The ham and cheese charcuterie board is a crowd favorite. This article will guide you on how to make this dish, which is extremely simple and delicious like a restaurant.
1/ The best cheeses and meats for the charcuterie board
When preparing a ham and cheese charcuterie board, choosing the right cheeses is important to create a varied and appealing culinary experience.
Below are some of the tastiest cheeses commonly used in charcuterie boards, classified by firmness and flavor.
The best cheeses for the charcuterie board
Soft cheese
- Brie: French soft cheese, with a smooth white exterior and a mildly sweet and buttery taste.
- Camembert: Similar to Brie, but has a richer and slightly earthier flavor.
- Goat Cheese (Chèvre): Soft, slightly sour, and creamy goat cheese, can be accompanied by herbs or honey.
Semi-soft cheese
- Havarti: Danish cheese, smooth in texture, mild in taste, often flavored with herbs or garlic.
- Fontina: Italian cheese, buttery, slightly sweet, and soft.
- Taleggio: Italian cheese, strong, slightly salty, and earthy, smooth texture.
Semi-hard cheese
- Gouda: Dutch cheese, mildly sweet and nutty, can come in many different ages.
- Edam: Also from the Netherlands, has a mild and slightly sweet taste and, a smooth texture.
- Munster: French cheese, with orange rind and strong taste.
Hard cheese
- Cheddar: British cheese, available in many different levels of age, from mild to very rich.
- Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano): Italian cheese, very hard, rich and salty, often grated. When making a ham and cheese charcuterie board, you might want to try this one.
- Asiago: Italian cheese, can range in texture from soft to firm, buttery, and slightly sweet.
Blue cheese
- Roquefort: French cheese, made from sheep’s milk, strong and slightly salty.
- Gorgonzola: Italian cheese, there are two main types: Dolce (soft and sweet) and Piccante (hard and rich).
- Blue Stilton: British cheese, rich, slightly sour and salty.
Additional options
- Comté: French cheese, semi-hard to hard in texture, sweet and nutty in taste.
- Manchego: Spanish cheese, made from sheep’s milk, slightly sweet and nutty.
- Burrata: Italian cheese, mozzarella on the outside, cream and cheese on the inside, very soft and creamy.
The best meats for the charcuterie board
- Prosciutto: Thin, soft, lightly sweet salted pork.
- Salami: Dry sausage, with many variations such as Genoa, Toscano, and Milano.
- Chorizo: Spiced Spanish sausage, usually mildly spicy.
- Jamon Iberico: Salted pork from Spain, rich and soft.
- Jamon Serrano: Spanish salted pork, milder in taste than Jamon Iberico.
- Capicola (Coppa): Cold meat from the pork neck and shoulder, fatty and delicious.
- Bresaola: Beef jerky from Italy, delicate and soft.
- Pancetta: Salted and rolled pork belly, fatty and fragrant.
- Mortadella: Large sausage from Bologna, Italy, with black pepper and pistachio.
- Soppressata: Dry sausage from Italy, available in two types: sweet and spicy.
- Speck: Salted and smoked pork from Italy, with a distinctive flavor of smoke and spices.
- These meats are not only delicious but also diverse in flavor and texture, creating a rich and appealing charcuterie board.
2/ Ham and cheese charcuterie board ideas for a party
A ham and cheese charcuterie board is the perfect combination of cold meats and cheeses along with other accouterments. Such as fruit, nuts, bread, and pickles.
This is a popular dish at parties, picnics, or as an appetizer at family meals. Here are detailed instructions for creating the perfect cheese and charcuterie board:
Basic ingredients for cheese and charcuterie boards
- Ham (Charcuterie)
- Prosciutto: Thin, soft, lightly sweet salted pork.
- Salami: Dry sausage, you can choose types like Genoa, Toscano, or Milano.
- Chorizo: Spiced Spanish sausage.
- Jamon: Spanish salt pork such as Jamon Serrano or Jamon Iberico.
- Capicola: Ham from the pork neck and shoulder, fatty and delicious.
- Pâté: Pureed liver, often with spices and wine.
- Cheese
- Brie: Soft, smooth cheese.
- Camembert: Similar to brie but has a stronger flavor.
- Cheddar: Hard cheese, strong taste.
- Gouda: Semi-hard, mildly sweet cheese.
- Blue cheese: Blue cheese with a strong flavor.
- Goat cheese: Goat cheese, is usually slightly sour and smooth.
- Nuts and seeds
- Almonds: Roasted or seasoned.
- Cashews: Unsalted or lightly salted.
- Walnuts: Can be used with honey.
- Bread and crackers
- Baguette: Slice thinly.
- Toast: This can be topped with olive oil or butter.
- Crackers: Various types such as crackers, lavash, or breadsticks.
- Other accessories
- Olives: Green or black, seasoned or not.
- Pickles: Small cucumbers or other types of pickles.
- Jam and honey: Fruit jam, pure honey, or granulated honey.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard or grainy mustard.
3/ How to decorate a ham and cheese charcuterie board
Choose a board or large plate: Use a wooden board, large plate, or tray to arrange ingredients.
Arrange main dishes: Place cheeses and cold meats in main positions on the board. It’s usually a good idea to put the cheese on one side and the ham on the other.
Add extras: Intersperse extras like fruit, nuts, and olives around the main dishes.
Fill space: Use bread, crackers, and pickles to fill in the remaining spaces.
Beautiful presentation: Arrange the ingredients so that the colors and shapes are diverse, creating visual appeal. Try to create a balance between different colors and textures.
Knife and fork set: Provide a knife and fork to make cutting cheese and cold cuts easier.
Note
Make sure the ingredients are fresh and of good quality.
Consider portion size: Adjust the amount of food to suit the number of people enjoying it.
Create a balance of flavors: Combine mild and boldly flavored cheeses and deli meats for richness.
With the above instructions, you can create a cheese and charcuterie board that is not only delicious but also beautiful, providing a wonderful culinary experience for everyone.
4/ How many calories are in ham and cheese charcuterie board
Calculating the calories in a cheese and charcuterie board depends on factors such as the type of cheese, the type of meat, and the amount of add-ons used. However, below is an estimate of the calories in an average portion of cheese and charcuterie:
Cheese:
- Brie: About 95 calories per 1 ounce (28 grams).
- Cheddar: About 115 calories per 1 ounce.
- Gouda: About 110 calories per 1 ounce.
- Blue cheese: About 100-120 calories per 1 ounce, depending on the type.
Charcuterie:
- Prosciutto: About 70 calories per 1 ounce.
- Salami: About 100-120 calories per 1 ounce, depending on the type.
- Capicola (Coppa): About 80 calories per 1 ounce.
- Mortadella: About 100 calories per 1 ounce.
Accessory:
Fruit: Low in calories, about 40-60 calories per small portion of fruit.
Bread and cookies: Depends on type and size, but usually between 50-100 calories per bite.
In total, an average serving of cheese and charcuterie can contain around 200-400 calories, depending on the amount and type of ingredients used. For a more accurate estimate, you can calculate calories based on the specific ingredients you use in your charcuterie board.
5/ Recipe for cheese and chocolate charcuterie board
After learning about the ham and cheese charcuterie board. Here are topping instructions to create a cheese and chocolate charcuterie board:
Ingredient:
Charcuterie and Cheese:
Choose deli meats like prosciutto, salami, and capicola and cheeses like brie, cheddar, gouda, and blue cheese.
Chocolate:
Choose high-quality chocolate bars, with a variety of flavors from dark chocolate to milk chocolate and white chocolate.
Fruits and Accessories:
Grapes, strawberries, raspberries, raspberries.
Almonds, almonds, fruit jam.
Arrangement:
Prepare the Board: Prepare a large plate or tray to arrange the ingredients.
Charcuterie and Cheese Arrangement: Arrange ham and cheese slices on the surface of the platter, alternating for variety.
Add Chocolate: Arrange chocolate bars around charcuterie and cheese to create a balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Add Fruit and Accessories: Arrange fruits and accessories around the charcuterie board to create variety and balance.
Beautifully Presented: Arrange elements for visual appeal, creating emphasis and balance.
Add Spices (optional): Before serving, you can add honey or fruit jam to the cheese for added flavor. In addition to making chocolate recipes, you can refer to the ham and cheese charcuterie board.
6/ Recipe for making a fruit and cheese charcuterie board
Here is a brief recipe for making a fruit and cheese charcuterie board:
Ingredient:
- Ham (charcuterie): Prosciutto, salami, capicola, mortadella.
- Cheese: Brie, cheddar, gouda, blue cheese.
- Fruits: Green and red grapes, strawberries, raspberries, apples.
- Accessories: Almonds, cucumbers, baguettes, butter cookies.
- Add (optional): Honey, fruit jam, and olive oil.
Making:
- Preparation: Prepare a large plate or tray to arrange the ingredients.
- Arrange charcuterie and cheese: Arrange ham and cheese slices across the surface of the plate.
- Add fruit: Arrange fruits around the charcuterie and cheese to create a balance of flavors and colors.
- Add extras: Add almonds, cucumbers, and assorted breads and crackers to the spaces on the plate.
- Beautiful presentation: Arrange the ingredients so that they are visually appealing, you can use leaves for decoration.
- Add seasoning (optional): Before serving, you can add honey, fruit preserves, or olive oil over the cheese or ham for added flavor.
7/ List of the best ham and cheese charcuterie board stores in the US
In the US, some many stores and restaurants specialize in delicious ham and cheese charcuterie boards. Here are some famous places you can refer to:
- Murray’s Cheese – New York, NY: Murray’s Cheese is a famous cheese shop in New York, offering a wide range of high-quality cheeses and charcuterie.
- Eataly – Various Locations: Eataly is a chain of stores in many major US cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, where you can find high-quality cheese and charcuterie products from Italy.
- Di Bruno Bros. – Philadelphia, PA: Di Bruno Bros. in Philadelphia is famous for its diverse and quality imported cheeses and charcuterie.
- Zingerman’s Deli – Ann Arbor, MI: Zingerman’s Deli is a destination in Ann Arbor, Michigan, known for its high-quality foods, including cheese and charcuterie.
- Cowgirl Creamery – Point Reyes Station, CA: Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes Station, California, specializes in artisan cheeses and charcuterie from high-quality ingredients.
- Formaggio Kitchen – Cambridge, MA: Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a store specializing in premium food products, including cheese and charcuterie.
- Olympic Provisions (now Olympia Provisions) – Portland, OR: Olympic Provisions in Portland, Oregon, is a boutique specializing in artisanal charcuterie, offering a variety of high-quality deli meats.
- Maison Premier – Brooklyn, NY: Maison Premier in Brooklyn, New York, is a restaurant specializing in seafood and entrees, including charcuterie boards with cheeses and fresh seafood.
- Antonelli’s Cheese Shop – Austin, TX: Antonelli’s Cheese Shop in Austin, Texas, is a cheese shop known for its variety and quality of cheeses and charcuterie.
- The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills – Beverly Hills, CA: The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills offers a wide range of the finest cheeses and charcuterie from around the world.
The locations above are some of the top stores and restaurants in the US. You can find delicious and varied ham and cheese charcuterie boards.
Read more: 55+ The best meats for charcuterie: Famous French cuisine