If you have guests coming to your home, the ultimate charcuterie board is precisely what you’ll want to serve. There are endless combinations for your guests to snack on, consisting of a flavorful variety of meats, crackers, cheeses, pieces of bread, nuts, fruits, and condiments.
A colorful and brimming charcuterie board also makes a lovely centerpiece for your table. While there’s a variety of cheeseboards, they are relatively simple to put together and make an excellent addition to other usual appetizers.
Must-Have Cheeses For Your Charcuterie Board
While the meat can be pre-cooked cold cuts or deli meat, selecting the cheese can be tricky. After all, cheese is the star of every charcuterie board, the key to a world of exquisite flavor. When you select the best cheese gifts and hampers for your charcuterie board, you’ll give your guests an incredible taste and texture experience.
A fantastic cheese board provides guests with various flavor and texture pairings. In the case of cheeses, this means selecting 4 to 6 varieties that can offer an excellent selection for the palate. Thankfully, there are more than enough kinds of cheese you can choose from to give your board the variety it deserves.
To help you out, here’s a quick list of must-have cheeses that’ll complete your charcuterie board:
1. Cheddar
Cheddar cheese is a firm, hard cheese made from pasteurized cow’s milk. It has a crumbly texture when young, but it’s mostly smooth. Its texture becomes sharper as it ages. Cheddar is usually available in the shape of a drum, with colors ranging from pale yellow to white. Although, some versions of Cheddar cheese may have an orange coloring mixed, changing the color to yellowish-orange.
If you want something more exquisite-looking for your charcuterie board, you might consider adding a block of Charcoal Cheese that uniquely comes in black color. What’s more, charcoal cheddar cheese features an earthy and smokey taste that makes it perfect for wine pairing.
A sharp white cheddar goes especially well with fresh strawberries, sliced pears, and apples. A bold Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir with cheddar cheese is an excellent pairing for wine lovers. If you like beer, English Pale Ale is your best bet.
2. Brie
Brie is a runny, buttery-textured cheese made from cow or goat’s milk. The flavor is buttery and creamy, and it becomes more earthy as it ages. It’s ideal to pair it with plain crackers and sliced baguettes to enjoy Brie’s subtle flavor. You may also serve it with fresh fruits like berries, grapes, and sliced apples.
The most popular alcoholic pairing for Brie is champagne, but other fruity drinks would also work well. Try a dry white Sauvignon Blanc bottle or a fruity red wine variety such as Pinot Noir to pair with your creamy and buttery brie.
Pro Tip: Set out your Brie an hour before your guests starts arriving. Doing so will give the cheese enough time to get all creamy and lovely at room temperature. Make sure to wrap it with parchment paper or waxed paper for any leftover Brie.
3. Gouda
Gouda is so popular because of its smooth texture and unique, rich flavor. It’s a semi-hard cheese with simple storage requirements; that’s why it’s not surprising that Gouda is a household favorite. Its thick wax coating is yellow if the cheese is young and ready to eat; yellow-orange rind for more mature cheese; and black polish for aged cheese.
For your charcuterie board, try having aged Gouda for a more rigid, denser texture and bold flavors that can be nutty, sweet, salty, sharp, and caramelized all at the same time. Young Goudas pair well with beer, medium ones with fruity wines, and mature ones with intensely flavored wines like Shiraz and Merlot. You can serve Gouda melted, cubed, or sliced as a dessert cheese or table cheese.
4. Edam
Edam originated in the northern parts of the Netherlands, where they used milk from cows or goats to create this semi-solid cheese. When left to age, the flavor intensifies, whereas when consumed young, velvety consistency and gentler taste fill your palate. The base is a mellow blend of creamy and nutty tones, with hints of salt appearing in soft sparks. It has a springy texture when younger, but it becomes drier and crumblier.
Edam is served best with crackers, biscuits, and alcoholic beverages like Chardonnay, Semi-dry Riesling, Dry Riesling, Pinot Gris, or Shiraz. This cheese is even more delicious when grated over potatoes and served with wine, beer, or bread.
Final Words
When choosing the best cheeses for your charcuterie board, select ones that you enjoy because of their various flavors and textures. Moreover, as a general rule of thumb, include a variety of soft and semi-soft cheeses and semi-firm and hard cheeses.
Nothing beats an impressive charcuterie board and some delightful drinks when welcoming guests. Cheeseboards are a must-have for your next dinner party at home with their delicate combination of savory, sweet, and textured elements.
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