Girl’s night always calls for something uniquely special to celebrate friendships. One look at the three million posts under the “charcuterie” hashtag on Instagram and you’re bound to find all the inspiration you seek.
But how does one create the perfect charcuterie board and are you limited to cured meats and aged cheeses? Impress your friends with the ultimate charcuterie display at your upcoming get-together.
The Formula for the Perfect Charcuterie
Charcuterie is a work of art that saves time in whipping together the ultimate girl’s night at the last minute. However, it requires more than throwing cheese and olives on a board. One must still carefully plan a well-balanced assortment of goodies for it to come out just right.
Right off the bat, you know you’ll need a large wooden board and a few small bowls. Then consider the occasion — why are you and the girls getting together? Are you celebrating a holiday or season? Maybe you’re just looking to enjoy quality time. Themes work very well with charcuterie boards and can inspire what you include.
Traditionally, the formula for the perfect charcuterie has been meat plus cheese plus extras — although today’s boards vary and may entail a few sweets.
6 Charcuterie Board Ideas for Girl’s Night
Do you need help determining the best charcuterie board to serve your guests? Hopefully, these six ideas will inspire you to create the perfect platter.
- Wine Pairings Board
What’s a girl’s night without a bit of wine? Consider a wine-pairing charcuterie board to wash down your beverage with a delicious appetizer. Ideas for wine pairings include the following:
- Prosciutto
- Soppressata — a Spanish salami marinated in red wine, salt, peppercorn and dried chili peppers
- Fatty pâté
- Gruyere
- Brie cheese
- Aged cheddar
- Caviar
- Whole grain crackers
- White sesame seed crackers
Cheese and caviar pair excellently with each other and with wine. Just be sure to select a cheese with mellow flavoring to avoid overpowering the caviar. Your friends will appreciate this board’s sophistication.
- Fruit and Cheese
A traditional fruit and cheese board is another option for the ultimate charcuterie board. Strawberries, grapes, figs, apples, raspberries and blackberries go well with the following cheeses:
- Brie
- Smoked gouda
- Manchego
- Muenster
- Baby Swiss or Jarlsberg
- Blue cheese
An assortment of fruit and cheese provides plenty of options for your guests. Many fruits are high in fiber and aid digestion — for instance, apples, bananas, pineapples and orange slices.
Placing a small bowl of nuts on the board is also a good idea. Crackers topped with brie, apple, walnuts and a drizzle of honey are a divine flavor combination.
- Veggie Board
Few boards are as easy and nutritious as vegetable charcuterie boards. Considering 80% of weight loss resolutions are forgotten shortly after the New Year, this treat can get everyone back on track. A vegetable board also ensures your vegetarian friends have something to nosh on at your place.
Carrots, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, celery and raw broccoli fill the board with bold colors. You can also include a small bowl of vegetable dip. Making vegetable dip can be as easy as mixing a small container of sour cream with Knorr soup mixes or combining your favorite spices from scratch.
- Mediterranean Board
Travel the world with a Mediterranean charcuterie board for your girl’s night. Some foods you can add to your international board include:
- Hummus
- Tzatziki and tahini dips
- Black and green olives
- Feta cheese
- Grapes
- Peppadews
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Naan bread
A drizzle of olive oil will round out your mezze platter and provide ample health benefits. For instance, olive oil contains oleic acid to reduce inflammation in the body.
- Bagel Board
Nothing beats breakfast for dinner. A bagel board could be in the cards for your next girl’s night. Purchase mini bagels from the grocery store and everyone’s go-to bagel toppings, such as:
- Cream cheese — plain, vegetable or honey
- Smoked salmon
- Butter
- Assorted jams
- Nutella
- Avocado slices
- Swiss, provolone or muenster
- Deli meats — ham and turkey
- Egg salad
You might also want to grab Everything Bagel seasoning — the easiest way to add extra flavor to all breakfast favorites.
- Sweet and Salty Board
Deciding on one type of charcuterie board may be challenging, so why not combine taste preferences with a sweet and salty board? A sweet and salty board is just how it sounds — an assortment of snack foods that satisfy sweet and salty taste buds.
For instance, you might opt for cheese crackers, butter crackers, pepper jack cheese, Jarlsberg, pretzels and honey-roasted peanuts. Then include some strawberries, yogurt-covered pretzels, grapes, cookies and something chocolatey.
Strawberries are always an excellent option for charcuterie boards and stand out with their bold coloring. They are also low in calories and contain natural sugars, making them sweet but healthy for those watching their weight.
Celebrate Friendship With the Ultimate Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards are the perfect addition to any girl’s night — especially since most people will be chatting together in the kitchen or around the living room table. Organizing a charcuterie board takes the pressure off you to deliver a grand meal to your friends and ensures you spend plenty of time with everyone as the host.
