When people arrange any get-together, they hope to enjoy some fine food. Among them, a well-made cheese board can be more delectable or finer. Not every gathering requires a full-course meal with appetizers; however, thoughtfully made cheese board can be great finger food for guests.
So, a fresh cheese board can be your perfect choice if you want to serve something tasty and light. Let’s take a look at some fresh cheese board ideas with some unusual combinations and unique touches that you can enjoy at any get-together.
1. Lactose-free Cheese Board
A well-made cheese board is always balanced and offers something to everyone. In your get-together, if you have family or friends who are lactose intolerant, this platter will be your perfect choice for them. And they will be really grateful to you.
This cheese board offers 0 grams of lactose with many gluten-free crackers per serving. Thus, this platter will meet the dietary needs of your guests.
Use contrasting textures, colors, and shapes to make this lactose-free cheese platter more inciting and delicious.
Ingredients:
- A few types of lactose-free cheese. Make sure to serve at least two or three varieties. From cheddar to brie, you can find a range of lactose-free cheese.
- Dried fruits – ½ cup (such as apricots)
- Olives – ½ cup
- Assorted fruits and berries, including raspberries, strawberries, sliced apples, red and green grapes, etc. – 1 to 2 cups
- Sliced pepperoni – ½ cup
- Some unique types of jerky to wow your guests. For example, you can opt for Venison Jerky or alligator jerky. You can try adding unique types of cold cuts, but jerky is easier to find.
- Assorted breadsticks, gluten-free crackers, or crunchy snack of your choice – 1 to 2 cups
Directions:
- Choose a flat serving platter or a large cheese board.
- Decorate cheese slices leaving space between them to place other board items.
- Wash and dry all the produce.
- Slice them into bite-sized pieces if necessary.
- Place all the crackers, charcuterie, fruits, and olives in groups in between the cheese to make a colorful arrangement.
2. Keto-friendly Cheese Board
You can easily prepare this stunning cheese board with keto-friendly ingredients such as meats, fruits, and vegetables. It will be a perfect addition for people who are maintaining a keto diet plan.
Ingredients:
- Opt for Provolone or Asiago, as both go well with Prosciutto. Provolone also goes with salami, and so does Gouda.
- Ripe blackberries – ½ cup
- Ripe strawberries – ½ cup
- Sliced ripe peach – 1
- Sliced cucumber – ½ cup
- Thinly sliced Genoa salami – 4 ounces
- Sliced hard salami – 4 ounces
- Thinly sliced prosciutto – 4 ounces
- Mixed nuts – ½ cup
- Yellow cherry tomatoes – ½ cup
- A selection of keto-friendly crackers – ⅔ types
Directions:
- Choose a large flat platter or an attractive cheese board to place all the ingredients.
- Wash, dry, and then prepare all the fruits and vegetables.
- Arrange the cheeses with fruit, meats, and vegetables in clusters to create a colorful and decorative display.
- Place the nuts in a small bowl on the side of the cheese board.
3. Summer Cheeseboard
To prepare this delicious cheeseboard, you can use sun-ripened tomatoes, fresh summer berries, crusty crackers, and bread. Opt for cheese that suits summertime flavors and a pretty cheeseboard to bring it all together.
Ingredients:
- Opt for aged gouda, soft brie, edam or manchego. Add at least two types of cheese to give people more options.
- Thinly sliced salami – ¼ pound (folded in quarters)
- Varieties of berries – ½ cup (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherries)
- Mixed colors cherry tomatoes – ½ cup
- A small sliced cucumber
- Loaf seeded baguette – ½
- Crackers of different flavors and shapes
Directions:
- Pick a large cutting board, cheese board, or flat serving platter.
- Place the cheese, leaving space for keeping other broad items like bread and crackers. If serving an entire brie block, consider placing it in the middle to complement its roundness.
- Wash and dry the tomatoes and berries. Make them sliced if needed.
- Arrange the berries, salami, tomatoes, and cucumber in groups between the empty space of cheese slices.
- Add the bread slices and crackers to the board.
4. Special Occasion Cheese Board
If you are looking for an elegant cheese board idea for any special event, this special occasion cheese board will be your best choice for this purpose.
You can easily prepare a visually enticing cheese platter with the ingredients listed below.
Ingredients:
- You can opt for high-quality aged cheddar. You can also try adding a common goat cheese like feta or something a bit more special like Chevrotin or Caciotta.
- Olives
- Honey
- Fresh and dried fruits
- Tapenades
- Crunchy nuts
- Strongly flavored chutneys
Directions:
- Before using the cheese on the cheese board, bring them to room temperature.
- Add contrasting textures and flavors by surrounding the cheese with crunchy nuts, fresh and dried fruits, honey, olives, tapenades, or chutneys. It gives your cheese board a bountiful and inviting appeal.
- Alongside the platter, serve an assortment of crackers and bread.
- And lastly, make sure to add labels to your cheeses.
5. Dinner Party Cheese Board
Nothing can be more classy than a well-thought cheese board filled with sweet jams, juicy fruits, intense meat, and savory cheeses.
The key to serving cheese and charcuterie board at dinner is to make a large one that is overflowing with many options. Consider adding a cacciatore to steal the show. Make sure to serve it with an earthy red.
Ingredients:
- Opt for a range of cheese as you are aiming for variety here. Consider adding at least one type of hard cheese, soft cheese, goat cheese, and blue cheese.
- Prosciutto, capicola, soppressata, and any salami you prefer.
- Mandarin oranges.
- Grapes and any berries.
- Almonds or any nuts of your choice
- Plum jam
- Cracker of your choice
Directions:
- Begin with 2 or 3 different types of cheese.
- Before placing the cheese on the cheese board, bring them to room temperature for at least 15 minutes.
- Spread cheese on the cheese board, and empty some spaces between the cheeses for placing other ingredients.
- Fill the empty spaces with fresh fruits, meats, crunchy nuts, and jam to add contrasting textures and flavors.
- Finally, complement the pairings with crackers.
6. Picnic Cheese Board
This quick and easy cheese and veggies combo can be a hit on your upcoming outdoor picnic.
Ingredients:
- Aged gouda, Camembert or Gruyère.
- Pretzels
- Sliced cucumber
- Carrot sticks
- Whole wheat crackers
- Salami
- Jam of your choice
Directions:
- Create an attractive and inviting display of cheeses with different flavors and textures of vegetables, meat, crackers, jams, and pretzels.
Final Words
Making a cheeseboard gives you a lot of possibilities, so be creative and present a unique cheese platter. Be bold when it comes to preparing the perfect cheese board for your favorite gathering, as there are no fixed rules for it.
Rather it depends on your creativity, imagination, and the varieties of cheese. Including a variety of cheese and charcuterie on your cheese platter can tempt your guests to dig at the moment they find it.
