Back in the day, you couldn’t have a party without a crudité platter with sliced cucumbers, celery sticks, broccoli florets, and other crunchy fresh veggies. While crudité platters are definitely still a thing, charcuterie boards have taken party appetizers to the next level.
What Is Usually on a Charcuterie Board?
Technically speaking, charcuterie refers to cured meats, and traditionally, charcuterie boards were mostly made up of sliced meats and sausages, with some nuts, crackers, cheeses, and spreads added to round things out. These days, there are dessert charcuterie boards, fruit charcuterie boards, and yes, vegan charcuterie boards! The name has come to describe any kind of food artfully arranged on a board. And let’s be real: fruits and veggies look way more appetizing and colourful on a board than all those sliced meats!
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Charcuterie Board
Here’s why this vegan charcuterie board is a guaranteed hit at any party:
Beautiful. They say that we eat with our eyes before our mouths. And when it comes to vegan charcuterie boards, that’s certainly the case! A carefully arranged vegan charcuterie board looks like a work of art, making it an ideal snack centerpiece. Delicious. Although vegan charcuterie boards are aesthetically pleasing, they don’t skimp on taste either! A balance of sweet and savory ingredients gives you a vegan charcuterie board that will satisfy any palate. Versatile. Consider this recipe a starting point—feel free to use it as inspiration to come up with your own creation!
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Savory
Vegan cheese – I used vegan cheddar and gouda. Olives Other options – Sun-dried tomatoes, grilled artichokes, pickles
Fresh veggies
Carrot – Cut them into sticks. Cucumber – I also cut the cucumber into sticks. Bell pepper – Choose one colour or a few. Cherry tomatoes Other options – Celery, radishes
Sweet
Strawberries – I leave the tops on because it looks better visually. Blueberries – Set them in a bowl so they don’t roll off your board! Cherries Dates Other options – Apple, grapes, raspberries, blueberries, figs, oranges, peaches, etc.
Dips
Hummus – Store-bought or homemade. Try my Perfect Homemade Hummus or Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. Guacamole – Again, store-bought or homemade. I love my Easy Guacamole recipe. Other options – Vegan pesto, jams, etc.
Other
Whole grain crackers Nuts Other options – Falafel, vegan meat
How to Make a Vegan Charcuterie Board
Here’s how easy it is to make your own vegan charcuterie board for a party.
Start with the bowls. Place small items like olives and blueberries in bowls. Add these to the board first. Group like items together. Start to arrange items that pair with each other, like fruit near fruits, crackers near spreads and cheese, etc. Finish. Fill in the gaps until there’s no more empty space.
Tips for Assembling a Beautiful Vegan Charcuterie Board
These additional tips will help you make sure your vegan charcuterie board is a feast for the eyes.
Choose the right board. It can be round or rectangular, any finish you like—what’s most important is that you use the right size for your ingredients. A beautiful charcuterie board has very little empty space, so it’s best to err on the side of smaller rather than going too big. Use the best fruit and veggies possible. Which means: very fresh! You don’t want to add produce that’s past its prime or full of bruises and blemishes. Don’t leave big gaps. You want a look of abundance, so be sure to jam in as much as you can! If needed, you can fill any large spaces with sprigs of fresh herbs. Celebrate the season. Adapt your vegan charcuterie board ingredients to the current season. Whole radishes are lovely in the spring, heirloom tomatoes add colour in the summer, and slices of crisp apples pair well with vegan cheese in the fall. Don’t hesitate to re-do it. If you don’t like the way your charcuterie board turns out, don’t worry. You can always start over and try again until you get the look you’re going for!
Serving Suggestions
Serve your vegan charcuterie board with cocktails, mocktails, and other vegan appetizers. Here are some of my favourites for entertaining:
Pineapple Coconut Rum Cocktail Peach Bellini Watermelon Mojitos Air Fryer Veggie Chips Stuffed Mushrooms with Coconut Bacon Vegan Whipped Feta Dip
Enjoy friends! If you make this vegan charcuterie board, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
