Friends, it’s time to party! Nothing says “party” more to us than an abundance of delicious, beautiful, and satisfying snacks — and nothing says “snacks” better than a Charcuterie Board!
We made sure that we hit the mark (salty, sweet, savory, and spicy) when creating this delicious display. At the same time, keeping it versatile and approachable. The MB way. This charcuterie is plant-based but will still stun and stuff any guest you invite. This board is easy to make. We’ll show you exactly how to do it!
What is a Charcuterie Board?
The French word “charcuterie,” which translates as meat(chair) and prepared(cut), is a French term. A deli in France is called a “charcuterie”! The method of curing salami has been around for thousands of years, but the charcuterie boards as we know them today have become popular in more recent decades because of their snackability and stylish style!
The word “charcuterie,” which literally means cured meats in French, might seem like an oxymoron. But trust us, it’s not! This vegan version is just as satisfying as any classic board.
How to Make Vegan Charcuterie Board
How can one make a charcuterie with cheese and meat plant-based? We discovered that there are four key flavors to create the perfect plate. They are sweet, spicy, salty, and savory.
These elements combined create a board that is irresistible and full of flavor! We’ve created a guide that will help you put together all of your tastes, both store-bought and homemade.
As a rule, you should include one item per category.
- salty: olives, pickles tapenade, or quick pickled vegetables
- Sweet – chocolate, candied nuts, fresh fruit, dates, or jam
- Savory vegan cheddar hummus or roasted Chickpeas
- Spicy – vegan Pepperoni, escabeche, or a spicy dip
- For Dipping – crackers, bread, or veggies
This will provide you with a wide range of choices and limitless possibilities when it comes to flavor combinations. When you know exactly what you’re looking for, it becomes a lot easier to get started. All your favorite treats are invited to a party!
How to Arrange Charcuterie Boards
After the snacks are gathered, you can decorate them! A wooden board or tray is the classic way to do it, but you can also use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper! Your board should not be too large; you don’t want your snacks to appear sparse but rather abundant!
Place your snacks in order of size on your board. You can start with bowls or dishes for snacks, such as olives and hummus. Then, space them apart on the board to allow you to place smaller snacks between them.
Then, add your vegan cheddar to the board, and fill in any extra space with “loose snacks” like crackers or veggies. We like to use stackable snacks (like cucumbers or pepperoni ) around the dishes.
Ingredients
Choose 2-3 SALTY options
- Olives
- Olive Tapenade
- Salted roasted nuts (cashews, pistachios, almonds, pecans)
- Quick Pickled Veggies
SWEET (choose 2-3)
- Candied Nuts
- Orange Thyme Jam or store-bought
- Dates
- Fruits of your choice (strawberries and blackberries; green apples, peaches, etc.)
- Dark Chocolate or Truffles
Choose 1-2 SAVORY
- Easy Garlic and herb Vegan cheese (we prefer Treeline for the store-bought).
- Spicy Vegan Pimento Cheese Ball
- Hummus
- Crispy Baked Chickpeas
Choose 1-2 SPICY
- Vegan Pepperoni
- Spicy Pickled Cauliflower
- Charred Serrano white bean dip
For Dipping (choose 2)
- Gluten-free 1-Bowl Vegan Crackers
- Bread of Choice
- Fresh vegetables of your choice (carrots/radishes/green beans/peas/cucumber)
Instructions
- Choose your favorites from each category (salty-sweet, savory, spicy, and Dipping). Our board above includes the following: salty: olives, cornichons; sweet: dates, candied nuts, and fresh fruit; savory: Treeline’s herb-garlic soft cheese; spicy: vegan Pepperoni, spicy vegan pimento; and spicy: charred serrano, white bean dip, and for Dipping: Simple Mills crackers made from almond flour, Whole Foods gluten-free oats and seeds crispbreads, rustic French toast, and fresh vegetables!
- We made our spicy Vegan Pimento Cheese Ball ahead of time and let it chill for 6 hours, the recommended minimum in the recipe. After making vegan Pepperoni, we set it aside. We then made charred Serrano White Bean Dip and chilled it in the fridge. We then made candied almonds and chopped up all the fruits and vegetables.
- It’s time for assembly! Grab a wooden cutting board or tray (or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper). It should be large enough to hold everything but not so big that it looks sparse.
- Sort your snacks from biggest to smallest. Spread out any dishes or bowls for snacks, such as olives and hummus. Fill in the space with loose snacks like crackers and veggies. We like to arrange stackable snacks, such as cucumbers and vegan Pepperoni, in curves around the dish. It’s time to snack!
- Fresh is best. Keep leftovers in the fridge covered on the board, or separate for up to two days.