A Guide to the Perfect Spring Picnic Charcuterie Board
- Piece of Cake Staff
- Apr 9
- 4 min read
Written by Lauren Graham
Spring has finally arrived, and it’s time to step outside and enjoy the fresh air and budding flowers. One of my favorite spring activities is going on a picnic with friends and eating good food. On a picnic, it’s crucial to have perfect, delicious, and aesthetic accouterments. The best way to do that is by making a charcuterie board worthy of your feed and taste buds. All over Pinterest, TikTok, and other social media, charcuterie boards are the craze, as people post beautiful pictures of their colorful platters. Even though charcuterie boards are nothing new, their popularity in the food world is well deserved. They are fully customizable, balanced, and not to mention aesthetically pleasing. Bringing a homemade charcuterie board to a picnic on a sunny spring day is a guaranteed success.
The word charcuterie is French for cold-cooked meats, and it describes all of the delicious smoked and cured meats assembled on a large sharing platter. Along with meat, you can pair these savory delights with even more salty snacks like cheeses, crackers, olives, and more. Plus, charcuterie boards are also renowned for their arrangement of sweet jams and preserves as well as fresh fruits. If you plan on going on a picnic sometime soon, enjoy this guide on making the perfect spring charcuterie board.
First and foremost, it’s important to note that most charcuterie boards follow the “3-3-3” rule. You can choose three different meats, three cheeses, three crackers or carbs, and three fruits or sweet items. This gives your board a great variety of choices and exciting flavor combinations. For this guide, I’ll share three of my favorite charcuterie elements from each section that always taste amazing.
Meats:
The bulk of a traditional charcuterie board is the array of smoked, cured, and salted meats. Incorporating various delectable and savory meats is essential for this popular snack tray, as they pack many rich flavor profiles. Plus, the meats can pair amazingly with all other items on the board that I'll list later. Typically, a charcuterie board will have four or five Italian meats: prosciutto, salami, and soppressata. Prosciutto is a must-have meat due to its addicting salty taste and a melt-in-your-mouth consistency. Salami is a household staple, sliced sausage with a robust flavor. And last but not least is the Soppressata, a delightful smoky and spicy cut of sausage that packs a punch. All of these meats add their flair to a charcuterie board, and paired with other elements can create a flavor explosion.
Cheese:
A charcuterie board’s strength is in its cheese. So, choosing the right cheese flavors to pair with your selection of meats is crucial for crafting the perfect bite. Most often, charcuterie boards will have a variety of flavors and textures of cheese, ranging from mild to smooth and earthy to sharp. One type that can’t go wrong is a wedge of Brie, a mild, buttery, and slightly nutty cheese that adds complexity to the board. Gouda is the way to go if you want a firm cheese. It contrasts greatly with its other counterparts due to its nutty and sweet, almost caramel flavor. Manchego is also perfect for a sharp cheese. It’s super tangy, bright, and distinct.
Carbs:
With meat and cheese must come the carbs, the element that ties everything together. When it comes to carbs, anything will do, from crackers to bread. Regularly, you’ll find water crackers as the foundational carb on a charcuterie board. Despite their name, water crackers are the perfect base for meat and cheese combinations. Their light taste allows for the stars of the show to shine. Next, herb crackers are perfect additions that add that missing herbal flavor to the salty items. Each bite is guaranteed to be an artisanal experience with them on your board. Finally, Croccantini crackers are not traditional but are a must-have for their light, wafer-like texture and perfect snap.
Veggies:
Veggies add a refreshing balance to the rich meats, cheeses, and carbs. Vegetables with a crunch like celery or a distinct taste like olives are typical. Plus, they are the perfect vessel for any dips you wish to incorporate on your charcuterie board. For me, olives, celery, and carrot sticks are the best. Olives have a delicious, briny, and umami taste that amplifies the meats and cheeses. And celery and carrots provide the much-needed break between flavors.
Fruits, Jams, Preserves:
Now come the sweet treats. Charcuterie boards are all about customization, and there are many fruits to choose from. But from all categories, there has to be at least one preserve or jam, one dried fruit, and one fresh fruit. A jam that'll knock your socks off is hot honey fig preserves. Figs are super sweet, and the spicy honey elevates the flavor to another level. A fruit that I believe is underrated is dried apricots. These stone fruits have such a unique and distinct flavor that leaves you coming back for more. Finally, purple or green grapes are the perfect fresh fruit for charcuterie boards. They're easy to pick off and pop in your mouth, and delightfully crispy and juicy at the same time.
Design & Enjoy:
Now that you’ve got all of the elements of a perfect charcuterie board, it’s time to design your aesthetic platter. When designing your board, be mindful of the flow of each category to ensure mix-and-match combinations. To make each item accessible, try not to overcrowd the board to fit everything in. Once your creation is complete, it’s time to dig in! Enjoy your perfect picnic charcuterie boards and have a great spring.
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