the board, consider adding olives, cornichons, or pickles. You can also include something sweet to balance out the salty cheeses, such as honey, jam, or dried fruits. If you want to add some extra flavour, consider adding mustard, tapenade, or pepperoncini.
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Cheese types: hard, soft, blue, unusual
When creating a cheese board, it's important to include a variety of flavours, textures, and shapes to create visual interest and offer something for everyone. A good rule of thumb is to include three different types of cheese: one hard, one soft, and one blue cheese. Here are some examples of each type:
Hard Cheeses
Hard cheeses are savoury and have a natural, tough rind. Some examples of hard cheeses include Parmigiano-Reggiano, also known as Parmesan, which has a complex, full-bodied flavour; Cheddar, which can range from relatively hard to semi-hard and has a pale yellow to off-white colour; and Asiago, which has a thin rind and small holes throughout. As it matures, Asiago becomes firmer and more compact.
Soft Cheeses
Soft cheeses are young, fresh, and spreadable, with a higher moisture content and a mild, milky flavour. Examples include Brie, a soft cow's milk cheese named after the French region it originated from; Camembert, which is also soft and round; and goat cheese, which has a crumbly texture and pairs well with strawberries, almonds, and figs.
Blue Cheeses
Blue cheeses are characterised by their distinctive blue-green mould veining. Some options for blue cheese include Gorgonzola, a soft Italian blue cheese with a sweet and mild flavour; Roquefort, a semi-hard, moist, and creamy French cheese with a crumbly texture and a salty taste; and Stilton, an English blue cheese with a bold and rich flavour profile.
Unusual Cheeses
In addition to the classic hard, soft, and blue cheeses, you can include something unusual or new and interesting. Some examples of unique cheeses are Renegade Monk, an English, ale-washed, soft blue cheese; Harbourne Blue, a crumbly, dense, and firm goat's cheese produced in Devon; and Keltic Gold, a Cornish semi-hard cheese dipped in cider.
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Accompaniments: crackers, bread, fruit, nuts
Crackers are the unsung heroes of the cheese board, acting as the perfect vehicle for your cheese and toppings. It is recommended to have at least two types of crackers: one more robust and flavourful to complement plainer cheeses, and one plainer cracker to pair with complex, strongly-flavoured cheeses. You can get creative with different shapes and flavours, but some staples include water crackers, buttery crackers, multigrain crackers, and flatbread crackers. If you're serving Italian cheeses, breadsticks are a great option, and you can even make prosciutto "lollipops". For saucier cheeses, crostini are a good choice, and you can also find gluten-free and low-carb crackers, such as rice crackers.
Bread is another important accompaniment to a cheese board, providing another vehicle for your cheeses. Sliced baguette, toasted crostini, and focaccia strips are all good options. You can also offer breadsticks, such as sesame or olive oil-infused varieties, or cheese straws.
Fruit is a must-have on a cheese board, providing a fresh contrast to the richness of the cheese. Seasonal fruits such as apples, pears, and grapes are a great choice, and you can also add dried fruits like figs or cherries for a pop of sweetness.
Nuts are the perfect crunchy addition to your cheese board, providing texture and flavour. Pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and candied nuts are all excellent options to pair with your cheeses.
In addition to these accompaniments, you can add some sweet spreads like honey or jam to balance out the salty, funky cheeses. Briny olives or cornichons are also a great salty contrast to the sweetness of some cheeses. Finally, some fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme will add a festive touch to your cheese board.
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Extras: honey, jam, pickles, charcuterie
Honey is a classic cheese board accompaniment, and its sweetness pairs well with most cheeses and cured meats. For example, a strong cheddar is delicious with a spicy honey, while delicate cheeses are better suited to a milder honey, such as honeysuckle flower honey. Honey-roasted nuts are also a traditional addition to a cheese board.
Jam is another sweet extra that can add a pop of colour to your cheese board. Fig jam is a popular choice, but you could also try apricot, blackberry, or orange marmalade. These pair well with soft cheeses, such as brie or goat's cheese.
Pickles are a must for a cheese board, and you can include anything from cornichons to pickled onions, radishes, and peppers. Olives are also a classic briny addition, and you can choose from a variety of different types, including green olives stuffed with garlic or feta.
Charcuterie is a great way to add some savoury elements to your cheese board. Prosciutto, salami, and chorizo are all popular choices, and you can drape them over the board for a decorative touch. If you want to get creative, try making roses out of thinly sliced salami.
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Presentation: fill all spaces, add colours, textures
When it comes to presenting your cheese board, the key is to fill all the spaces and create an abundant display of colours and textures. Here are some tips to achieve that:
Filling Spaces and Adding Texture:
- Once you've selected your cheeses, fill the spaces with accoutrements like crackers, bread, nuts, fruits, and charcuterie.
- Choose crackers and bread with different textures, such as crostini, breadsticks, crackers, and sliced baguette.
- Offer a variety of crackers by varying their size, shape, and texture. Include options like round crackers, cracker sticks, pita chips, and crostini.
- If you have large crackers, feel free to break them into smaller pieces to fill in the gaps on your board.
- Add a "salami river" by draping softer meats like prosciutto or creating a fan shape with folded salami.
- Fill any remaining spaces with nuts, dried fruits, or fresh seasonal fruits like apples, pears, grapes, or berries.
- Repeat segments on the board to fill space, and don't be afraid to break up large, solid chunks.
Adding Colour:
- Add pops of colour with seasonal fruits. In summer, use fresh berries and grapes, while winter calls for figs, apples, pears, plums, clementines, or pomegranate.
- During the holidays, add festive touches with cranberry sauce and sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme.
- Include colourful condiments like honey, jams, and chutneys, but avoid pouring them directly onto the cheese or board.
- If you have a beautiful jar of jam or jelly that you want to showcase, place it on the board, but add it last.
Remember, the secret to a great cheese board is variety. Mix and match different textures, colours, and flavours to create a visually appealing and delicious spread for your guests.
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Frequently asked questions
A good rule of thumb is to include three different types of cheese. One hard, one soft, and a blue cheese work well together. You can also include something new or unusual. If you're making a cheese board for two, buying three kinds of cheese is a good idea, and you can reserve the extra for future cheese boards.
Some popular types of cheese to include on a cheese board are Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, Aged Cheddar, Asiago, Gruyere, Edam, Gouda, Comte, Swiss, Camembert, Brie, Gorgonzola, Stilton, Roquefort, Danish Blue, and Mozzarella.
In addition to cheese, you can include crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, olives, jams, and charcuterie.
