Different Types of Charcuterie Boards

Discover the different types of charcuterie boards and how to make them. Try sweet and savory charcuterie to enjoy this fun dining experience.
charcuterie board

Enjoy a traditional style yet different from today’s standards of dining on charcuterie. The different types of charcuterie boards allow you to explore food in a whole new way. If you love unique food pairings, you’ll have fun creating your own personalized charcuterie board. The origins of charcuterie date back to Ancient Rome. The French then adopted the practices of charcuterie and made it part of the traditional French dining experience. Read on to find out which type of charcuterie you like best. 

Rillettes 

Rillettes are typically made from game meats such as duck, goose, rabbit, or venison. It is very much is like pate in its consistency.  A French cooking technique is used where one cooks the meat slowly and shreds it to make a paste-like texture. If you use a slow cooker, you can set it and forget it. Serve rillettes at room temperature on crackers or toast. 

Mousse 

Typically a mousse is a mixture of meat and liver, the most common of which is chicken liver. It has a creamy consistency and the same serving procedure as rillettes. You can eat it on toast, crackers, cheese, and even with fruit. 

Salami 

Salami is ground meat mixed with spices and formed in a sausage casing. It’s smoked and may be thick or thinly sliced to accompany cheese, wine, and many other pairings. Some of the most popular types of salami include soppressata from Italy and chorizo from Spain. 

Prosciutto 

A cured meat, prosciutto is made from high-quality pork legs. The meat is covered in salt and left to rest for a few weeks. During this time, the salt draws out blood and moisture, which prevents bacteria from entering the meat. Salting the meat also causes the flavors to become more concentrated. Serve it thinly sliced; you may enjoy pairing it with cheese, melons, and crostini. 

Dessert 

Though it’s not traditional, modern charcuterie boards can go in just about any direction you want. To parallel your savory board, you can offer a dessert board as well. The best things to include on your dessert charcuterie board are delicious and attractive items. Consider including sweet fruits, nut assortments, chocolates, wafers, ice cream, sorbet, candies, flavored popcorns, and cookie selections to name a few.