Happy National Cheese Lover’s Day! Cheese is a delicious dairy product that we all know and love. From a sharp cheddar to a creamy brie or tangy blue, there’s a cheese to suit every palate. Whether you’re hosting friends and family, or enjoying it yourself, cheese is incredibly versatile. Perfect as a starter, dessert or on a board. Cheese boards are easy to assemble, require minimal preparation time and there’s something for everyone, making them the perfect hosting platter. Creating a cheese board is crafting an experience and with so many cheeses, meats and extras to choose from, it can feel a bit overwhelming. So, we’ve created a step by step of how to make the perfect board.
The first step to a cheese board, is of course, cheese! You should start by balancing textures and flavours. By having a firm/hard cheese, a soft cheese, a dipping cheese and a wildcard cheese on your board this means all bases are covered.
Firm/Hard Cheese: Aged cheddar, red Leicester, or a smoked gouda are great hard cheeses to have on your board that are packed with concentrated flavours, giving you a mouthwatering bite every time.
Soft/Spreadable Cheese: Creamy cheeses offer a great contrast to the hard cheese. Go for a goat’s cheese for a distinct, tangy flavour on your board. Or, if you’re looking for something more subtle, a delicious and creamy burrata is the perfect centre piece cheese.
Melted Cheese for Dipping: No cheese board is complete without a warm, gooey dip. A baked camembert is perfect to fill this void. Topping your camembert with honey, chili or garlic is also a great way to introduce some extra flavours into your board.
Wildcard: It is always a good idea to have a showstopper on your board to impress your guests. Depending on what your local store or cheesemonger has available some options could be a spicy Jalapeño cheese, a pineapple cheese or even a strong blue cheese.
Now that you have your cheeses picked out, it’s time to pick your crackers. To ensure you have the perfect crackers to go with your variety of cheeses you should include a selection; buttery crackers, grainy seeded options and thin mild crackers are sure to cater to every preference. Additionally, a soft white baguette is essential to have to dip into your warm cheese.
Once you have assembled your cheese and crackers onto your board, you may notice it is lacking in colour. At this point, if you want to create a charcuterie board, this is the perfect time to add in your meats. Cured meats like prosciutto, chorizo or Parma ham are deliciously salty meats that will perfectly pair with your cheese to cut through the flavours. You can also get creative with your presentation and try making prosciutto roses using a wine glass for a decorative touch.
Once your meat is added you may still have some gaps in your board, so you can balance the flavours with some sweet and fresh additions. Grapes are an excellent choice as they pair beautifully with nearly all cheeses and apple slices, strawberries, dried mango or apricots add another burst of colour and sweetness. Or, if you are a savoury lover, olives can add an extra saltiness.
No cheese board is complete with chutneys and jams. Caramelised onion chutney, mango chutney, or a flavoured jam can provide another sweet counterpoint to your cheeses.
Once your cheeses, crackers and accompaniments are in place, step back and admire your masterpiece. Whether you’re a seasoned cheese board pro or this is your first time making a cheese board, the final product never fails to impress. So why not invite your loved ones over and host a delicious cheese and wine night to celebrate making it halfway through January! Happy Cheese Lover’s Day!