Building a cheese board is like picking a charcuterie board; it’s all about preference. I’ve never encountered a cheese board that I didn’t enjoy.
Whether it’s a great cheese board with over a dozen different varieties of cheese or a basic one with a silky stilton and cucumbers, there’s something for everyone. There is no such thing as huge or small when it comes to a cheeseboard. And with these pointers, you can create a fantastic cheese board for any event.
Cheeseboards are the definition of a good investment. It only takes a few minutes to put them together, and they look fantastic. So much so that when you bring one out, one of your guests will almost always respond, “Oh, you didn’t have to go to all that trouble for me!” Then you’ll laugh and tell them it only took you three seconds to put together. Alternatively, you can continue to impress them. It depends on how well you get along with your houseguest.
Some of the cheese boards making the rounds on Instagram involve hundreds of dollars worth of ingredients, hours of food styling work, and so many moving elements that it’s nearly impossible to comprehend. That’s not my cheese platter. When building a cheese board, my primary principle is to place things I like on a board. That’s all there is to it. The ideal cheeseboard comprises three primary components: cheese, meats, and accompaniments.
Cheeses
Consider the possibilities. On your cheese board, include at least four distinct cheeses from the following categories: firm, soft, and semi-soft. And begin with your personal favorites. For example, I have Parmigiano-Reggiano and aged Cheddar on my cheese board, two firm kinds of cheese that I enjoy. However, both add a harsh flavor, so I add a round of mild French brie and pieces of Swiss to balance it out. When I feel fancy, I add nuts and jam to my brie.
I add some of my other favorites, such as Greek feta with crushed pepper flakes and a couple of slices of different cheddar cheese. When choosing which cheeses to include on your cheeseboard, consider the following shapes: square, round, triangle, and sliced. A fascinating cheese board will result as a consequence of this. How much cheese do you serve per person? You need roughly 1 ounce of cheese per person if serving as an appetizer. If the cheese board is the primary attraction, I’d recommend 2 ounces per person.
Meats & Bread
Then, toss in some charcuterie to your cheese platter! Soppressata, a basic deli salami, and prosciutto are a couple of my favorites. You can add your meats in various ways: In a simple stack, fanned out in a line or half-circle, or by folding larger pieces into fun shapes, which saves time if you’re in a hurry.
Then there’s the bread! Because I want to give the cheese as much room as possible, I only serve a handful of crostini or crackers on the plate and leave a bowl of extra crackers on the table for those who want them. To make the crackers or crostini easier to grab, fan them out along the sides of the cheese platter.
Accompaniments
Anything pickled or preserved goes well with cheese. I always put some onion marmalade out because I believe it complements most cheeses. Other delicious additions are pickled onions, pickled radishes, capers, and olives. Jams, chutney, and honey offer sweetness to your meat and cheese buffet, which is highly required.
Fresh fruit, in my opinion, is an absolute must on a cheeseboard. However, allow the season to dictate which products you use. In the summer, fresh berries and grapes are ideal. At the same time, figs, sliced apples, pears, plums, clementines, and pomegranates are excellent in the winter. Dried fruits such as apricots, cherries, figs, or mango are tasty additions. Nuts such as Marcona almonds, walnuts, and pistachios add texture and variety to the dish.
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