As festive as the fireworks on Independence Day, a 4th of July Charcuterie Board is a fanfare of meats and cheeses, slices of bread, and spreads in red, white and blue! This beautiful array of nibbles is the perfect finger food feast – fun for any holiday get-together and far easier to make than it is to pronounce!
Charcuterie – is there any word that’s caused more buzz in the food world recently? I think not. And summer celebrations are a great time to show off your creativity! If you’re looking for ideas for a 4th of July Charcuterie Board, you’ve come to the right place! Here’s all you need to know about how to make (and pronounce!) the best July 4th charcuterie board, complete with easy salami roses, prosciutto, and an abundance of cheeses, crackers, berries, baguettes, and spreads!
What is a Charcuterie Board?
A simple charcuterie board is just a sophisticated deli platter. “Charcuterie” is the French word for a shop that sells cold, cooked meats (like a deli). But when you take those savory, salty meats, display them on a wooden board, and surround them with other tasty tidbits, you have a gorgeous appetizer that requires no cooking and no stress!
Charcuterie boards are versatile and work with every budget – it all depends on the foods you choose and the portion sizes. And while we have a very specific plan for this fabulous July Fourth charcuterie board, you can always swap and add as you, please! Remember: the key to having the best charcuterie board is to follow the “3 3 3 3 rule” (see below) and offer a variety of contrasting and complementary tastes and textures – salty, sweet, spicy, savory, smoky, sour, acidic, soft, smooth, crispy – you decide!
Other Recipes to Create a Unique Charcuterie Board
The July 4th Charcuterie Board is SUPER easy – everything comes straight from the grocery – all you do is wash, slice and beautify! But for future boards, try these:
- Bacon-Wrapped Figs are mouthwatering must-haves for autumn or winter charcuteries.
- This Sun-Dried Tomato Dip is so delicious – it adds a well-rounded flavor to any board!
Ingredients
Red Foods: Strawberry jam, salami, prosciutto, strawberries, raspberries
Blue Foods: Blueberry jam, blueberries, blackberries
White Foods: Cheese! Sharp white cheddar, Gouda, Boursin
Starches: Crackers, breadsticks, baguette slices
How to Make a Salami Rose
A Salami Rose can dress up your charcuterie board, and it’s SO simple to make! Start with a small-mouth glass (shot glass, champagne flute). Fold one salami slice over the rim so half the slice is outside the glass and half inside. Add a second slice, overlapping the first by about a 1/2 inch. Keep going around until the rim is covered. Do a 2nd and 3rd row, placing the slices further into the glass than out each time. Continue as needed until the hole in the middle starts to close, then turn the glass over, press down on the salami flower, and gently twist the glass to remove it. Voila! Salami rose.
If you’d like to watch how it’s done, this video is a great tutorial. It’s easier than you might think to create.
How to Assemble a 4th of July Charcuterie Board
STEP ONE: Wash all the berries. Cut cheddar into slices and gouda into star shapes. Slice baguette. Spoon jams and Boursin cheese into small bowls, placing the strawberry jam at the top right, the blueberry jam at the bottom left, and the Boursin in the center. These are the anchors for the charcuterie board.
STEP TWO: Make the salami rose. Place the salami rose between the strawberry jam and the Boursin cheese bowl and arrange the prosciutto around the rose.
STEP THREE: Fill in the top left of the board with red berries. Add crackers in an arc below the prosciutto, from the strawberry jam to the Boursin. Now add the baguette slices in a semi-circle around the blueberry jam.
STEP FOUR: Add blueberries in the space below the rose. Angle the breadsticks across the board right next to the blueberries. Fill in the remaining space in the bottom right corner with blackberries. Now randomly scatter gouda stars around the edges to complete your festive 4th of July Charcuterie Board!
Tips for Success
- Prepping for this board can be done ahead of time. Washing berries, slicing cheeses, and even making the salami rose. Place the rose on a plate. Cover all and store all in the fridge.
- Prep extra ingredients to replenish the board as it’s being nibbled.
- Have cocktail napkins, appetizer plates, tongs, spreaders, etc., available for your guests.
- If serving wine with your charcuterie board, make glasses and wine accessible for easy self-service.
How Do You Pronounce Charcuterie?
Isn’t this what everyone wants to know? In English, the correct way to say “charcuterie” is “shar KOO duh REE”. The first syllable is SH, not CH, the second syllable is “Koo” not “cue,” and the main emphasis is on the last syllable, “REE”. Now you know!
What is the “3 3 3 3 Rule” for Charcuterie Boards?
The 3-3-3-3 Rule suggests you choose three items in 4 categories to make the perfect large charcuterie board: three types of meat, three slices of cheese, three starches, and three extras (spreads, pickles, nuts, veggies, fruits, etc.) Using the 3-3-3-3 rule ensures an excellent balance for your guests to enjoy!
Other recipes for celebrating Independence Day!
- Fourth of July Funfetti Cupcakes
- Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
- Red White & Blue Berry Frozen Dessert
- No Bake Red White and Blue Cake
- Red White & Blueberry Bark
- Red White & Blue Shooter
Equipment
Ingredients
- Strawberry Jam
- Blueberry Jam
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Crackers
- Breadsticks
- Baguette slices
- Sharp cheddar cheese (I used a merlot BellaVitano)
- Gouda cheese
- Garlic & herb boursin cheese
Instructions
- Wash the berries and pat them dry with paper towels. Cut the gouda into thin-ish slices and then use cookie cutters to cut out cheese stars. Set aside.
- Put the strawberry jam, blueberry jam, and boursin cheese each into their own serving bowl. Place the jams on opposite corners of the board and the cheese in the center.
- Make a salami rose by placing a slice of salami over the edge of a shot glass so that half of the slice is on either side of the rim. Repeat adding slices around the rim so that they overlap about halfway until you've used about 8-10 slices. Press the slices down onto the rim of the glass. Turn the glass over onto the board and wiggle the shot glass free of the salami.
- Arrange the prosciutto around the salami rose. Add a ring of crackers and baguette slices around each jam bowl. Place slices of cheddar next to the boursin cheese bowl.
- Arrange the strawberries and raspberries in the corner next to the strawberry jam. Arrange the blackberries and blueberries in the corner next to the blueberry jam.
- Add some breadsticks among the blue fruits. Place gouda stars on the board over the fruits. Serve immediately.
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