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a beautiful meat and cheese platter (charcuterie board)
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5 from 12 votes

Meat and Cheese Platter (Charcuterie Board)

A show-stopping meat and cheese platter (charcuterie board) may be the easiest possible contribution to a holiday party. Here's how to make one in about 15 minutes. The post above includes a ton of detailed information and specific recommendations. You can use the ingredient list below as-is or simply as a general guide, whichever suits your style.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Course: Platters
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best meats for charcuterie board, charcuterie board shopping list, cheese for charcuterie board, meat and cheese platter
Calories: 407kcal
Author: Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Ingredients

  • 4 8- to 12- ounce wedges of cheese
  • 1 whole pomegranate
  • 2 Granny Smith apples
  • 2 blood oranges
  • 1 cup corn nuts
  • 2 cups olives I use two types
  • 6 ounces dry salami Genoa or sweet sopressata
  • 6 ounces prosciutto
  • 2 torn or sliced baguettes or crackers

Instructions

  • On a countertop or table, arrange a few nice-looking boards and small bowls. Throughout the process, you'll want to choose vessels that are just barely big enough to contain the ingredients you're arranging, maybe with a bit of spillover. This method lets you easily create a vibe of generosity and abundance, which helps put guests into a happy state of ease.
  • Arrange the cheeses, facing out (where applicable) to make them easier for guests to cut.
  • Next, arrange the meats. I like to create multiple areas on the board that feature the same ingredient.
  • Follow with crackers, olives, nuts, and any other savory elements in bowls and on boards, beginning to fill in any large gaps.
  • Cut any fruit into pieces and arrange on the board. Tuck in any small jars or bowls of honey or preserves. Assess the situation and continue arranging until you're happy with how everything looks.
  • Arrange knives and small spoons as needed. I recommend cutting a slice or two from each piece of cheese to encourage guests to dig in.

Video

Notes

All of the elements for this meat and cheese platter are purchased rather than homemade, so it comes together very quickly. You can shop up to a week in advance. I recommend gathering your ingredients an hour or so before guests arrive and assembling the board shortly after that. Store leftover elements in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to a week.

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcal | Carbohydrates: 24.8g | Protein: 17.2g | Fat: 22.6g | Fiber: 4g