If you have been on Pinterest at all recently, you probably know what a charcuterie board is... even if you don’t know how to pronounce it. These boards have become increasingly popular, especially as the holiday season draws near. They are the perfect way to mollify a crowd before a meal, and they offer a wide variety of snacks so everyone can find something they like.
Charcuterie originates in France where the charcuterie was a shop that sold the necessary ingredients for a traditional charcuterie board. Usually containing both cured and dried meats such as salami, capicola, and prosciutto along with all different types of cheese. However, as people added their own style and food preferences, the board came to include almost any ingredient.
While the original charcuterie board would not be suitable for vegans or vegetarians, it is easy to make a vegan charcuterie board now, and Foods Alive products can help with that. The best part is, there is very little cooking to be done, and it is completely customizable.
Most charcuterie boards offer many different flavors to choose from such as sweet, salty, or spicy. Luckily, there are dozens of options from which to choose. Foods Alive flax crackers come in a variety of flavors from Mexican Harvest to Chocolate Macaroon. These options are great by themselves or paired with a dip of some sort. Try a garden vegetable salsa or Maple Cream sauce to dip with the crackers.
Cashews, almonds, and walnuts make an excellent addition to the board, as they offer some delicious, hearty crunch to the spread. For a lighter crunch and some great umami flavor, place a small bowl of Onion Ring Clusters on the board. Sprinkled with hemp seeds, these are a nutritious and delicious treat for onion ring lovers.
For a bit of sweetness, add some white mulberries to the board, or even some fresh fruit like grapes or strawberries. For some sweet and sour notes, golden berries make the perfect addition to the plate. To offset the sweetness, olives are a great choice. The green variety is pungent and they offer a kick of saltiness, but black olives are much more mellow.
For even more crunch, add some sliced carrots or celery alongside a bowl of Vegan Ranch! Adults and kids alike will love the classic combination, packed with flavor and nutrients with none of the guilt. For those who don’t like ranch, try any delicious salad dressing from Foods Alive such as the Garlic Paprika or Sweet Mustard.
There are endless possibilities for a vegan charcuterie board so don’t be afraid to try new things. Play with the arrangement on the board to make it look "Pinterest-worthy", and don’t forget to snap a picture. If you post on social media, tag Foods Alive for a chance to be featured on our social media!
Check out this amazing Foods Alive Charcuterie Board by rainbowlfoods.com.
Research
https://corkdining.com/fine-dining/the-history-of-charcuterie-boards-and-why-you-should-drink-wine-them/#:~:text=Yeah%2C%20those%20are%20charcuterie%20boards.&text=Charcuterie%20is%20derived%20from%20the,including%20the%20pig's%20internal%20organs.
