Quick and Simple Charcuterie Board for Two

When you are looking to make a quick, easy dinner that’s fun, make a charcuterie board. They are simple to put together and you can mix and match ingredients to suit your taste and what you have on hand.

Charcuterie boards are a great idea when you just don’t feel like cooking. Toss together a healthy salad to go with your charcuterie board for two and you have a simple tasty dinner just for two.

Select the right ingredients

There is no magic behind choosing the right ingredients for your charcuterie board, fill it up with what you like! You can use simple ingredients, or you can use special items. One thing to keep in mind is that the ingredients should complement and contrast each other with a mix of taste, texture, and visual appeal.

Typical charcuterie ingredients consist of assorted meats, cheese, fruits, nuts, and condiments such as pickles, olives, and honey or jam. I like to keep it simple, so I chose to make a simple one for this post, but the possibilities are endless when it comes to charcuterie boars.

Assorted meats

When it comes to meats, it’s a good idea to have at least two type of meat and three is perfect. Salted meat like prosciutto is a common charcuterie addition with its sweet, salty and delicate profile. It’s perfect for pairing with sweeter items such as fruits. Salami is another good choice that adds robustness and is a great match for sharp cheeses.

If you are looking for lean and less salty options, try slicing grilled and seasoned chicken breasts, turkey breasts, or sirloin or homemade meatballs. You can even use low-sodium sliced chicken, turkey, or roast beef from the deli.

Cheeses

Cheese is the heart of any charcuterie board. As with meat, it’s a good idea to have at least two types of cheeses with contrasting textures. Soft cheeses like brie pair beautifully with sweet condiments or fruits. Aged cheddar brings a sharp, nutty taste that works wonders with salty and sweet ingredients while cheeses like blue cheese or gorgonzola offer a tangy kick that pairs nicely with honey or figs. Pick a few cheeses that you like and add them to your board.

Vegetables

Vegetables aren’t on every charcuterie board, but I like to add them for more texture and fresh flavor. They are a nice addition to the salty and briny components on your board. Good choices for veggies are grilled veggies, marinated vegetables, or raw veggies like carrots, radishes, baby turnips, celery, broccoli or cauliflower.

Fruit and nuts

As with the vegetables, fruit, and nuts add freshness to a board. Grapes, apples or pears bring a burst of sweetness that cuts through the richness of meats and cheeses. Figs are also a good addition to their unique texture. For nuts, almonds, walnuts or cashews provide crunch and neutral flavor to balance out heavier bites.

Condiments

These are the little extras that are like the icing on the cake. Olives and pickles offer a briny punch that cuts through fatty flavors. Sweeter items like honey are perfect for serving with salty cheeses. Hummus is a good option for dipping vegetables and crackers.

Charcuterie portion sizes

Even though leftover ingredients on a charcuterie board can easily be wrapped and stored in the refrigerator for a few days, here are suggested portion sizes per person for your charcuterie board:

• Meat: 2 to 3 ounces per person
• Cheese: 2 to 3 ounces per person
• Crackers or bread: 4 to 6 ounces per person
• Vegetables: 4 to 8 ounces per person
• Dips: 1/2 cup per person
• Fruit: 3 to 5 pieces per person

Choosing the right board

You can use any type of board or platter for your charcuterie. Here are a few suggestions:

• Wood: A classic wood board offers warmth and an earthy feel. It’s versatile, perfect for cutting cheese, and complements any theme you might choose.
• Marble: A marble board adds an elegant touch and a cooling effect, which is great for cheeses, but it can scratch easily if you use sharp knives on it.
• Slate: This is great for visual presentation and adds a modern, natural dark backdrop that makes the colors of your food pop on the board.
• Platter: A simple and elegant way to serve your charcuterie ingredients; choose white or a colorful option for a beautiful presentation.

How to arrange a charcuterie board

Arranging your charcuterie board with a little thought can can be hepful. Start by gathering the ingredients and think about balancing out the colors to make the board appealing. There really is no right way to arrange a charcuterie board, do what works for you, here is how I arrange my boards.

STEP 1: Start by placing the meat onto the board. I like to add them to the perimeter and space them apart.

STEP 2: Next, I add the cheese usually close to the meats.

STEP 3: Then I like to start adding color; so I add some veggies in between.

STEP 4: Last I fill it in with the remaining ingredients adding the crackers or bread in a few spots around the edges. While trying to leave a little bit of space so the food is easy to grab.

Pairing a charcuterie board with beverages

Pairing a charcuterie board with the right drink can elevate your experience. Wine is always a classic choice with a diverse range of flavors. A crisp white complements creamy cheeses, while robust red balances the saltiness of cured meat.

Beer lovers also have a lot of options too. A light lager is a great match for mild cheeses, and a rich stout can hold up well with smoked meats. Cocktails are also a fun twist – a fresh and fruity drink like a cranberry orange mimosa or a something more hearty like a whiskey sour are good options too.

If you would rather skip the alcohol, sparkling water with a splash or citrus, cucumber slices, cranberry juice or an herbal iced tea can be satisfying.

The most important thing is to choose drinks that you enjoy and match your taste buds and the food on your board.

Try these recipes on your charcuterie board

• White Bean Feta Dip
• Cheddar Cheese Pickle Chips
• Radishes with Butter
• Healthy Cottage Cheese Dip