Roots To Table Explores How to Make and Use Small Charcuterie Boards

Cedar Creek, Texas-based Roots To Table wants to focus on how to make and use small charcuterie boards by discussing an article on Healthful Rooted Home by Kyrie Luke that offers some tips and tutorial for a small charcuterie board. The article says, “Date nights, picnics, small parties, or get-togethers call for a small charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards are hors d’oeuvres typically seen on a large platter ready to feed a crowd. But when a more intimate occasion occurs, you need a smaller appetizer.” And because it can be quite difficult to make a small charcuterie platter, the article provides some tips on how to “downsize your next grazing board.”

It is important to note that a charcuterie board usually includes a variety of cured meats and has been recently expanded to included crackers, cheese, and other snack foods that tend to pair well with the cured meat. Some chutneys and glazes may also be added. A chutney is a spicy and savory condiment that is gluten-free and made from vegetables, fruits, and/or herbs with sugar, vinegar, and spices. Fermenting fruits is one way of creating probiotics.

Charcuterie boards are suitable for serving appetizers during social gatherings and also as a grazing table. A grazing table is like a buffet, except that it is designed to be aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, encouraging guests to pick and nibble on the food on display.

For those planning to have some snacks at night alone, having a date night, or a small get-together with another couple, a small charcuterie board will do nicely. The charcuterie board may be used as a starter or it could be the main course.

The problem is that it is quite easy to buy too much for a small charcuterie board so some tips are provided in the article on how to make a small charcuterie board. The elements of the perfect charcuterie board are therefore provided. For meat, it is advisable to select one to two meat options and to allow 2 to 5 ounces of meat for every person. Some of the possible choices are: whole meat, such as besaola, prociutto, and ham; smooth meat, such as rillettes and pate; cured meat, such as salami, Spanish chorizo, and Saucisson sec; and dry meat, such as bacon or pancetta. The same principles can be used when choosing cheese: 1 to 2 options and 2 to 5 ounces per person. Cheese options include: hard cheese like parmesan, asiago and smoked gouda; firm cheese, such as comte, gruyere, colby, manchego, and cheddar; semi-soft cheese like havarti, muenster and butterkase; blue cheese like dunbarton blue, gorgonzola and marbled blue jack; and crumbly cheese like feta and goat cheese.

For crackers and bread, it is advisable to have two types as a vehicle for the cheeses and meats. Bread options include: French sourdough, crostini, or asiago ciabatta or raisin-pecan rye. Cracker options include: water crackers, dried fruit crackers, crispy breadsticks, and multigrain crackers.

For fruit, it may be a good idea to have just one fruit plus possibly one dried fruit. Options for fresh fruit include: grapes, apples, pomegranate, melon balls, pears, figs, berries, and pineapple. Choices for dried fruit include: apricots, figs, cherries, and mangos.

For spreads, one type of spread is enough for a small charcuterie board. Sweet spreads include: apple butter, balsamic fig glaze, and fig spread and local honey with the honeycomb. Savory spreads include: mango chutney, stone ground mustard, and ancho aioli.

Sweets and extras include chocolate, candy, and savory. Chocolate options include: chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate covered raisins, chocolate covered nuts, chocolate covered bark, and chocolate covered graham crackers. Options for candy include: caramel popcorn, candied nuts, yogurt covered pretzels, and cookies. Savory options include: sage leaves, olives, and nuts.

Themed charcuterie boards may also be set up, such as for brunch, dessert, hot chocolate, taco themed charcuterie boards, and wine tasting themed charcuterie boards.

Those who would like to know more about the bamboo cheese and charcuterie board set from Roots To Table can visit their website or their page on amazon.com.