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The Art of Mixology: Classic Cocktails and Curious Concoctions
Very few other meals come even close to the ferocity and grandeur of charcuterie boards. As far as appetizers and snacks are concerned, it is one of the undisputed kings. The delicious taste and communal nature of these boards can bring people together for a great night out. The only issue with this wonderful meal is making it. Luckily, the most informative charcuterie books of 2023 can help you get past this hurdle.
These cookbooks are designed to help you overcome this seemingly challenging dish on your own. The recipes in these books are simple and easy to follow while leading to some of the best charcuterie boards you’ve ever seen.
If you’re interested in mastering charcuterie boards, check out our five top-tier book recommendations. They include everything you want and more.
Show contentsReviewing the Top Charcuterie Board Book of 2023- Easy Charcuterie Boards by Marco Niccoli - Best Overall
- Beautiful Boards by Maegan Brown - Visually Stunning Recipes
- Platters and Boards by Shelly Westerhausen - Top-Tier Recipes
- The Cheese Board Deck by Meg Quinn - Greatest Variety
- On Boards by Lisa Dawn Bolton - Easiest to Follow
A Buying Guide to Charcuterie Board BooksA Buying Guide to Charcuterie Board Books
Charcuterie boards are one of those super dishes that wow people no matter how many times you make one for them. Combine this with the fact that these boards are actually delicious, gorgeous to look at, and a way for everyone to come together, and the importance of having a charcuterie board book becomes apparent.
These special cookbooks help you come up with board ideas and execute them to perfection. But there are so many of these books available on the market. Which is the right one for you?
Consider the following factors when sifting through all of the options online.
Cooking Skill Level
The first and arguably the most important factor to consider is your own skill level. How good are you at cooking? Can you make food look good? Can you be precise with ingredient measurements and placement? The answers to these questions will give you a rough idea of how you’ll handle making charcuterie boards.
If you’re great at cooking with precise measurements and have prior experience in decorating platters, look for books that keep this in mind, and don’t waste your time with tips you already know. These usually go straight to the point with the board recipe and a picture of the board for reference. Expert books might not even include recipes for minute side dips and sauces.
On the other hand, if you’re a somewhat novice, look for charcuterie books that explain everything. These beginner books will have instructions on major stuff like how to style the board to minute prep stuff like which surface and vessel works better with which process. Just be honest with yourself, and don’t overestimate your own skills. The final goal is to make a delicious-looking and tasting charcuterie board. It doesn’t matter how you get there.
Ease of Following
Look for charcuterie board books with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. You might think that this point is only for folks with fewer kitchen skills, but that is not the case. No matter how good you are at cooking, you should look for a book that has well-written recipes. Buying a harder-to-parse charcuterie board book will only increase your chances of making a mistake without providing any benefits in return.
Remember that easy to understand doesn’t mean something so basic that it looks like it’s written for kids. It just needs to have an intuitive layout, clearly legible font, simple wording, and straightforward sentence structure.
Types of Recipes and Ideas
The next major consideration is the main contents of charcuterie board books, their recipes, and board ideas. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of unique board ideas out there. A single book usually includes anywhere between 30 and 50 of them.
Some books are more focused on proper meal boards, while others put an emphasis on the snacking aspect of a charcuterie board. You might also find books with ideas revolving around a certain occasion or season. Now it’s up to you to find books with ideas that interest you.
The best way to go about this is to first read the book synopsis/description. This alone will narrow down your options considerably. Next, most books online have their first few pages available as a demo. Read through the ones that interest you to find one that fits your desires perfectly. Looking through the index will also help massively.
Quality
If you’re buying the book in a digital form, this consideration is not for you. But, if you prefer actually holding the book, you should check the quality of the hardback or paperback before you make a purchase.
Customer reviews often have everything you need to know about these physical attributes. If a book comes with a flimsy covering, it will fall apart very soon, and the buyer’s complaint will show up in customer reviews. If you see too many of these negative reviews, you might want to reconsider your decision.
Reviewing the Top Charcuterie Board Book of 2023
1Easy Charcuterie Boards by Marco Niccoli
– Best OverallEasy Charcuterie Boards by Marco Niccoli sets a high standard for what these cookbooks should be like.
Easy Charcuterie Boards by Marco Niccoli sets a high standard for what these cookbooks should be like. It starts with a detailed explanation of what charcuterie is, its significance, and how you can use it to enhance the get-togethers at your home. You’ll also find instructions on how to create the perfect board arrangements, so your visual presentation is on par with the taste of your cooking.
The main section of this book is the 30 charcuterie boards, each with something unique to offer. Instructions for these recipes are easy to follow for almost anyone. Plus, you get recipes on the most popular sides and dips as well as a list of drinks that go well with each board. From detailed information to expertly crafted recipes, everything about this book solidifies it as the number one choice on our list.
Pros- Includes 30 unique recipes
- Comes with a list of compatible drinks
- Easy-to-follow recipes for every board
Cons- Could have more photos as a visual aid
2Beautiful Boards by Maegan Brown
– Visually Stunning RecipesVisual presentation is just as big a part of charcuterie boards as their taste, and this book by Maegan Brown understands that completely.
Visual presentation is just as big a part of charcuterie boards as their taste, and this book by Maegan Brown understands that completely. The 50 boards featured in this book are all fantastic in one way or another. Each of these offers something unique and has an immaculate taste all around. Not to mention the sheer variety of boards for different seasons, occasions, and even times of the day.
That said, the characteristic of this book that you won’t find in many other charcuterie books is the focus on presentation and making the board look as good as it tastes. Some board decorations are like a piece of modern art, while others represent certain themes like Halloween. The best part about these boards is that none of them are too difficult either. Some might require more work than others, but you can make them all from the comfort of your own home.
Pros- Includes 50 delicious charcuterie boards
- Each board has a unique design
- Ebook version available
Cons- Doesn’t showcase techniques, only board designs
3Platters and Boards by Shelly Westerhausen
– Top-Tier RecipesIf you’re after a charcuterie board book with the best-tasting and looking boards, the Platters and Boards by Shelly Westerhausen is the one for you.
If you’re after a charcuterie board book with the best-tasting and looking boards, the Platters and Boards by Shelly Westerhausen is the one for you. Even the most minor recipes in this book are crafted to be as close to perfection as possible. You can make any board/platter from this book, and it’ll be jaw-droppingly good if you follow the recipe correctly. Speaking of following, the contents of this book are arranged in a way to make recipe following easier and more intuitive.
Even someone with basic cooking knowledge would be able to make something passable with this cookbook’s help. This is all thanks to the inclusion of necessary cooking tips that go as far as recommending the ideal surfaces and vessels for preparation.
Pros- Includes 40 brilliant recipes
- Detailed recommendations and guides for everything
- Comes with tips on portioning
Cons- Great for beginners but not for more advanced cooks
4The Cheese Board Deck by Meg Quinn
– Greatest VarietyThe Cheese Board Deck by Meg Quinn offers you 50 charcuterie board ideas. This might not sound that impressive at first since plenty of books have 40+ recipes.
The Cheese Board Deck by Meg Quinn offers you 50 charcuterie board ideas. What makes this different from other charcuterie board books, though, is that these recipes come on handy cards. Start following these ideas, and you won’t be eating similar-looking or tasting boards twice in a row. These board recipes are also spread out into categories based on special occasions, the season, and the time of day.
This variety is also present in board prep times. Some ideas take very little time to set up for a quick taste appetizer. On the other hand, a few boards require a lot of effort, but the end result is nothing but majestic. Make a game out of it, and pick a random card to determine your board for the evening.
Pros- 50 unique charcuterie board ideas
- Clear instructions on cooking and presentation
- Boards with wildly different flavors
Cons- Can be a little too advanced for beginners
5On Boards by Lisa Dawn Bolton
– Easiest to FollowOne of the main purposes of a charcuterie board book is to make the recipe easy to understand, and On Boards by Lisa Dawn Bolton excels at that.
One of the main purposes of a charcuterie board book is to make the recipe easy to understand, and On Boards by Lisa Dawn Bolton excels at that. It offers a massive catalog of 100+ recipes and board ideas. But, the reader doesn’t feel overwhelmed by so much content because everything is laid out in a very detailed yet simple manner. This stays true for even the more complicated boards.
The division of charcuterie boards into categories for different occasions, seasons, and holidays further increases the ease of understanding this book. You don’t have to go through all of the boards and recipes in this cookbook to find what you’re looking for.
Pros- Large collection of recipes and board ideas
- Easy-to-follow recipes
- Board ideas categorized by occasion or season
- Makes a great gift
Cons- Recipes are not as unique as other options on this list
People Also Asked
Q: What items should I include in a charcuterie board?A: A great charcuterie board can include a variety of cured and smoked meats (salami, prosciutto, bresaola, pepperoni, etc.), crackers, cheese (hard, soft, blue), olives, fruits and nuts, jams and chutneys, mustards, pickled vegetables and other accompaniments.
Q: How much food do I need for a charcuterie board?A: It depends on the size of your board and the number of guests. Generally speaking, plan for approximately 1/4 pound of each type of meat and 1/4 to 1/3 cup of each cheese per person on the board. You can also include 2 to 3 accompaniments such as olives or jams for each person.
Q: What types of meats should I use?A: Many cured and smoked varieties are suitable for charcuterie boards. Popular choices include salami, prosciutto, bresaola, pepperoni, chorizo and various sausages.
Q: What types of cheese and accompaniments can I serve with the meats?A: Cheese varieties can include hard cheeses such as cheddar or gouda; semi-soft cheeses such as brie; soft-ripened cheeses such as camembert; aged cheeses such as gruyere; blue cheeses such as Roquefort; sheep's milk cheeses such as pecorino; goat's milk cheeses such as feta; smoked cheeses such as provolone; and spreadable cheeses such as cream cheese or chevre (goat's cheese). Accompaniments can range from olives to jams to chutneys to pickled vegetables to honey to nuts.
Q: How can I make sure everything goes together well in terms of flavor and presentation?A: Choose a range of items with different textures and flavors that complement each other well. Think about how each item will look when arranged on the board before selecting them – what colors will they create when placed side by side? Trying out different combinations ahead of time will help you decide which ones work best together both visually and flavorwise.
Q: Can I enjoy a charcuterie board as a full meal?A: Depending on the contents of the charcuterie board you made, you can have it as the actual meal itself and not just as an appetizer.
