Everyone keeps talking about the new food trendcharcuterie boards. Are they new or just a new spin on them? Actually, these boards have been around for hundreds of years.
Just recently, America has gotten caught up in the trend. Charcuterie is derived from the French words for flesh (chair) and cooked (cuit). The word was used to describe shops in 15th century France that sold products that were made from pork, including the pig’s internal organs. However, the practice of salting and smoking meats to preserve them dates back about 6,000 years to ancient Rome. Charcuterie is rooted in the belief that nothing from the animal should be wasted; not even the heart, lungs, kidneys, fat, or brain.
A typical charcuterie board consists of mainly meats and cheeses. But at many restaurants or house parties, it’s common that these boards include bread, fruits, nuts, condiments such as honey or mustard, pickles and olives. Many of the common meats that are considered to be charcuterie include capicola, salami and prosciutto. Dry-cured chorizo and mortadella are also regularly-used meats in terms of charcuterie.
Cheese is all about preference. It comes down to what pairs better with the meat on your platter. A typical board has a variety of different cheeses. Aged cheddar or aged gouda are popular choices. So are cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano or gruyere. There should always be contrasting cheeses so each bite can have a different flavor profile to it.
Charcuterie boards are very on-trend right now but for good reason, they make sense in a lot of situations! Whether you are looking to create a charcuterie board for a gathering of friends and family, or just looking to put out some snacks to keep hunger away, charcuterie boards are a new go-to. While the concept is fairly simple, we want to provide you with tips to balance your board.
Elements of a charcuterie board: Protein, dairy, fruit, vegetables and grains.
Check out these healthy swaps to make your board a little bit healthier.
Reduce Added Sugars: Switch dried fruit with fresh fruit. Opt for sugar-free or no sugar added dips & spreads.
Limit Sodium: Switch salted nuts with unsalted/ raw options. Select lower sodium cheeses such as swiss, fresh mozzarella, or goat cheese.
Go Whole Grain: Switch regular crackers with wholegrain options such as multigrain crackers, whole wheat baguettes, or whole-grain crostini.
Add Healthy Fats: Add nuts and seeds to add some heart-healthy fats to your board.
Add some extra pizazz to your boards by including dips.
Keep your board safe. Charcuterie boards can only be set out at room temperature for two hours or less before the food will be considered unsafe. Be sure to take this into consideration when preparing and setting the board out for snacking!
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