With spring in full swing and summer just around the corner, I find myself yearning to host cookouts and gatherings with friends, especially now that we’ve finally completed our deck after 24 years of planning. It’s amazing how much we love it and wonder why we hesitated for so long. Anyway, the new deck is calling us to make the most of it.
With that thought in mind, I’m gearing up to organize several gatherings with friends this spring and summer. Planning, preparing, and hosting get-togethers is one of my favorite hobbies. Sure, it involves loads of work and may seem stressful, but it is a good kind of stress. And…over the years, I have gotten much better at making it all go smoothly.
Charcuterie boards are one of the tools I love to utilize when hosting. What I love most about charcuterie boards is that you are literally elevating snack foods to a whole new level, instantly adding a professional look to any gathering. The simplistic nature of these boards with their fresh, light, and seasonal ingredients make them perfect for parties. From the simplest, small groups to large, fancy celebrations, Charcuterie boards’ versatility allow them to fit any event, any place, and anytime.
Spring
I can just imagine a beautiful Spring Charcuterie Board with its fresh ripe fruits, creamy cheeses, crisp vegetables, cured meats, crackers, French baguette slices, honey, and sweets all displayed using flowery and soft, pastel colored utensils and serviceware.
Whether for a mid-week early evening, a weekend gathering, or a brunch, the striking display of meats, cheeses, and other snack foods keeps every palate happy and engaged.
As most charcuterie boards have the usual groupings of cheeses, meats, fruits, veggies, and carbs, selecting the seasonal items for your spring and summer boards are what make them unique and, quite frankly, so yummy.
In addition to your favorite ingredients, a spring board might include fresh fruits such as strawberries and blueberries. Add fresh spring vegetables straight from the garden to your board like asparagus, broccoli, green onions, peas, radishes, and winter squash. Use mushrooms, morels, honey, and fresh herbs to garnish.
Adding edible flowers as garnishes provinces a burst of color and unique flavors. Some favorites on the list includes: lavender, perfect for adding fragrance; hibiscus, especially delightful in cocktails; calendula, known for its beautiful color and slightly bitter taste; nasturtium, offering a peppery kick; dianthus, with its delicate petals; squash blooms, cornflower, dandelion (with green parts removed), violet, bee balm, and redbud blooms.
Summer
Summer comes and nothing beats a get together with a simple yet scrumptious looking charcuterie board. The great thing about these boards is the simplicity and versatility for summer entertaining. It can be a perfect little snack board to enjoy the sunset with someone you care about, or a larger board for your next pool party or cookout. And the best part? With ingredients that can be prepped ahead of time, assembling them on those busy, fun-filled days in the sun is a breeze.
For a summer twist, incorporate the bounty of the season with fresh summer fruits like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Trees bearing fruit at this time include pears, peaches, apples, and nectarines. And nothing says “Summer is here!” like the refreshing tastes of watermelon and cantaloupe.
Since it’s the season where gardens are flourishing, be sure to use all of that bright, fresh produce you find at your farmers market and in your own garden. Think carrots, green peppers, green beans, corn on cob, celery, snow and snap peas, cherry tomatoes (burst of flavor in every bite), summer squash, zucchini, and Brussels sprouts. Incorporating seasonal flavors ensure your board captures summer in every bite.
To create boards
First, decide if you would like to follow a theme, such as a holiday or a color theme. Then, choose your favorite board, platter, or dishes from your collections. Use those fluted, colorful, and special dishes that are waiting in your cabinet for that perfect time. Celebrate spring and summer!
For spring, you might choose pastel colors and flowery dishes to bring spring to life on your table. Decorate your table with a pastel tablecloth or runner, complemented with arrangements of spring blooms and scented candles. Serve your extras in plastic flower pots.
For summer, colors can remind you of the beach, a festive fiesta, or a colorful beach ball and pool party. Add a garland of pendants in colors of your theme. Wrap utensils in brightly colored paper napkins and place them in playful plastic sand toys or metal buckets.
Assembling the Board
- Choose and shop for your ingredients. A good place to start is the ‘Rule of 3’ – three meats, three cheeses, three carbohydrates, and three accompaniments.
- Gather your board and serving dishes.
- Place larger items first. Larger wedges or wheels of cheese, lines of crackers or breads, large amounts of fruit. Use these to create borders.
- Arrange meats and cheeses in alternating patterns and colors for visual appeal. Slice much of your cheese to easily pick up. Fold slices of your cured meats and tuck them around in the small empty spaces.
- Fill in with smaller items and garnishes such as smaller bowls filled with the jam, mustard, and other dips. Place handfuls of fresh summer berries between the large items.
- Use garnishes to add flair. Sprinkle fresh herbs over the board for a pop of color and added freshness. Consider adding edible flowers to your spring board for a unique pop of color.
- You can also arrange mini bowls of items such as roasted almonds, green olives, and spreads around the outside edges.
Suggestions:
Use traditional Charcuterie board ingredients as a foundation in order to meet many different tastes, especially if you have small children participating. But, then kick it up a bit by adding something unique in each of the categories for those adventurous souls.
Serve an assortment of shapes, sizes, and types of cheese to give variety. A good charcuterie board should use the best cheese you can find, your favorite cured meats, and be totally effortless to put together. For optimal cheese flavor, bring to room temperature; the flavors are highlighted when the cheese is at room temperature.
Extras like homemade Ranch dip and unique garnishes, complete the board. Dried fruit used in combination with your fresh produce will give a surprising pop of flavor. Dried cherries, apricots, raisins, mango, pineapple, and plums are all great options.
Consider choosing the following:
- something interesting or unique – blue cheese,
- something hard or aged – gruyere, 1000-day aged gouda, manchego, the parmigiano-reggiano, asiago
- something common – (aka one that everyone generally likes) a sharp cheddar, gouda, colby jack, sharp cheddar, or mozzarella, pepper jack
- Soft/spreadable -a nice wheel of brie or a log of goat cheese. With that log of goat cheese, you can roll it in herbs or pour a fruity glaze over top.
For a medium to large gathering, I allow for at least 3-4 ounces of cheese per person, 6-8 oz. meats, and one-two containers or products of fruits and vegetables. To preserve the fruit after prepping, squeeze lemon juice to lightly coat. For strawberries, I sprinkle lightly with sugar.
Equipment
Don’t forget serveware and napkins. Make your guest know how special they are by serving them creatively. Wrap utensils in orange napkins to make them look like carrots, place toothpicks in unique dispensers, use containers that look like garden pots.
Serve with small cheese knives, bright colored tongs, and spoons. Make it easy for your guests to grasp food and spread those creamy cheeses and jams on their crackers or bread.
Use fun bowls and smaller dishes to elevate and contain ingredients. Mini bowls or ramekins are great for nuts and spreads.
Conclusion
Creating spring and summer charcuterie boards offers a delightful opportunity to showcase the vibrant colors, fresh flavors, and seasonal ingredients abundant during these warmer months. Whether it’s a pool party, a holiday gathering, picnic, girls’ night in, or just grown-up snack time, cheese boards are a versatile treat. Grab our checklist to make sure you don’t forget any of the essentials
From crisp fruits and vegetables to artisanal cheeses and cured meats, there’s something to satisfy every palate. Embrace the joy of the seasons and use the bountiful harvests to create unique boards that celebrate family, friends, and life. Cheers to the joys of spring and summer entertaining, one charcuterie board at a time!
