They can be many shapes, sizes and forms but here are our tips for building something beautiful at home. These make great appetizers and are perfect for sharing with the family. Expecting guests? Make smaller individual boards to make entertaining safe.
Here are some tips!
Theme
Depending on the time of year, focus on showcasing seasonal ingredients. Summer boards can include fresh garden vegetables, herbs and creamy dips and cheeses with olive oils for dipping and flavoured salts for a dash of flavour. Holiday boards can include chocolates, spiced nuts and gingerbread.
Mix & Match Ingredients
Get creative with 2-3 cheeses and 2-3 meats to start. Starting simple, with a soft cheese, hard cheese and a blue cheese with prosciutto, spicy salami and mortadella. Then add in crackers, dried fruit, honeycombs and fresh vegetables. The combinations are truly endless!
Make it colourful
Pick fresh, seasonal ingredients like sliced pears or orange segments to complement cheese and meats and make sure they are displayed in groupings so it doesn’t look like a dog’s breakfast. Jams and jellies can also brighten up the board and pair well with the cheeses. Try something seasonal like a fig jam and/or a cranberry or pepper jelly.
How to build the board
Start by placing the larger cheese wedges first, followed by meats and any bowls you may want to use for jams, jellies or even nuts and olives. Make sure to put olives or pickles in a bowl or container to ensure the flavours don’t mix. Then, fill in the board with crackers, crostini or breadsticks and fruit. Finally, garnish the board with fresh herbs like sprigs of rosemary and thyme to add a nice touch of greenery.
Extras
Have a few knives on the board for soft and hard cheeses. Slice or cube some cheese for easy serving.