Although not quite a recipe, I think of this more as inspiration. This abundant, colorful, Nordic-themed charcuterie board is ideal for those late spring and early summer evenings spent outdoors. Relaxed yet refined, it’s the kind of effortless spread you build as friends arrive, conversations begin to flow, and wine glasses fill around the table. The combination of cured meats, creamy cheeses, fresh berries, crisp vegetables, and rustic breads creates the perfect balance of freshness and indulgence. This board brings together simple, beautiful food meant to be shared.
| PREP TIME | COOKING TIME | TOTAL TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 0 minutes | 30 minutes |
YIELD: 8-12 servings
Ingredients
Choose a variety of ingredients from each category depending on your preferences and adjust the amount for the number of people you plan to serve.
Cured Meats
- Prosciutto
- Speck
- Nordic smoked lamb
- Soppressata salami
Cheeses
- Triple cream brie
- Aged gouda
- Creamy blue cheese
- Goat cheese logs
Fresh Produce
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Green and red grapes
- Fresh figs
- Apple slices
- Thin cucumber slices
- Radishes
- Fresh herbs
Nuts & Extras
- Roasted almonds
- Pistachios
- Candied walnuts
- Dark chocolate chunks
- Honeycomb or honey
Nordic Touches
- Rye crisps
- Seed crackers
- Rustic brown bread
- Smoked salmon
- Pickled onions
- Fig jam
- Cornichons
How to Make It
- Start with a wooden board, elegant platter, or rustic tray, and begin arranging the ingredients.
- Slice cheeses in different ways, cutting soft cheeses into wedges, hard cheeses into thin slices or small cubes, and leave one larger piece whole for visual interest.
- Loosely fold or ribbon sliced meats to create texture.
- Slice fruits and vegetables into easy-to-grab pieces and arrange around the meats and cheeses.
- Place nuts, breads and other extras in small clusters or bowls to fill in the space.
There really are not rules when it comes to making a Charcuterie board. I recommend building it naturally, layer by layer, focusing on texture, color and filling in the space. You can add in what you like best and leave out the things that you don’t enjoy. The key is to have a variety of items that hit all the notes—savory, sweet, salty, crunchy and creamy. I think meals like this always create the best evenings—people gathering together, snacking casually and staying longer than planned. That relaxed feeling is exactly what Nordic style entertaining is about for me.
Hope you enjoy!
