Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board (2024)

Tuesday, February 12, 2019 · 12 Comments

Celebrate a decadent Valentine’s Day at home with a bottle of wine and a “love themed”, easy to make Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board.

Valentine’s Charcuterie Board

Valentine’s week is upon us and if you’re anything like me, I pretty much loathe going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. The restaurants are packed, the menus can be limited and it is obvious wait staff have been instructed to move you through so they can get to the next seating. I’ll happily stay home and enjoy this Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board with the ones I love. This board is also a great option if you are having a bunch of friends over for a Valentine’s themed gathering. There is something for everyone on this board that can be served as an appetizer or a meal.

How Do You Pronounce “Charcuterie” Board

I have been asked this question so many times. I often take for granted that charcuterie might be a hard word for some to pronounce with confidence. Its origin is French and refers to smoked and dry-cured meats. However, charcuterie or charcuterie boards have recently taken on a meaning all of their own. Charcuterie these days refers more to appetizer boards, whether meats are included or not.

The phonetic spelling of charcuterie is as follows…(shahr-cute-uh-ree).

What To Put On A Charcuterie Board

• A variety of meats and cheeses
• pickles, veggies and fruits
• crackers and various nuts
• mustards and fruit spreads
• candy or chocolate

How To Arrange A Charcuterie Board

• Start by arranging your cheese selections and any bowls or jars you might be using that are filled with nuts, pickles, olives etc.
• Place meat, such as salami or rolled deli meats
• Fill in with fruits and veggies
• Place crackers in areas that need to be filled in
• Add sweets to balance out the savory flavors
• Garnish with herbs for color

Are Charcuterie Boards Healthy

That all depends what you put on them and how much you indulge. If you are following a special diet, make sure to place items you are allowed to eat and can enjoy without guilt. Since there are really no rules when it comes to arranging a charcuterie board, you can add as many healthy items as you please.

How Can I Make My Charcuterie Board Stand Out

• Slice up your cheese before arranging it on the platter
• Keep any soft or ripe cheeses intact, as a full wedge
• Some types of cheese might look better made into triangles, chunks, crumbles or squares
• Have a different shape for each cheese makes it visually appealing
• Use garnishes such as fresh herbs, edible flowers, colorful fruit, honey, nuts and dried fruit
• Include something pickled along with a mustard and a spreadable jam

Is It Okay To Mix Dessert Items With Savory Bites?

Yes! Mixing good chocolate, candy or other sweet bites is probably my favorite part of designing and eating a charcuterie board. It’s all about balance and little bites of sweet help balance the savory flavors of the meat and cheese.

Here are some of my favorite sweet items:

• chocolate dipped bacon
• caramel corn
• dried fruit
• gummy bears
• truffles
• candied nuts
• pound cake
• cookies
• chocolate covered strawberries

Sometimes you can find cheese that has a sweet component and that works really well for a balance of flavors. The above photo shows two different goat cheese logs that have been sliced into rings. One log is Blueberry-Vanilla and the other is Cranberry-Cinnamon. They add a wonderful sweetness to this board. Look for them at your market.

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What Size Charcuterie Board Do I Need To Make This

• The board I’m using is a marble slab. I absolutely love it and use it for so many things.
• Here is an example of a wood board the same size as the marble. It’s much pricier!

What Do I Serve With A Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board can most definitely take the place of a meal. It’s a great way to casually entertain during the week. It’s also great for date night in with a movie. If you’re also wanting to serve dinner, here are few suggestions for some meals I know you’ll love.

1. Simple Zesty Pork Tenderloin
2. Air Fryer Caribbean Spiced Chicken
3. Buttery Sheet Pan Garlic Shrimp
4. Filipino-Style Grilled Flank Steak

Slice up cucumbers with a small heart-shaped cookie cutter to make the cucumbers into heart shapes. The love is always in the details.

I promise you this charcuterie board is going to go over well!

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Get the shopping list for this charcuterie board below.

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