This holiday charcuterie board brings you and your family, the finest ingredients from Mastro & San Daniele specialty deli meats. Authentic flavours and quality that ensures your favourite holiday traditions can still be enjoyed.
DISCLOSURE: I have participated in a paid partnership with Mastro/San Daniele. Opinions in this post are my own.
This year, the holiday season might look little different. Although we may have to sacrifice some things, it doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice delicious dishes. You can still indulge yourself and your family!
And one of the simplest indulgence for this Holiday season is Charcuterie Board. Today I am going to share with you How to Prepare this beautiful Board for you and your family.
What should be on charcuterie board?
- Cured meats
- Cheese
- Crackers or baguette
- Nuts
- Dips & spreads
- Fresh fruit
- Olives
This board is full of Mastro & San Daniele specialty deli meats, my favourite cheeses, seasonal fruits in cute shapes, nuts, crackers and two vegetable dips. Of course good charcuterie board must be accompanied by wine. Light to medium bodied wines are recommended to pair with charcuterie board, such as Cabernet.
Cured meats
Cured meats can’t miss on charcuterie board. Mastro & San Daniele offers a vast variety of cured meats. We have been loving and consuming their classic Genoa Salami & Prosciutto for quite long. And newly discovered delicious mix of both: Salami with Prosciutto in one. How convenient! If you like spicy cured meats, then you must try their Hot Calabrese Salami. This spicy-hot salami has tantalizing aroma and delicious flavour.
Cheeses
On charcuterie board cheese can’t miss. They compliment the cured meats and add the mildness to the whole board. With cheeses keep it simple. Use only three to maximum of four of your favourite cheeses. Do not overcrowd the board.
My number one pick is soft cheese Brie. But you can go also with Camembert. Then hard cheese such as Applewood Smoked Cheddar or Gouda is likeable by many. And my third pick is always goat cheese with herbs. If you are not a big fan of goat cheese, you can go with blue cheese or creamy cheese such as herb boursin.
Crackers, baguette & nuts
Crackers and baguette can’t miss on charcuterie board. I always choose two kind of crackers. One with specific flavour and one plain. This time I have used Parmesan crackers and plain olive oil breadsticks. I used Prosciutto to roll on breadsticks. It’s so cute and easy to be picked and eaten.
Prosciutto can be salty and so unflavoured crackers or baguette comes handy while eating Prosciutto. Nuts are great to bring earthy flavours in charcuterie board. This time I used walnuts, but almonds & pistachios are also a great pick.
Roasted pepper hummus dip 
Artichoke mayo dip
Start cut out in persimmon 
Star cut out in dragon fruit
Dips & Spreads
I love having homemade dips on my charcuterie & cheese board. This time I have used roasted pepper hummus dip and artichoke mayo dip. Roasted pepper dip brings little sweetness and artichoke dip has a nice light flavour. You can dip in cured meats or cheese, but most of the time, I simply spread my dips onto baguette and load it with salami and brie.
You must also have some sweet spreads ready on your charcuterie board, such as fig or strawberry spread and honey. These goes very well with cheeses.
Fresh Fruit & Olives
Fresh fruit such as figs, pomegranate, persimmons and grapes are must for holiday boards. And here I love to get my creativity flow. Fruit cut-outs in cute shapes, like the star, brings such a festive look on the board. And let’s not forget olives. My favourite olives are stuffed with almond. Don’t hesitate to add candied fruits, if you like them.
How to arrange charcuterie board
To arrange charcuterie board might look intimidating. But it’s really easy if you will follow these steps.
- Cheeses & dips. Start arranging larger pieces, like cheeses and dips. Place them strategically in the middle and on the corners of the board. If you want to cut the cheese on smaller pieces or cut out the wedges from hard cheeses, do it before you place it on the board. It is much easier to cut the cheese when cold.
- Cured meats. Next step is to arrange cured meats. I have decided to place salami around Brie cheese. I have created a little brie salami crown. To make the crown, fold the salami in half and then in quarter. Place it around the Brie cheese with the folded side up.
- Large pieces of fruit. If you are planning to serve larger pieces of fruit, alternate them in between cured meats and cheese. I have placed mine right in between the two sorts of salami. And those cute star shapes instructions are in the recipe card.
- Nuts & crackers. After you placed all the cured meats, cheeses, dips and fruits, start filling the board with crackers and nuts. Fill out the little holes in between the cheeses and meats. But don’t overcrowd.
- At the end you can add little green aromatics such as rosemary and drizzle honey over Brie cheese. It tastes divine!
- Wine! Let’s not forget to serve some wine with the holiday charcuterie board!
TIPS & Questions for charcuterie board
How long does it take to prepare charcuterie board?
The prep time for this holiday charcuterie board is 20 minutes. But It all depends on how big board you are preparing. Some boards can take up to several hours, because they are spread all over the table.
Should I serve the cheeses and cured meats at room temperature?
Yes cheeses should be always served at room temperature for it’s best flavours. For the cured meats it’s not always the rule. They can be serve cold or at room temperature. All leftover however should be refrigerated within 5 hours. And keep the leftovers in separate airtight containers.
Can I use cutting board for charcuterie?
Absolutely! A cutting board is the most common surface to place charcuterie and cheeses. But a beautiful serving plate or piece tray can serve as charcuterie boards as well.
Interested in more recipes?
- EASY BRIE BITES
- NUTELLA PUFF PASTRY TWISTS
- CAPRESE STYLE TOMATO & MOZZARELLA APPETIZER
- ROASTED BEETS WITH GOAT CHEESE
- BEST GUACAMOLE EVER
HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Equipment
- wood board or serving tray
Ingredients
- 3-4 varieties of assorted Mastro & San Daniel salamis & prosciutto
- 3-4 varieties of hard & soft cheeses like brie, goat cheese, apple smoked cheddar
- varieties of crackers, breadsticks, baguette & nuts
- 2-3 varieties of fruits like figs, persimmons, dragon fruit, pomegranate, grapes, etc.
- 1-2 dips roasted pepper & artichokes
- olives
- fruit spread & honey
- rosemary for decoration
- serving utensils (cheese knife, spoons, napkins, etc)
For the dips
- 1 cup chickpeas
- 1 marinated roasted pepper + extra roasted pepper cut on small pieces for topping
- 4 marinated artichoke hearts + extra artichoke hearts cut on small pieces for topping
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and cut out the fruits.
Cut out cute fruit shapes
- Cut the persimmons and dragon fruit on slices. Cut out stars in the middle of both of the fruits. Place the persimmons stars in dragon fruit and place the dragon fruit stars cut-outs in persimmons.
- To cut out flowers from figs. Lay the fig flat on the chopping board. Using a paring knife, pierce the fig at an angle right in the middle of the fruit. When the knife goes through the flesh, ensure it hits the bottom of the chopping board so that you know it’s cut right through. Do the same again next to the first cut and continue this all the way around the fruit. You can cut the same way the pomegranate fruit.
Mastro Calabrese skewers
- To prepare Mastro Calabrese and Apple Smoked Cheddar skewers. Cut the Apple Smoked Cheddar cheese on cubes. Roll the calabrese salami and place it on the skewer. Add the precut cheese cube on the skewer and finish it with another calabrese salami.
Mastro salami flowers
- To prepare Mastro salami with prosciutto flowers on skewer. Take the salami and fold it in half. Roll into the flower and place it on the skewer. You can add 3-4 salamis on one skewer.
Assemble the board
- Let's assemble the board! Arrange first large objects like dips and olives in small bowls around the board. Next add cheeses: place Brie cheese in the middle and goat cheese on the side. Place Mastro salami around the Brie cheese by folding it in half once and then in half once again. Place it on the board with the closed end up. (see video instructions).
- Arrange the large fruit around Brie crown. Then place Calabrese skewers on the right side next to the large fruit. Add rolled San Danielle prosciutto on breadsticks and place them on the side of the board.
- Fill the holes with crackers, baguette and nuts. Add finishing touches, such as rosemary and fruit spread, honey, extra breadsticks on the side.
- Serve the board at room temperature with serving utensils and don't forget a bottle of wine!
For the roasted pepper & artichoke dips
- Roasted pepper dip: take 1 roasted pepper, 1/2 cup of chickpeas, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp lemon juice, pinch of salt & pepper. Blend in blender or food processor until smooth. Place the dip in a small bowl and sprinkle with small pieces of roasted pepper.
- Artichoke dip: take 4 marinated artichoke hearts, 1/2 cup of chickpeas, 1 tsp olive oil, pinch of salt & pepper and blend in blender until smooth. Place the dip in a smaller bowl and add 2 tbsp of mayonnaise. Stir in the mayonnaise. Cut on small pieces resting artichoke heart and sprinkle it on the top of the artichoke dip as decoration.
PIN for later!
DISCLOSURE: I have participated in a paid partnership with Mastro/San Daniele. Opinions in this post are my own.
Mary
What a gorgeous spread! I would love to serve that to guests (when it’s safe again)!
Julia
Thank you Mary, you may serve it also to your family, they would sure love it!
Jessica Formicola
I absolutely love how you made star shapes! Such an easy way to make things fun and festive!
Julia
Thank you Jessica:) I love fun fruit shapes, it brings more fun to the board!
Andrea Metlika
I love how pretty and versatile this board is. There’s something for everyone.
Julia
Thank you Andrea, it’s so much fun creating charcuterie board, such a delicious cured meats and cheeses!
Zainab
Charcuterie boards have been my thing lately and this one looks amazing! So festive and perfect for Christmas!
Julia
Thank you Zainab:) Such festive and fun way to entertain in between the family!