How to Make Charcuterie Boards for Dairy-Free, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Guests
Is everyone else as in love with the current charcuterie board rage as I am?
I have seen some real artistry in how beautiful they can be. If you’re dairy and gluten sensitive like me then just picking a few carrots or grapes to put on your plate is just kind of sad, huh? Well, this is your lucky day! I can’t promise that any of the charcuterie boards you encounter at parties will be clean for you to eat, but I can point you in the right direction for finding healthy alternatives to make your own boards. And, yes, you’re worth it!😊
Whenever I go to a party and see a charcuterie board, my face lights up like a Christmas tree because they are so pretty and who doesn’t love a good snack at a party? I’m always going to go for the savory over the sweets. But then I’d be just a little disappointed that the cheese and crackers could wreck my stomach. It was a temptation to be sure!
Since realizing that dairy just doesn’t agree with me, I have tried quite a few non-dairy cheeses trying to get my fix while not wrecking my gut. My favorite vegan cheeses are from Miyoko’s Creamery. Miyoko’s vegan cheeses are super tasty. I’ve been impressed with how they melt and taste in my favorite dishes. Miyoko’s sells just about any kind of cheese you could possibly want. They have wheels of artisan cheeses and spreads. The butter and cream cheese are also amazing. I honestly couldn’t tell the difference between their butter and regular butter. It is THAT good!
If you decide to try Miyoko’s don’t be put off by the color!
These cheeses are made from cashews so they are going to be the color of a cashew. I’ll admit it was a little off putting at first but then I tasted them and suddenly the color wasn’t an issue. Of course, we start eating with our eyes and noses first, am I right? So, be prepared, think about the color of cashews, and notice that they smell and taste amazing!😊
Giving up dairy has been one of the hardest foods for me to let go of. I religiously use coconut milk in my coffee but how do you make a pizza without cheese? It’s tough, let me tell you. In my journey to health, I’ve tried a lot of alternatives and to my absolute delight, I’ve discovered that I can handle organic goat and sheep cheeses. And now I no longer feel like I’ve had to completely give up dairy products.
I first tried goat milk kefir and goat milk yogurt by Redwood Hill Farm and was blown away by the creaminess and taste. I then discovered that they also had raw goat milk cheddar and let me tell you, it is DELICIOUS and creamy and wonderful! This has opened up a brand new world for me! Since all the organic goat milk products settled well with my stomach, my husband has been going to Whole Foods when he is in Nashville and getting different types of goat and sheep milk cheeses for us to try. They have all settled well with my stomach and I just love the possibilities that are out there for me now!
I hope if you have issues with dairy that you’ll give these a try. We have even been having charcuterie boards for dinner quite often since making the cheese discovery. If we want more protein (or if you’re serving meat eaters!) we can throw on some Boar’s Head deli meats, fresh vegetables and fruits, along with gluten-free crackers and we are set! It’s like a deconstructed chef’s salad! And, let’s face it, snacks are my favorite food group!😉
Decadent Dairy-free Cheese Options
Miyoko's Aged Black Ash Cashew Milk Cheese
Miyoko's Aged Sharp English Farmhouse Cashew Milk Cheese
Miyoko's Double Cream Classic Chive Cashew Milk Cheese
Miyoko's Organic Roadhouse Cheddar - Classic Sharp
Delicious Alternative Milk Cheese Options
Montchevre Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese
Vermont Creamery Herbed Chevre Goat Cheese
Fantastic Gluten-free Crackers
Simple Mills Organic Seed Flour Crackers
Everybody Eat Cheese-less Thins
Real Thin Mary's Gone Crackers
Schar Entertainment Crackers