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    Home » Appetizers and Snacks

    How to Build an Easy Charcuterie Board for Two

    Published: Dec 29, 2020 by Emily · Leave a Comment

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    Building a charcuterie board for just two does not have to be hard or complicated. In this post, I will show you how to build an easy charcuterie board for two. Great for an at home date night or a snack between friends.

    I am a huge fan of charcuterie boards. I think it’s the fact that all the food just looks so elegant and delicious all spread out. It is bite size goodness that you can just pop into your mouth everytime you walk by. In the past, I have been overwhelmed with the thought of putting one together. Not to mention the potential cost. However, I have learned these are both myths. It doesn’t have to be complicated or break the bank whether for a party of 2 or 10. So many beautiful boards are designed for large parties but today, I will share how to build an easy charcuterie board for two people to share. My hope is that you will be inspired to build one without being overwhelmed or going broke.

    History of Charcuterie

    Pronounced “Shar-cute-er-ree”, the word charcuterie means “meat”, “cooked flesh” and “pork butcher shop.” It’s origins is found in France. In the 15th century, charcuterie shops popped up and supplied villages with cured and preserved meats. Today, charcuterie meats are the main staple item when people think of charcuterie boards. In addition, different cheese varieties, ferments, crackers, breads, vegetables, fruits and dips typically accompany the meats to create these delicious boards.

    Who would enjoy this type of charcuterie board?

    A charcuterie board for two makes a great at home date night option. It is affordable (see How much does it cost? section below) way to enjoy each others company just talking or while watching a movie over great food. This is another great idea if you just have one friend coming over to visit. You both can enjoy this board over conversation or while catching up one afternoon. Lastly, a small charcuterie board makes a great gift for someone. After my second baby, I made one for my midwife and her staff. They were surprised and they loved it!

    Types of Boards

    My favorite board to use for two is “16 x 9 ” wooden board that I got from Marshall’s for $15 (see picture below). Discount stores such as Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Home Goods and World Market are the best places I have found to find nice boards between $10-20. Currently, acacia wood and bamboo seem to be the most popular. You can never go wrong with just a basic wooden board as there is no right or wrong type of board to use.

    How to Begin

    The basics for a charcuterie board are meats, cheeses, bread/crackers. This is the foundation and from here more can be added on.

    For a board for two- choose two meats. The following are some popular charcuterie meats that are used:

    • Ham/Prosciutto
    • Genoa Salami
    • Mortadella
    • Calabrese
    • Soppressata/ or any type of uncured sausage.

    Next you want to choose a hard cheese and a soft cheese. Hard cheeses that are often used are:

    • Cheddar
    • Asiago
    • Gruyere
    • Swiss
    • Gouda

    Soft cheese options:

    • Brie
    • Cream cheese
    • Feta
    • Chevre
    • Gorgonzola

    For just two people, I personally don’t think you need a hard cheese and soft cheese. You can decide based on personal preference what type of cheeses you want but this does add variety to the board.

    Crackers always go well with meat and cheeses. Below are a few options:

    • Club
    • Triscuits
    • Croccantini
    • Wheat Thins

    If you are gluten free, Simple Mills and Vans have several different varieties that taste great.

    Bread options:

    • Sliced baguettes
    • Cut up sourdough

    What to put on a Charcuterie Board

    After you have picked out your meats, cheeses, crackers/bread, then you can add the next layer. This would include one vegetable, one fruit and one ferment. The following are suggestions for the board:

    Vegetables

    • Bell Peppers
    • Cucumbers
    • Carrots
    • Celery
    • Broccoli
    • Cauliflower

    Fruits

    • Apples
    • Grapes
    • Oranges
    • Cherry Tomatoes
    • Strawberries
    • Kiwi

    Ferments

    • Black olives
    • Green olives
    • Pickles

    Many people enjoy dips with their boards. For a board for two, one dip is usually a plenty. For larger boards, a dip for the vegetables and dip for fruit is usually suggested. Below are some dip options:

    Dips

    • Spinach/Artichoke
    • French Onion
    • Ranch
    • Guacamole
    • Hummus

    At this point, your board is probably full. You can leave it as is or fill in the small spaces and begin layering on top of what you have.

    Additional fill ins:

    • Nuts- peanuts, cashews, walnuts, pecans
    • Candies- chocolate, white chocolate, peppermints, caramels

    Tips for Assembly

    • In the center, place the bowl of dip. This will be a focal point of the board that you can build around.
    • Place crackers/bread coming from the corners of the board. This can be coming in diagonally or creating an S shape through your board.
    • Place the meat parallel to the crackers/bread. In many cases, you will want to fold the meat in half especially if there are bigger pieces.
    • If using sliced cheese, continue parallel to the meat. If you are using a brick of cheese such as brie, place just off center to the center of the board along the edge.
    • Place fruit/vegetables around the edges of the dip bowl. This encourages use of dip and makes it easy for the eye to associate.
    • Ferments can go alongside the board like a garish. This will be the one item on the board that there will be the least of. You can also place in a small ramekin, if desired.
    • For the additional salty/sweet items such as chocolates and nuts, these can be placed behind the fruit/vegetables or either in small ramekins that can be placed on either corner or side of the board.
    • Don’t be afraid to place food to top of each other and layer as needed.
    • Charcuterie boards are paired nicely with any white or red wine of choice. Of course, whatever beverage the party wants to drink will go fine with a charcuterie board.

    How much does it cost?

    For two people, excluding drinks you can easily build a basic charcuterie board in under $30. That is a deal considering going out can be that cost per person. Some of the best deals on charcuterie meats and cheeses can be found at Trader Joes, Aldi and Target. There selections are very affordable. If these stores are not nearby, use what you have on hand. It doesn’t have to be fancy. As long as you have meat, cheese and crackers you are good to go. Add on what you wish based on the preferences of who will be enjoying the board.

    Make your boards unique to what you enjoy eating. I hope this post has been a blessing to you and taken out the overwhelm of building your own small version of an at home charcuterie board.

    Happy Charcuterie Board making!

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    How to Build an Easy Charcuterie Board for Two


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    • Author: Emily
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 2 1x
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    Description

    Building a charcuterie board for just two does not have to be hard or complicated. In this post, I will show you how to build an easy charcuterie board for two. Great for an at home date night or a snack between friends.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 2–3 oz meat per person
    • 2–4 oz cheese (hard or soft) per person
    • 15–20 crackers per person
    • 1 vegetable of choice
    • 1 fruit of choice
    • 1 ferment of choice
    • 1 dip bowl of choice
    • 1 handful of nuts (optional) 
    • 1 handful of chocolates (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Gather all ingredients and chop up any veggies if needed.
    2. Place dip bowl in center of board.
    3. Places crackers/bread coming from the edges in a diagonal pattern creating an S shape on the board.
    4. Place the meats alongside the crackers/bread.
    5. Place cheeses alongside the meat.
    6. Align fruit and vegetables around the dip bowl.
    7. Place ferments in ramekins or alongside the edges of the board.
    8. If adding nuts or chocolate candies, place behind the fruit/vegetables.

    Notes

    • There is no right or wrong way to do a charcuterie board. You can make it as basic or extravagant as you want it to be. 
    • See blog posts on best places to buy charcuterie board items and save money.
    • Build a charcuterie board for a meal or appetizer. This will determine how much food is actually needed.
    • Use colorful foods to make the board pop.
    • Great for an in home date night, gift idea or afternoon with a friend.
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: Countertop
    • Cuisine: French

    Keywords: charcuterie board, charcuterie board for two, date night, appetizer, how to make, snack, new years eve, valentine’s day

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @emilyswholesomekitchen on Instagram and hashtag it #emilyswholesomekitchen

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    Filed Under: Appetizers and Snacks, How to Make Series, Main Dishes Tagged With: charcuterieboard, charcuterieboardfortwo, cheeseplatter, datenight, howtomake

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    I'm so happy you are here! I'm Emily the photographer, recipe developer and content creator behind Emily's Wholesome Kitchen. Here you will find healthy, simple real food based recipes that are wholesome, nourishing and flavorful. I also share tips and ways to live a more natural lifestyle when it comes to wellness from inside the kitchen. Let's get cookin'. Learn more about me here

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