Charcuterie Board One Serving (Printable)

A minimalist platter featuring premium meats, cheeses, fruits, and nuts for a satisfying solo bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 slices prosciutto
02 - 2 slices soppressata or salami

→ Cheese

03 - 1 oz aged cheddar or brie
04 - 1 oz soft goat cheese or blue cheese

→ Accompaniments

05 - 1 small handful seedless grapes or 5–6 fresh berries
06 - 1 tablespoon mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts)
07 - 2–3 cornichons or baby gherkins
08 - 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
09 - 3–4 small crackers or sliced baguette (gluten-free if desired)

# Method:

01 - Place a small slate coaster or appetizer plate as the foundation.
02 - Lay cured meats in gentle folds or rolls on one side of the plate.
03 - Arrange cheeses adjacent to meats, keeping separation to enhance presentation.
04 - Fill remaining spaces with grapes or berries, mixed nuts, and cornichons.
05 - Place a small dollop of whole grain mustard on the plate.
06 - Stack crackers or baguette slices neatly in available space.
07 - Balance colors and shapes for visual harmony and serve immediately.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • It takes just 10 minutes but feels like you've created something special and intentional.
  • You get to taste premium, quality ingredients without the commitment of a full meal or the waste of buying whole packages.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about giving yourself permission to enjoy nice things, even when it's just for one.
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you'd expect—let your cheese sit out for 10 minutes before serving so it's soft enough to actually taste its complexity. Cold cheese tastes muted and flat; room temperature cheese sings.
  • The ratio of accompaniments to meat and cheese is crucial. Too many crackers and you're just eating snacks; balance everything so you taste the quality ingredients, not just the vehicle carrying them.
  • Arrange your board just before eating rather than hours ahead. Meats dry out, cheese hardens, and the whole thing starts to feel less fresh. Last-minute assembly is worth the few extra minutes.
03 -
  • If you're making this for guests, assemble it about 30 minutes before serving, then cover it loosely with plastic wrap and leave it on the counter. This gives cheese time to come to temperature while preventing it from drying out.
  • The secret to a board that tastes as good as it looks is choosing one element to be the star—maybe an exceptional prosciutto, or an unusual blue cheese—and building everything else to support and highlight it rather than compete with it.
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