What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie?

No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies .

What is the secret to a great charcuterie board?

After all that meat and cheese, you're going to need something to balance those rich flavors. Cairo suggests accenting the board with acidic pickles, crunchy nuts, whole grain mustard (Maille is his favorite brand), tinned fish, and something sweet like quince jam or a drizzle of honey .

What are 3 good cheeses for a charcuterie board?

Here are the best cheeses for your charcuterie board Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago. Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar. Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster. Soft cheese: burrata, mascarpone, stracchino. Blue cheese: gorgonzola, dunbarton blue, marbled blue jack. More items...

What finger foods go with a charcuterie board?

Healthy Relish Tray Almonds or other nuts. Cauliflower. Asparagus spears. Zucchini or mini cucumbers. Endive. Tomatoes. Sweet mini peppers. Hummus. Nov 16, 2023

How do you impress a charcuterie board?

Specialty items: Consider adding some unique or specialty items to your charcuterie board, like artisanal jams, honey, or mustards . Fresh Herbs: Herbs that don't wilt such as rosemary or thyme make a beautiful addition to a board for color and visual appeal.

What compliments a charcuterie board?

Accompaniments such as jams, honey, or mustard can provide additional layers of flavor and contrast. Choosing the right type of bread or cracker can offer a neutral base that allows the flavors of the charcuterie to shine without overpowering them.

Are there rules for charcuterie boards?

Stick with cuts of meat shaved from a larger piece of meat , like prosciutto or cured, thin-sliced ham, as opposed to blended meat like salami.) The flavors can be paired with the cheeses or chosen for their unique qualities, but always aim to have something spicy, something smoky, and something unexpected.

What does every charcuterie board need?

Note: these are suggested ingredients and you should feel free to tweak them however you see fit! Cured meat. Use a selection of 3-4 different cured meats for your charcuterie board. ... Cheese. ... Bread and crackers. ... Nuts and chocolate. ... Condiments and jams. ... Fruit. ... Garnish. Dec 16, 2023

What goes first on a charcuterie board?

Start by adding structure with little dishes, then place your ingredients on the board starting with the largest elements like the cheeses and meats , followed by smaller items like crackers and fresh produce.

What are the 3 kinds of charcuterie?

Charcuterie is divided into three types: forcemeats, sausages and salumi , an Italian word for “salted meats,” which includes preserved whole cuts of meat. Forcemeats are spreadable mixtures of meat and offal (organ meats) like rillettes, pâtés and terrines.

How do you make meat look good on a charcuterie board?

Start with the meats. There are different ways to place the charcuterie: You can shape slices into a rose-like shape, by rolling them like a cinnamon roll . Little clumps and swirls of cured hams are easy and fun. Salamis can be rolled or folded on themselves so they stand up.

What are the three starches for charcuterie?

3 Starches: we like Taralli (a traditional Italian cracker almost like a small, circular breadstick), Artisan Crisps by Rustic Bakery, and baguettes from Gilles Baguettes .

Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board

Ditch the predictable chocolate boxes this Valentine’s Day and instead create a delicious and decadent Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. We have been making these the last few years and they are so fun! This board is perfect for a romantic and festive evening with your partner or for a Galentine’s Day night in! This board is the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Think simple, stunning, easy yet impressive and entirely customizable to your needs, dietary preferences and/or allergies! It is super easy to make gluten free, dairy free or nut free! This Valentine’s Day charcuterie board is cute, romantic and the best way to celebrate! Plus, it’s such a fun way to be creative!

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Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board - Lesswithlaur (1)

Why You’ll Love This Board

It’s so fun to make!

This board is very easily customizable.

It’s easy to make gluten free, dairy free or nut free!

This board is super kid-friendly.

It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day.

It is the best mix of sweet and savory.

This board is sure to impress!

Charcuterie Board

What is a charcuterie board? A charcuterie board is a delightful arrangement of cured meats, cheeses, fruits, breads, and other accompaniments, typically served on a wooden board or platter. It’s more than just a plate of cold cuts; it’s a curated selection of savory and sweet bites meant to be enjoyed communally. In this case, we put a fun Valentine’s Day twist on it.

Equipment Needed

All you need to make this Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board is a board! I used a cute heart-shaped board.

Ingredients Needed

Fruit: I used raspberries and chocolate covered strawberries on this board! You can make your own or use store bought chocolate covered strawberries.

Chocolate: I love putting different types of chocolate on this board. Some of my favorite brands are Honey Mama’s and Hu Kitchen. I also like to make my own homemade chocolate with nuts!

Salami: I like to use high quality salami whenever possible. I made mine into salami roses.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Gather your ingredients.

Step 2: Assemble your charcuterie board!

Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board - Lesswithlaur (2)

Assembly Tips

Layer and Balance: Start with the cheese heart. Add the salami roses, arrange the chocolate, strawberries, crackers and cookies. Fill in the gaps with the raspberries.

Presentation: Presentation is key! Use a beautiful or heart-shaped board.

Variations

This Valentine’s Day charcuterie board is so easily customizable!

Meat: Try out thinly sliced salami (pepperoni, chorizo, Genoa), prosciutto, mortadella, pancetta, soppressata or bresaola.

Cheese: Choose a mix of textures and flavors, from creamy brie and burrata to tangy goat cheese, sharp cheddar, nutty gruyere and aged parmesan. Cut it into fun shapes for added visual appeal. If you are dairy free or vegan, feel free to use dairy free/vegan cheese.

Chocolate: Try different types of chocolate with lots of different textures!

Fruit: Add pops of color and sweetness with grapes, berries, apple slices, figs or peaches.

Flavor Enhancers: Try adding honey, jams, mustards, chutneys or dips. Experiment with flavors that complement your meats and cheeses.

Storage

If you do not finish your charcuterie board, feel free to store ingredients separately in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board - Lesswithlaur (3)

Recipe FAQ

How far in advance should you put together this charcuterie board?

Related Recipes

Be sure to try these other Valentine’s Day idea:

Heart Thumbprint Cookies

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Dairy Free Filet Mignon

Gluten Free Mug Brownie

Mini S’mores Cookie Skillet

If you make this Valentine’s Day charcuterie board and love it, I would really appreciate a 5 star review! I also love seeing your creations so please tag me onInstagramorTikTok.

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5 from 2 votes