Low-Carb Charcuterie Board Ideas

When it comes to showing your people some love, there’s nothing better than a low-carb charcuterie board or grazing board.

Whether entertaining a big crowd or a small, intimate gathering, a large wedding, or a Sunday brunch, there are tons of ideas that you can mix and match to create a board that is satisfying and interesting but also limits carbs.

Building the Ultimate Board

Charcuterie Boards are perfect for those of us trying to eat low carb! They can be primarily focused on proteins, from meats to cheeses to nuts, and you can easily add carb alternatives that further complete the spread, e.g., low-carb breads, rolls, crackers, and chips.

Let’s break down the basic spread, plus some creative ideas for add-ins. I like to use a selection of salty components as the basis for the board and then layer in other flavors from the remaining taste profiles.

Remember to always consider the five tastes: salty, sour, sweet, bitter, and umami (that savory taste that makes everything better). And most important – BALANCE is the key!

Salty and Umami

• Uncured Meats (I prefer to use uncured if available to limit nitrates and other harmful chemicals – these can often be found at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s): salami, prosciutto, capicola, soppressata, ham or jamon, chorizo, summer sausage.
• Canned Fish (look for Spanish or Portuguese canned fish – my favorite online store is Yummy Bazaar, where you can find all kinds of imported gourmet products at very reasonable prices): Callipo tuna, premium sardine fillets in EVOO, Danish herring and salmon fillets, French mackerel rillettes, Cantabrico anchovies in EVOO, and pates, fish roe, or caviar (for something really special).
• Shrimp, crab leg sections, or mussels.
• Cheeses – Choose several hard and soft cheeses from different animals, e.g., cow, goat, sheep.
  • Soft Cheeses: Triple Cream Brie, goat cheese or Chevre, blue cheese, Stilton, or Gorgonzola, Burrata, Mascarpone, and cream cheese (alone or topped with a sugar-free blueberry compote and crushed pistachios).
  • Hard Cheeses: Gouda, Spanish Manchego, White Cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere, Aged Parmesan or Grana Padano, Jarlsberg, Havarti, Halloumi, Emmental, marinated Feta, and French Raclette.
• Nuts: Marcon almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, or a mix of nuts.
• Deviled eggs – either classic or topped with a dollop of caviar, fish roe, or shrimp – a great way to bring an elegant touch without a huge expense. We have the best Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Egg recipe to take the guesswork and mess out of cooking and peeling eggs.
• Crackers or chips, low carb, of course, to pair with meats, cheeses, or whatever else you serve. Here are some great carb alternative ideas for crackers, chips, or bread.

Sour

• Anything briny or pickled goes well as the sour components on your board, including:
  • Olives – green, black ripe, and Kalamata
  • Green olives stuffed with garlic, blue cheese, or feta
  • Pickles, cornichons, and other pickled vegetables like pearl onions or okra
  • Marinated artichokes
  • Tapenades or balsamic glaze to dip or spread

Bitter

• Mustards or sauces (like cocktail sauce if you are serving chilled shrimp).
• Fermented foods such as KimChi or Saurkraut
• Sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil
• Vegetables like leaves of Arugula and Raddicio (which can be used in place of crackers to dip into spreads), carrots, celery, cucumbers, colorful radishes, and blanched asparagus spears or green beans. Try roasting carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower to turn the flavor up to a whole other level.

Sweet

• Fresh fruit: blueberries, strawberries, grapes, blackberries – whatever fruit fits with your low-carb eating plan.
• Low-carb chutneys or jams
  • Low-carb chutneys made with monk fruit sweetener and onion, tomato, or cranberries work well.
  • Bacon onion marmalade

Building Your Board

Start with a large cutting board, tray, platter, or basket (if using a fiber or wicker basket, you will want to line the bottom with something waterproof so you don’t run the risk of leaks).

Now add small bowls where you want things like olives, spreadables, or crudité. Depending on your taste, you may want to use matching plates or mix things up with a variety of mismatched bowls or teacups. Next, be sure you have spreading or serving utensils where needed, like cocktail knives and spoons.

Next, add the meats and cheeses – I like to cut or fold the meats and cheeses so that removing one or two doesn’t disrupt the entire board. Then add in the remaining ingredients keeping an eye on composition and color distribution.

Last, add in a few garnishes and serve with your favorite beverages.

Beautiful Garnishes and Board Decorations

Once you have everything assembled, you’ll want to tuck in some colorful garnishes, and then you’re all set. Try these ideas:

• Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, rosemary, and cilantro
• Edible flowers
• Sliced citrus

Charcuterie with a Theme

Depending on your event or crowd, you may want to go with a theme. Try a Mexican board with chorizo sausage, avocado, cotija cheese, and egg white wraps (substituting for tortillas), or a breakfast board with poached eggs, bacon, sausages, avocados, sliced tomatoes, grilled portabellos, and fresh hollandaise for a ‘build your own benedict.’

Whatever your theme, type of event, or level of experience, just remember to have fun, enjoy the process, and make it your own. Try it with one of our Texas Ranch Waters on the patio this summer. Cheers!