This Turkey-Shaped Charcuterie Board is the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving and a fun alternative to the traditional meat and cheese platter. With so many meats and cheeses to choose from, this elegant presentation will be sure to impress your guests!
As the holidays are coming up, why not try something new? A Turkey Shaped Charcuterie Board is an excellent idea for your next party. It starts with a cheeseball shaped like a turkey strutting its array of feathers made of meats, cheeses and crackers. Not only is it an unique presentation but also an attractive centerpiece for your Thanksgiving feast.
I love the endless possibilities of what you could do with a charcuterie board. You can serve meats, cheeses and vegetables like tomatoes or cucumbers as an appetizer; use one side for dips such as mustard and pickles while the other is reserved for spreads and such. There really isn’t any wrong way to create one. Play around and try something new with some creative charcuterie board ideas for any occasion!
What is a Charcuterie Board?
Charcuterie boards are a perfect way to start your meal and offer inspiration for the rest of your meal. They consist of a selection of cured meats, pâté, cheese and often condiments such as pickles or jams. They’re usually served on a decorative wooden board and accompanied by bread and sometimes vegetables such as crackers, pickles or nuts.
What you Should Look for in a Charcuterie Board?
When choosing the perfect charcuterie board you’ll want to think about how many people it’s meant for, what kind of meat you like (if any), condiments on offer and of course the bread! Don’t forget some sort of cheese as well as it’s always nice to have a creamy counterpart to the more dry cured meats.
What does Charcuterie Mean?
Charcuterie is French for “cooked meats”, which covers what you’ll find on most charcuterie boards: thinly sliced or pâté and some sort of spreadable cheese. The rest depends on your location and personal taste, but should be a selection of cured meats and possibly condiments such as pickles or jams.
What to Put on a Charcuterie Board?
What’s a charcuterie board, you say? It’s an assortment of savory snacks usually served on wood boards. Nowadays you can find them at almost all bars and it has become very popular in the US. It includes cured meats like salami or prosciutto, cheese (usually soft), olives, pickles, fruits (usually dried), crackers, etc.
Some Examples of Charcuterie Boards
As you can see there’s not any specific combination to put on the board nor rules (or maybe my googling skills are too weak). You can find all sort of combinations and it really depends on your personal preferences or the store where you buy the stuff.
Meats
The most common option is to serve some type of cured meat and different types of cheese, but there’s plenty of options: dried meats (prosciutto or salami), salted meats (hams, etc.), spicy sausages, hard cheeses (like cheddar or gruyere), soft cheeses, goat cheese, whipped cheeses, etc.
Breads
The most popular choice is to go for French baguette but there’s plenty of options: fresh crusty breads (similar to baguettes), rye bread, pumpernickel bread, focaccia, etc.
Fruits
Again you’re free to choose whatever you like (small dried figs, raisins, craisins or nuts are some popular choices), but I’ve seen some people including candied walnuts on their boards.
Veggies
Celery sticks, pickles, olives and/or radishes are some options you have, but try to choose the ones that will go best with your meat & cheese choices. You can also add roasted red peppers if you’re a fan of them.
Crackers
Most people choose some sort of thin crispy cracker, but you can also go for whole grain biscotti or fancy gourmet options.
What Kind of Charcuterie Board Should I Use?
Using a round charcuterie board made it easy to create a turkey as you are laying the food in a semi circle. You can also use other boards or even an XL cookie sheet if you’d like. It really all depends on how many you are serving and how much food you will need.
How to Arrange a Turkey Shape Charcuterie Board
Prepare Meats & Cheeses
To make the feathers cut the cheese slices and beef stick into small triangles. Cut a small triangle of cheese for the beak. Cut a small piece of pepperoni for the wattle. Set aside.
Shape the Cheeseball
Make or use a premade cheeseball. Wear food safe gloves and shape it into a turkey body on the charcuterie board where you want it. Add some candy eyeballs, the cheese beak and pepperoni wattle.
Arrange the Turkey Charcuterie Board
Step 1: Lay a row of meats semi rolled up in a semi circle around the turkey body but about an inch away from it.
Step 2: Lay the triangle cheese pieces overlapping the meat you just laid down making it touch the cheeseball. Overlap another kind of cheese on top making it look like the feathers are spread apart. Place a triangle beef stick slice in between the cheese slices.
Step 3: Lay another row of meats semi rolled in a semi circle for the 3rd row. Add rolled up salami or another kind of meat in between those meats.
Step 4: Lay a row of cubed cheeses in a semi circle for the 4th row.
Step 5: Lay a row or pretzel crisps for the 5th row and then a row of crackers for the 6th row (or another kind of cracker).
Step 6: Add some utensils, dips, spreads etc. and serve.
Here are some other examples of charcuterie boards I’ve made!
- S’mores Dessert Board
- Spooky Halloween Charcuterie Board
- Breakfast Board
- Meat Roses for Charcuterie Boards
Recipe
Turkey Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- Cheeseball
- Crackers
- Pretzel Crisps
- Turkey
- Ham
- Roast Beef
- Salami
- Summer Sausage
- Mild Cheddar Cheese Slices
- Colby Cheddar Cheese Slices
- Pepper Jack Cubed Cheese
- Candy Eyeballs
- Pepperoni
Instructions
How to Arrange a Turkey Shape Charcuterie Board
Prepare Meats & Cheeses
- To make the feathers cut the cheese slices and beef stick into small triangles. Cut a small triangle of cheese for the beak. Cut a small piece of pepperoni for the wattle. Set aside.
Shape the Cheeseball
- Make or use a premade cheeseball. Wear food safe gloves and shape it into a turkey body on the charcuterie board where you want it. Add some candy eyeballs, the cheese beak and pepperoni wattle.
Arrange the Turkey Charcuterie Board
- Step 1: Lay a row of meats semi rolled up in a semi circle around the turkey body but about an inch away from it.
Step 2: Lay the triangle cheese pieces overlapping the meat you just laid down making it touch the cheeseball. Overlap another kind of cheese on top making it look like the feathers are spread apart. Place a triangle beef stick slice in between the cheese slices.
Step 3: Lay another row of meats semi rolled in a semi circle for the 3rd row. Add rolled up salami or another kind of meat in between those meats.
Step 4: Lay a row of cubed cheeses in a semi circle for the 4th row.
Step 5: Lay a row or pretzel crisps for the 5th row and then a row of crackers for the 6th row (or another kind of cracker).
Step 6: Add some utensils, dips, spreads etc. and serve.
Notes
What to Put on a Charcuterie Board
Meats
The most common option is to serve some type of cured meat and different types of cheese, but there's plenty of options: dried meats (prosciutto or salami), salted meats (hams, etc.), spicy sausages, hard cheeses (like cheddar or gruyere), soft cheeses, goat cheese, whipped cheeses, etc.Breads
The most popular choice is to go for French baguette but there's plenty of options: fresh crusty breads (similar to baguettes), rye bread, pumpernickel bread, focaccia, etc.Fruits
Again you're free to choose whatever you like (small dried figs, raisins, craisins or nuts are some popular choices), but I've seen some people including candied walnuts on their boards.Veggies
Celery sticks, pickles, olives and/or radishes are some options you have, but try to choose the ones that will go best with your meat & cheese choices. You can also add roasted red peppers if you're a fan of them.Crackers
Most people choose some sort of thin crispy cracker, but you can also go for whole grain biscotti or fancy gourmet options.Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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