Anyone that loves hosting has seen or taken part in arranging a charcuterie board — whether it’s full of smoked meats, sliced cheeses, or just a veggie platter. Many charcuterie boards include items that are inedible for vegans. With alternatives in mind and knowing the elements of an ideal arrangement, you can create a vegan charcuterie plate that will satisfy you and your guests and get the dining experience started.
According to Shannon Shipman, there are five crucial elements needed to create a balanced charcuterie board: cheese, sweet, savory, meat, and bread. There are many food brands making vegan cheeses and meat substitutes. Even some you can find at your local Aldi, according to Make It Dairy Free. These elements are also typically the biggest, anything from a circle or wedge of cashew cheddar or a link of vegan salami. On the plate, these items will be a focal point around which to arrange the other elements, including crackers or slices of bread.
To balance out the rest of the plate with the sweet and savory, this is where you can get creative with flavors, colors, and textures. To bring in the savory you can add a bowl of olives or dip. A shallow bowl of hummus or baba ganoush goes great with charcuterie elements and is delicious spread on bread and other dippable vegetables. For sweet, try your hand at making easy candied walnuts, which play up both sweet and savory flavors.
