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Summer Charcuterie Boards for Carefree Entertaining

Summer entertaining is meant to be easy and a charcuterie board is the epitome of easy entertaining with no recipe to follow and minimal prep required. Whether you want to create a simple snack board or something more elaborate, the choice is up to you!


The first thing to be decided is whether the charcuterie board will be served as an appetizer or a light dinner, and how many people it needs to serve. It can be as small or large as you want/need them to be. Once that is determined, you can begin to think about what items to include, and summer with its abundance of fresh produce, provides countless options and combinations. Use the season’s bounty as a guide when creating the perfect board that is bursting with diverse flavors, colors and textures. 


Be sure to pair your board with some of your favorite wines or add some fun with a wine tasting…here’s how!

Cheeses

Meats

Have you ever noticed that softer cheeses look as if they are sweating or almost melting when in the heat? Summer charcuterie boards do best with firm cheeses like aged cheddars and Parm since they hold up better in the summer heat. Vary the sizes and shapes (cubed, sliced, and/or wedge) to create visual interest.

Any cured meat works on a charcuterie board. Select 2-3 that range in flavor from mild to spicy, and vary in texture. Prosciutto, the salty Italian favorite, is the most popular cured meat on a charcuterie board, and is served sliced paper-thin, but salami, mortadella, sopressata, and Spanish-style chorizo are also popular additions. Fold meats like salami into a triangle or get creative and make a salami rose (check out one of the many online tutorials) as a focal point of your charcuterie board. 

Fruits

Fruit pairs well with cheese and adds vibrant color and natural sweetness.  “We eat with our eyes first,” so think of a variety of colors when selecting fruits to ensure visual appeal. 

 

Some ripe juicy summer fruits to choose from are:

  • Peaches
  • Plums
  • Nectarines
  • Mango
  • Summer berries
  • Watermelon, cantaloupe or honeydew 
  • Cherries with stems (along with a nearby bowl for pits and stems) 

 

While fruit is delicious just as is, grilling stone fruits and/or watermelon adds a wonderful sweet-smoky flavor and the caramelized texture adds a different dimension!

Veggies

It’s summer and that means fresh garden veggies that add delicious flavor, brilliant color and varying texture to a charcuterie board:


  • Cherry or grape tomatoes
  • Mini cucumbers - a favorite with kids
  • Peppers of all colors 
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Sugar snap peas
  • Radishes

You can even include mini caprese salads simply by skewering cherry tomatoes, Ciliegine mozzarella and basil. No fork required! Peppers can play a dual role, sliced as dippers or hollowed out to hold dips and spreads. 

 

It’s also grilling season so why not add some grilled veggies like peppers, summer squash, zucchini or asparagus to your charcuterie board? Grilling brings out their natural sweetness, causing them to become sweetly smoky and caramelized!

Spreads and More

Add a sweet component like a honey, jam (fig and apricot are particularly good), or chutney to counterbalance the saltiness and richness of the meats!

 

Pesto, whether homemade or store bought, adds vibrant color and earthy flavor to a charcuterie board, and it pairs beautifully with both the grilled bread and mozzarella. Top a slice of grilled baguette with a thin slice of mozzarella, followed by a bit of pesto, and then top with a cherry tomato. You can even add a little pesto to hummus to kick up the flavor. If you grow basil, then you probably know how easy it is to make pesto and how it's a great way to be sure that all that deliciousness doesn’t go to waste. If you've never made pesto, it may surprise you to learn how easy it is to make! Click here to give it a try!

Miscellaneous Add-Ons

Looking to make your charcuterie board pop? Tuck some edible flowers and fresh herb sprigs around in the small empty spaces for added visual appeal. 

Creating Your Masterpiece

This is when the fun begins! Choose an appropriate size board (preferably rimmed) that will keep the items on the board, and not on the floor. Arrange wheels or wedges of cheese on the board first, as opposed to cubes. Gauge space by placing bowls/containers with olives, spreads, mustards and nuts around the board next. Arrange fruit next to cheeses that they pair well with, and scatter fresh berries between the large items. Fold cured meat slices and place in empty spaces. Add bread, crackers, and breadsticks to remaining spaces. Garnish with edible flowers and herb sprigs. 

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