NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Charcuterie boards are always wildly popular, and especially so throughout the holiday season. They’re fun, festive, beautiful and – with just a little bit of planning – can also be incredibly nutritious, as well. We’ve got a DIY step-by-step guide below to build your own board, or you can opt to order a custom-made charcuterie board designed just for you.

Plattered NOLA offers a variety of Eat Fit charcuterie boards, available for pickup or delivery within the greater New Orleans area. Email [email protected] for details + to place orders.

DIY step-by-step guide by Kendall Finn of Plattered NOLA

1. Select your board (or platter or plate). On a budget?  A wooden cutting board can work just fine. 

2. Arrange all cheeses first, followed by ramekins for olives, pickles, dips, spreads and sauces (some, like coarse mustard, can go straight onto the board; others are best in little bowls or vessels). 

3. Meats are next up – and whether you are making a rose or a river, folding the meats adds interesting texture, versus just laying it flat on the board, taking your board to the next level.

4. Next step is to add crackers, since they take up much of surface area on the board. Pro tip: If you’re making the board in advance, save space for crackers and add just before serving, so they won’t get soggy in the fridge.

5. For the rest of the ingredients, anything goes! Fill in with fresh fruits, dried fruits, and nuts. To finish, fill your ramekins with jams, jellies, pickles, olives etc. You might consider which dips or sauces they pair well with, or you may arrange by type of ingredient, color or texture. 

6. Finish your board with fresh or dried herbs like sage, rosemary or mint for garnish, and you’re ready to go!

Here’s a rundown of Molly’s top ingredient picks for your DIY charcuterie board:

Cheese | lower-sodium varieties

• Goat cheese
• Burrata
• Fresh mozzarella
• Swiss

Crackers | whole grain, unrefined

Meats + Proteins

• Smoked salmon
• Shrimp with a squeeze of lemon
• Naturally-cured prosciutto
• Roasted chickpeas or edamame
• Marinated tofu

Crudité | olives + interesting vegetables

• Olives
• Vegetables picked in vinegar [e.g. okra, peppers, onions, mushrooms]
• Fermented vegetables or kimchi
• Thinly-sliced pink or watermelon radishes
• Roasted red + yellow peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Sliced fennel
• Endive leaves
• Jicama sticks

Fruits

• Figs [sliced length-wise]
• Cherries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Apples
• Pears
• apricots
• Dried fruit, without added sugar

Nuts | any + all 

• Raw
• Savory: roast with olive oil, spices, optional dash of salt
• Sweet + savory: roast with olive oil, sprinkle of Swerve, dash of salt

Dips + Sauces

• Creamy dips made with 2% Greek yogurt
• Whole grain mustard
• Hummus [add color with beet hummus, edamame hummus]

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FUELED Wellness + Nutrition is powered by Healthy Portions Meal Co. Learn more about the variety of Eat Fit options at Healthy Portions Meal Co, proud sponsor of FUELED Wellness + Nutrition with Molly on WGNO. 

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Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian + nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of Ochsner Eat Fit nonprofit restaurant initiative. Tune in to her podcast, FUELED | Wellness + Nutrition and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. See more of Molly’s articles + TV segments at www.mollykimball.com, and sign up for Eat Fit Wellness Bites weekly newsletter, here.

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