The Festive DIY Charcuterie Board To Celebrate Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is widely considered the unofficial start of summer, making it the perfect occasion to kick off a season of fun in the sun with an outdoor cookout. While folks wait for all their favorite grilled fare, give them something to snack on by making a colorful patriotic charcuterie board with maximum visual impact. However, you don't want to throw just anything from your fridge on the platter. What to do when you want to make a tasty assemblage and also tip your hat to the holiday?

One simple method is to set up your charcuterie board so that it mimics Old Glory. Crimson cold cuts like salami and pepperoni laid out in a line with alternating rows of complementary white cheeses, like brie and provolone, can get you started. Along with light-colored crackers, these can make up the bulk of the board. This 4th of July Cookie Cutter Set also works well for Memorial Day with two sizes of stars and other patriotic shapes to prep star-shaped cheeses, for instance. Place these in a field of blue crafted with blueberries, raisins, and blackberries that cut through the savory richness of the meats and cheeses.

You don't necessarily have to create a flag to stay on theme. Color coordinate spiral designs centered around a Statue of Liberty cutout or incorporate foods from various regions of the country, from smoked salmon representing the Pacific Northwest to cranberries referencing New England. As long as the colors are there and the components work to enhance each other, the design can be just about anything that looks appealing and on theme.

Being a good Memorial Day BBQ host means making sure everyone gets their fill. If your charcuterie board is filled with nothing but meat, cheese, and crackers, anyone who is vegetarian or lactose intolerant will feel left out. Setting out a more diverse array of foods like a variety of fresh fruit and nuts on your charcuterie board not only creates more snacking options but also gives you an opportunity to enhance the visual charm with additional color and texture.

Need some more ideas? Watermelon can be carved into patriotic shapes with cookie cutters, and once cut, the tool left behind can function as a container for cashews or peanuts. Strawberries can be fanned out and dotted between other ingredients to increase the charcuterie board's appeal. And why make it complicated? If you lay out some blue corn chips with salsa in a white container, you have all three colors right there. Speaking of salsa, don't forget to include sauces and spreads that complement ingredients on the board, like bacon jam and BBQ sauce.

Adding something candy-like is always a treat for folks with a sweet tooth. White chocolate-covered pretzels complement cheeses, fruits, and meat. Red, white, and blue M&M's are easy to come by around Memorial Day, or you could get fancy and set out chocolate salami on your charcuterie board. As long as you stay focused on patriotic colors and designs, a Memorial Day charcuterie board is the perfect opportunity to let your creativity shine and wow your guests with elegantly arranged, flavorful snacks.