Charcuterie Platter Recipes

PERFECT CHARCUTERIE PLATTER

Steps:

• Meats: • Dry-cured salamis, like Piller's Charcuterie Alpen or Cervelat salami • Piller's Charcuterie Westphalian Ham Cheeses: • Aged cheddars, three to seven years old, complement dry-cured salamis • Triple cream brie and raw milk goat cheese also go well. • Westphalian Ham (one of three new hand-crafted artisanal meats from Piller's) wraps nicely around parmesan cheese. Breads: • Whole wheat, seven-grain, or sun dried tomato flat breads • Savoury crisps Wines: • Chardonnays pair amazingly well because they are aged in oak and this brings out the smoky, savoury flavours of the meats • The light acid and peppery flavour of Pinot Noir pairs well with the savouriness of the meats Beer: Pale ale Other: • Red and green grapes • Walnuts • Spreads with flavours like Tomato-Chili Jam and Roasted Red Pepper • Honey, a newly popular garnish for every charcuterie platter More information and recipe ideas are available online at pillers.com. www.newscanada.com

FRENCH CHARCUTERIE PLATTER

Steps:

• Arrange everything on a platter and serve.

GRAZING PLATTER

Steps:

• A grazing board combines the best of a cheeseboard and charcuterie platter into one indulgent selection of food. There's no strict recipe for a grazing board - simply gather together all your favourite nibbles, and arrange on a large platter or plate to share. You could do a mixture of meats and cheese, or go entirely vegetarian or vegan. The key things to remember when creating your platter, to make it look (and taste) as impressive as possible, are: ● Make sure you assemble the board just before serving so everything is fresh ● Always include crackers, breadsticks or bread to use as a vessel for cheeses or dips ● Use small bowls or ramekins to hold small items and dips, like olives, nuts and chutneys ● Use a good variety of ingredients. For example, aim for one hard and one soft cheese, two or three different cured meats, and a few varieties of fruits and nuts ● If you use larger fruits, like figs or clementines, chop and tear them into different shapes, so that the fruit is easier to pick up and looks more appealing on the platter ● Swirl any dips into ramekins, and top with olive oil, seeds or chopped herbs ● Fill in any gaps on your platter with bay leaves or rosemary sprigs to decorate ● Bundle any cured meats into nests, or roll or fold to create a variety of textures

EASY CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Steps:

• Clean and prepare all fruits and vegetables.
• Set out a large round or square wooden board. Start in the center and arrange cheese, meats, vegetables, and fruits in a decorative pattern.

CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Steps:

• Make the whipped ricotta: In the bowl of a food processor, combine ricotta and salt, and purée until light and fluffy, scraping down the side of the bowl every so often, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil or honey, and garnish with cracked black pepper.
• Assemble the charcuterie board: On a large cutting board or serving platter, arrange the whipped ricotta and all of the other ingredients. (Place olives in a bowl and set an empty small bowl next to the olives for the pits.) Set out small knives, forks and spoons for slicing and serving. Serve with bread, crackers and mustard.