Our guide for making the perfect cheese and charcuterie board - Nerds with Knives

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Our guide for making the perfect cheese and charcuterie board

A quick and easy guide for making a beautiful, delicious cheese and charcuterie board. Mix and match your favorites, using this cheat sheet. A good starting point is the 3-3-3-3 rule (three types of cheese, three types of meat, three types of crackers or bread, and three accompaniments). See the article for specific suggestions.

Prep Time 20

Equipment

1 large wood or marble board or several smaller ones

Ingredients

For cheeses

1 creamy, bloomy rind cheese, like camembert
1 mild, crumbly, aged cheese like cheddar or gruyere
1 creamy or crumbly blue cheese
1 fresh or aged goat's cheese
1 strong, funky, aged cheese

For charcuterie

1 dried salami, like Saucisson Sec
1 thin-sliced ham like cured ham, like Prosciutto or Jambon Sec
1 smooth or country-style Pâté or Mousse

Condiments and additions

Fig jams, apricot preserves and / or chutney like Red Onion Jam with Wine, Honey and Thyme
Cornichons, caperberries or other small pickles
Mustards or spicy chili spreads like homemade Maple Mustard
Nuts like Marcona almonds, walnuts, or pistachios

Breads and crackers

Thin baguette sliced diagonally on a sharp angle
Simple water or olive oil crackers
Seeded, flat crisps

Fruits and vegetables

Apples and pears sliced
Figs and apricots fresh or dried
Grapes seedless, if possible
Radishes, endive, and thinly sliced fennel

For decoration

Fresh herbs, like rosemary or thyme
Edible (or non-toxic) flowers
Lemon or fig leaves