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Summer is upon us, and there’s no better summer snack than a well-made charcuterie board. Charcuterie boards can be catered to any situation, but you want to be careful to ensure that all the foods you choose to include will complement the hot, sunny days of summer. A summer charcuterie board should be light, fresh, and colorful, unlike fall or winter boards which can be more muted and heavy.
Charcuterie boards are the perfect summertime snack. They can be prepped ahead of time and they encourage grazing for hours. Pool party? Girls night? Picnic in the park? A summer charcuterie board is the answer.
Here are our favorite things to include to create a delicious summer charcuterie board:
Cheeses. A summer board doesn’t need to be overflowing with cheese. Pick three cheeses with different flavors so that everyone can find something they like, without costing you a fortune. We recommend one soft, one hard, and one either spicy or blue.
Meats. As with the cheese, a summer charcuterie board only needs a couple of standout meats to succeed. Meat and cheese are heavy, so you can replace meats 3, 4, and 5 with fresh fruit and veggies instead. Some meats we like to use include sopressata and prosciutto.
Crackers. Keep it light! Pick a couple of crackers that are light and summery, such as artisanal seedy crackers or toasted pita chips.
Fruits and Veggies. This should be the core of your summer board. Choose bright, fresh fruits and veggies to give your board the perfect summer vibe. For fruits, choose a variety such as strawberries, grapes, and watermelon or raspberries, sliced apples, and cantaloupe. For veggies, we always recommend choosing a vegetables with a variety of colors, rather than all green. Yellow peppers, sugar snap peas, and carrots are all good choices.
Spreads. Hummus is a must for a summer board. Especially if you are including pita chips. Other spreads that we love to include are jam, whole grain mustard, and creamy ranch.
Remember that your summer charcuterie board should look as good as it tastes. Select foods you enjoy that will give you a variety of colors and textures. Everything included should be light, bright, and flavorful!
