How to Make the Perfect Charcuterie

To me the secret to a good charcuterie is variety; you want to have different flavors and textures so there's a bit of something for everyone.

One of my favorite things to do is create charcuterie boards for events and gatherings. It combines my creative impulses with my love for food. I enjoy creating different boards based off of themes and holidays, as well as using up whatever odds and ends I can find leftover.

For a classic charcuterie the secret is variety, having a multitude of flavors, consistencies and options makes a delicious and sophisticated board. Here are my go-to's to create a tradition charcuterie board:

1. Multiple Cheeses

In my opinion this is one of the most important parts to a cheese board: having multiple types of cheese. In particular you should have multiple cheese consistencies. Of course, have your basic cheddar and Monterey jack, but also toss in some brie or goat cheese. This elevates the charcuterie to the next level by adding a myriad of flavors and textures.

2. Cracker Options

Along with different types of cheeses you should have cracker options. I don't mean exclusively crackers, just anything that is crunchy, dippable and stackable. You want multiple choices that pair with your cheeses and dips. This also provides more texture to your board.

3. Olives & Pickles

I'm a salty gal, I love olives and pickles! In my opinion no board is complete without a bowl of these. The best olives are the garlic and lemon olives from Whole Foods. They are the perfect addition to any charcuterie. I also love little gherkin pickles for a board.

When including something like olives and pickles to a platter like this, you have to have them in a little bowl. You don't want any of the wet items mixing with your dry ones. That would be a disaster!

4. Dried Fruit

This might be a me thing, but I love dried fruit. Anything from dried pineapple to raisins I will devour. To me these go splendidly with a cheese board, and add more range to the assortment.

5. Fresh Fruit or Veggies

To add some color and pizazz I add some fresh fruit or veggies! The classic options are grapes and strawberries which pair really well with an assortment of cheeses. Adding some veggies is another great way to add a pop of color, and a crunch! Red bell peppers and cucumbers add some brightness as well as a range of flavors.

5. Sweets

As much as I love savory, I think there should be a touch of sweetness to a charcuterie. I usually add a little touch of chocolate, whether that be chocolate covered pretzels, M&M's or Hershey kisses (maybe all 3).

6. Dips

Sometimes if I have a big platter and I don't have enough to fill the entire thing I add some sort of a dip: guacamole, cheese spread or buffalo chicken dip. The options are endless here. The key thing is that it takes up some space so your board doesn't look bare. Also who doesn't love a good dip?!

7. Meat

Personally I love pepperoni and salami which I think works really nicely on a charcuterie. However, I don't think you need to go overboard here. Just one selection of meat goes a long way.

8. Something special ;)

This isn't necessary, but something I try to do with my charcuterie boards is include something that coincides with the holiday or time of year. I love a theme, and always try to create my boards with that in mind. Whether it's including all sorts of red and green items for Christmas, some sparkly treats for New Years or a pumpkin in fall, there are so many ways to incorporate festivity in your board.

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The best thing about a charcuterie board is you can make it up as you go! Some of the best boards are made from random things found in your fridge and cupboards; or you can hop on the viral trends and make a themed board. There are so many fun ways to create a board, the possibilities are endless!

These are just a few of my favorite things I do when assembling my charcuterie, but you can make it up as you go. There is no right or wrong way to do it!