How to Make The Perfect Charcuterie Brunch Board
How to Make The Perfect Charcuterie Brunch Board
Summer is just around the corner and what better way to get prepared than to become the best charcuterie board maker with this guide to creating the perfect charcuterie board. Grocery delivery company HelloFresh have revealed the UK's favourite charcuterie board toppings and how to position and style them so that you can impress your guests.
Summer is just around the corner and what better way to get prepared than to become the best charcuterie board maker with this guide to creating the perfect charcuterie board. Grocery delivery company HelloFresh have revealed the UK's favourite charcuterie board toppings and how to position and style them so that you can impress your guests.
What is a Charcuterie Board?
The term “charcuterie” refers to the preparation of cured meats such as prosciutto, salami and ham, but in the last few years this term has been taken one step further to create a fun, creative board of cured meats, cheeses, fruit, antipasti and crackers. Perfect as a brunch board, or post-dinner nibbles, charcuterie boards can be altered and enhanced depending on the season or event.
What Are The UK's Favourite Charcuterie Board Toppings?
Average number of monthly searches for the UK’s favourite cured meats, cheeses, fruits and antipasti reveals these charcuterie board toppings will most likely please your guests' taste buds.
Top 5 Cured Meats:
1. Chorizo - 33k
2. Bacon - 26k
3. Prosciutto - 21k
4. Pastrami - 16k
5. Salami - 14k
Top 5 Cheeses:
1. Halloumi - 76k
2. Mozzarella - 29k
3. Mascarpone - 28k
4. Camembert - 23k
5. Ricotta - 18k
Top 5 Fruits:
1. Apples - 411k
2. Watermelon - 44k
3. Grapes - 23k
4. Blueberries - 16k
5. Bananas - 11k
Top 5 Antipasti Foods:
1. Artichoke - 56k
2. Capers - 45k
3. Cucumber - 35k
4. Anchovies - 20k
5. Olives - 16k
Top 5 Cured Meats:
1. Chorizo - 33k
2. Bacon - 26k
3. Prosciutto - 21k
4. Pastrami - 16k
5. Salami - 14k
Top 5 Cheeses:
1. Halloumi - 76k
2. Mozzarella - 29k
3. Mascarpone - 28k
4. Camembert - 23k
5. Ricotta - 18k
Top 5 Fruits:
1. Apples - 411k
2. Watermelon - 44k
3. Grapes - 23k
4. Blueberries - 16k
5. Bananas - 11k
Top 5 Antipasti Foods:
1. Artichoke - 56k
2. Capers - 45k
3. Cucumber - 35k
4. Anchovies - 20k
5. Olives - 16k
How to Create Your Own Charcuterie Board?
Step one: Fill small dishes with your dips, spreads and smaller items and place them onto your board to create structure.
Step two: Add your cheese, placing them evenly around the board with space around each for slicing. Then add your meats, folding them in any way you’d like and placing them around the board.
Step three: Place your crackers on the board. Laying them so that they’re overlapping usually works best as it allows your guests to easily grab them from the board.
Step four: Fill in the rest of the gaps on the board with fruit, vegetables, antipasti and more. This step is important as it really brings your board together.
HelloFresh Expert Charcuterie Styling Tips
1. Meat Roses
To create your own meat rose grab yourself a wine glass and a pack of round cured meat such as salami. First, place one slice of meat on the rim of the glass and fold and keep doing this around the rim of the glass allowing them to overlap but only just.
Then on your second layer you will do the same but bring the meat slices closer together, bringing them closer with each layer you add. How many slices of meat you use will depend on your glass. Once you’re done, place the glass against your board and pull away from the meat.
2. Fun Shaped Cheeses
Simply grab yourself a mixture of shape cutters and cut your favourite shapes into your cheese, whether that be stars, hearts of flowers. For best results, cut your cheese into 1 inch slices before you cut your shapes out, this way, you’ll have delicious bite size cheese shapes for your charcuterie board.
3. Create Trails With Your Crackers
Lay your crackers on your board and direct them in any direction depending on how you plan to style your board, allowing them to lay on top of one another like a fallen trail of dominoes.
How to Put a Brunch Twist on a Classic Charcuterie Board with HelloFresh
Charcuterie boards are perfect for every season and lots of different events. Here at HelloFresh we're a big fan of a brunch version of a charcuterie board. With avocado, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast, a brunch board is great for special occassions like birthdays, bridal showers and more!
1. Avocado: Slice, dice or smash some avocado to add to your brunch board. To season, add a few ramekins of salt, pepper and chilli flakes so that people can pick and choose!
2. Bacon: Bacon is the perfect meat for a brunch board. Add as many rashes as you'd like alongside your avocado and toast for a delicious brunch.
3. Scrambled eggs: Another brunch favourite, scrambled egg fits nicely alongside the bacon and avocado to give your guests a great selection to choose from.
Try our smashed avocado and bacon on toasted sourdough recipe on your next brunch board!
4. Pancakes: Pancakes are one of the most popular brunch recipes, whether you serve them sweet or savoury, you can't go wrong with including them on your brunch board. To make them brunch-board friendly, simply make mini versions of your pancakes so that they're a snack size piece.
5. Maple Syrup: Just like olive oil or chutney on a classic charcuterie board, maple syrup can be included in small ramekins to serve alongside your pancakes.
6. Fruit: Fruit is an essential for brunch, whether that be the UK's favourite, apples, or second favourite, watermelon. You can also include berries, such as blueberries or strawberries, on your brunch board to accompany your pancakes!
Our fig and pancakes recipe will help you create sweet and indulgent additions to your brunch board.