How to build a prosciutto and cheese board

Choose a few clear flavours

Start with one prosciutto or cured meat you want to feature. Add a milder cheese and a stronger one, based on what your guests enjoy. Every item does not need to be intense and salty; a little contrast makes the board more interesting.

If a main course follows, a starting shopping example for four adults is roughly 200 g of prosciutto and 200 g of cheese in total, plus bread and accompaniments. This is an illustrative starter plan, not a fixed serving standard. A board served as dinner needs a different calculation.

Add something fresh and something crisp

Cut vegetables, a few olives and some bread may be enough. Dried figs or almonds make sense if people enjoy them, rather than as decorations left behind at the end.

Check allergens in cheese, bread, nuts and spreads. For guests with specific dietary requirements, separate serving dishes may be more practical than one large mixed board.

Make it easy to serve

Avoid stacking all the prosciutto in one dense pile. Arrange smaller groups, cut cheese into manageable pieces and put spreads in their own little bowls. Leave room for serving utensils.

Bring out what people are eating

For a longer gathering, keep part of the selection appropriately chilled and replenish the board as needed. Leaving one large board on a warm terrace for hours is not a good serving plan.