Styling Meats for your Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board is a fun way to serve meats, cheeses, fruits, and snacks in a beautiful way. The way you fold the meats such as salami and prosciutto makes a huge difference in how your board looks. It doesn’t just save space, how your style and fold the meats adds flair and makes your board interesting and appealing for your Guests. 

If you’re new to making charcuterie boards, you can experiment with different styles of folding meats to elevate your presentation.

Materials Needed

Before starting, you’ll need to gather everything to build your charcuterie board. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A variety of meats: Salami, prosciutto, and other thinly sliced meats.
• A serving board: Wooden boards are classic, but marble or slate also works well.
• Cheese tools: Sharp knives for cutting cheese into interesting shapes or sizes.
• Extras: Seasonal fruits, nuts, crackers, or garnishes like fresh herbs.

When preparing your ingredients, make sure your cheeses are cut to match the look of your folded meats. Create a balance between your cheeses and meats and make sure that you have an interesting color palette.  Try not to put cheeses, meats and nuts with a similar color palette next to each other. 

How to Fold Salami for a Charcuterie Board

Salami is a staple on most boards because it’s easy to work with and adds vibrant color. Here are three ways to fold salami:

Salami Rosettes

Salami roses are an eye-catching centerpiece for your board.

1. Take a wine glass or a small cup.
2. 2. Place a slice of salami over the rim, letting part of it hang over the edge.
3. Continue overlapping slices around the glass until it looks like a flower.
4. Flip the glass upside down onto your board to reveal the rose.

This method works especially well on themed boards, like holiday boards or elegant spreads. 

Layered Salami

To create a simple but neat look:

1. Fold each slice of salami in half, and then in half again to create a crescent shape.
2. Layer the folded pieces slightly overlapping, creating a curved or straight line.

This style is great for lining the edges of the board or framing cheese cubes.

Rolled Salami

For a quick and easy option:

1. Roll each slice of salami into a tight cylinder.

2 . Stand the rolls upright or lay them on their sides in small clusters.

Adding rolled salami near crackers or bread creates a ready-to-grab snack section.

How to Fold Prosciutto for a Charcuterie Board

Prosciutto is delicate and adds a touch of sophistication to any board. Its soft, thin slices work beautifully with gentle folding techniques.

Fan Fold

This is one of the easiest ways to fold prosciutto.

1. Lay a slice of prosciutto flat.
2. Fold it back and forth like an accordion or paper fan.
3. Place it upright for a dramatic display.

Fans look amazing alongside small segments of cheese, like brie or gouda.

Ribbon Technique

To create a natural look:

1. Let the prosciutto fold loosely in your hands.
2. Arrange it on the board so it looks like flowing ribbons.

The ribbon style works best on elegant or minimalist boards where the natural texture of the meat can shine.

Rolled Prosciutto

Roll thin slices into small tubes for a clean, compact look. Add these rolls near fresh fruits like grapes or figs for a classic pairing.

General Tips for Folding Meat

Here are a few extra tips to make your folded meats stand out:

• Consistent slicing: If you’re slicing the meat yourself, make sure all the slices are the same thickness. Thin slices are easier to fold.
• Alternate textures: Pair soft folds of prosciutto with more hearty salami slices for variety.
• Symmetry is key: Arrange folded meats evenly across the board to create balance.
• Fill gaps: Use folded meats to fill small empty spaces on the board.

Combining meat-folding techniques with creative cheese-cutting can help you achieve a well-organized charcuterie board. 

Presentation Ideas

Folding meat is only part of the process. The way you pair and place the other elements on your board also makes a big difference.

Pairing Ideas

• With cheese: Match cured meats with cheese styles. For example, salami pairs well with cheddar, while prosciutto complements soft cheeses like brie or goat cheese.
• With fruits: Fresh grapes, dried apricots, or berries can add color and sweetness to balance the salty meats.
• With crackers or bread: Sliced baguettes or artisan crackers make the perfect base for building mini snacks.

Arranging Your Board

Think of your board as a blank canvas. Start by placing your cheeses, then the folded meats, then fill in the spaces with fruits, nuts, and crackers. If you’re preparing a themed board, consider arranging items in patterns or shapes to fit your theme. Themed charcuterie boards can inspire the creation of cohesive designs.

Additional Tips

• Storage: Cover your folded meats with plastic wrap and store the board in the fridge until it’s time to serve. This keeps everything fresh.
• Serving time: Remove the board from the fridge about an hour before serving to allow the meats to come to room temperature. This brings out their best flavor.

Creating a beautiful charcuterie board should be fun! Make it your own by selecting meats and cheeses you and your Guests will love, and you’ll have a wonderful time enjoying your charcuterie and cheese board with your family and friends.