A charcuterie board consists of various treats such as cheeses, meats, and crackers. But although it’s one of the go-to assortments during parties and gatherings, the preparation should still be considered, so that it suits all ages, from the grandparents to the little ones.
If you’ve been to Spanish restaurants or wine bars before, you may already have explored some options that can be considered a great combination when preparing for a charcuterie board. If there are many guests, you can curate different boards with themes, so that they can just pick a board and get their snacks from it.
In this article, we’ll discuss some tips on how to create a charcuterie board for all ages.
1. Combine the Flavours and Textures
Start by preparing a variety of flavours and textures. When it comes to flavours, you can add sweet, salty, and savoury. Although it’s possible to add something spicy, ensure to warn the guests about it, especially the kids. Meanwhile, when it comes to the texture, adding soft cheeses, crackers, cold cuts, and fresh fruits can significantly play a big part.
2. Offer Kid-Friendly Options
When it comes to the options for kids, you can create a charcuterie board filled with mild options, such as turkey slices or roasted chicken, animal-shaped crackers, cheese cubes, nuts, pretzels, candies, and other treats. Since they’re not consuming the items on the charcuterie board to pair them with drinks, the taste can be random, as long as the kids will enjoy it. Of course, don’t forget to add different textures, so they still have other choices.
3. Include Fresh Fruits and Veggies
Aside from flavour and textures, you should also consider adding things on the healthier side. Try adding fresh fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, celery, cucumbers, sweet peppers, grapes, apples, apricots, melons, and peaches.
Of course, when choosing the fruits and vegetables, ensure that the other elements in your charcuterie board suit well with them when it comes to taste and texture.
4. Add a Variety of Dips
Enhancing the flavour of simple treats can be done by offering a variety of dips. You can serve ranch, hummus, mustard, jam, honey, and fruit yogurt, so that your guests can have various options.
You can try sampling them in advance, so that you can make some suggestions once the party starts. Don’t hesitate to add more dips aside from the recommended ones, especially your favourites.
5. Balance the Meats and Cheeses
When choosing the right meats and cheeses, you should aim for the right balance in taste. For instance, for adults, you can serve flavourful meats, such as pepperoni, prosciutto, Spanish ham, and soppressata. On the other hand, you can serve lighter meats for the kids, and also pair them with light cheeses since their palates may not be used to intense flavours.
6. Don’t Forget the Sweets
Whether it’s for kids or adults, chocolate can be a great addition to the charcuterie boards. It can serve as the “dessert” after consuming salty, savoury, and nutty foods. If you don’t want to serve chocolate pieces, you can also try serving ganache, so that your guests they dip various treats into it, such as strawberries, pretzels, and marshmallows.
7. Use Fun and Safe Serving Ideas
For the adult version of the charcuterie board, you can serve it on the traditional board, along with the other utensils such as cheese knives, small spoons, tongs, and toothpicks.
On the other hand, if it’s for the kids, you can provide individual cups to keep the place tidy. In addition, you should label things specifically so that there won’t be mistakes, especially when it comes to allergies.
8. Make It Visually Appealing
Since you have a variety of treats, you can utilise them to ensure that the charcuterie boards are visually appealing. You can arrange them by texture, colour, and shape. When you do, you can easily encourage your guests to get as many treats as they like.
Aside from the food, you can also add some garnishes to enhance the overall look of the board.
9. Be Mindful of Allergies and Preferences
As mentioned, labelling or informing the guests about the elements of the charcuterie board can significantly help in avoiding possible allergies. Nowadays, many people of all ages usually have allergies, so this is ideal in ensuring that everyone can enjoy the charcuterie boards.
10. Keep It Simple and Fresh
Preparing charcuterie boards can be overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. By identifying the various food categories and choosing the best options from them, you can come up with a simple yet fresh serving of a we-prepared charcuterie board.
Final Thoughts
Curating the right charcuterie board can be about choosing the balance among flavours, dietary restrictions, and colours. So, if you’re having a party or even a simple get-together, don’t hesitate to try making a charcuterie board.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliana Baraquio is a web content writer who also loves cooking dishes from different countries. If you want to experience a Barcelona-style restaurant that serves high-quality food, and a modern, contemporary, fresh feel from the south of Europe, visit TAST Catala Spanish Restaurant.
