Indian Charcuterie Board

Everything you need to know about creating and assembling the perfect Indian Charcuterie Board with food inspirations, expert tips, and instructions. Serve your Indian snacks and sweets in a cheerful and festive way with this Indian grazing platter!

When I was planning what to serve for snacks for the upcoming Diwali party, I wanted to create something special that all – kids and adults would love. Hence, I decided to make an Indian-style Charcuterie board.

It is so easy to put together this desi charcuterie board – you can use store-bought snacks/sweets or make some at home. This is an excellent platter with lots of finger food that is always a hit and makes for a lovely presentation.

The trend of regionalized boards has spread with countless variations and combinations. I have shared some ideas for desi variations for the charcuterie board.

Want more party ideas? Here are many Indian Dinner Party Menu Ideas.

Watch How to Make an Indian Charcuterie Board

What Is Charcuterie?

If you are wondering how to say it? It is pronounced as ”shahr-koo-tuh-ree”.

The term “charcuterie” comes from a 15th-century French term. It refers to a type of cooking that focuses on meat products. It’s traditionally a term for a meat and cheese board that is served as an appetizer.

Making a charcuterie board can be relaxing, and unlike a hot dish, guests can savor it at their own pace. Smaller components, mostly finger foods, are preferred over multi-bite ones because you want guests to pick and choose what they like – or nibble during the course of the party/ event.

Why You’ll Love Charcuterie Boards?

• They are super customizable.
• Can be vegetarian or can include meat
• You can make it a meal, depending on what you use
• You can have different themes
• They can be budget-friendly or expensive
• You feel like an artist when creating one
• There’s not a lot of cleaning and dishwashing after
• They bring people together
• You can make one especially for kids
• They make a fantastic gift
• You can make a charcuterie box for a picnic

Elements Of A Perfect Indian Charcuterie Board

1. Texture Assortment – A savory board would include a variety of soft and hard foods for grazing. For example, different types of namkeens, nuts, samosas, dhoklas, etc., provide visual and sensory contrast.
2. Comforting Flavors – Include complimentary flavors that pair well. By selecting items that are similar yet distinct, you are telling your eye that it enjoys seeing different things, while also acknowledging that everything belongs together. On this board, I have incorporated two types of sweets: jalebi and laddoo. They are sweet but taste very different.
3. Color Variety: Diverse color components can add a playful appeal and make various items stand out. To help the eye distinguish each item on the board from the others, try grouping items with contrasting colors and textures.
4. Surprise Element: This is my favorite! The overall mood of the board can be improved by adding an unexpected item, like a special sweet or a chutney. You need to have that one item that will draw everyone’s eyes towards it.
5. Layout and Presentation: The goal is to create a board that is not only delicious but also visually appealing. The way you place your food makes a lot of impact. An easy way to dress up a board is by including some edible flowers/ themed toppers/ festive trinkets, etc.

What Board to Choose?

For obvious reasons, a board is the most important component of a charcuterie.

I like to start by picking a nice board. Charcuterie boards can be as large or as small as you want. When I have large gatherings, I always create multiple boards, depending on the number of people.

You do not need to purchase a specialized board – a pizza platter, wooden cutting board, serving tray, lazy susan, or any other nice, flat platter/ plate you might have on hand will suffice. Any shape or size will work.

For Diwali especially, it’s a great idea to use silver or brass serving trays and bowls!

If you’re serving a large group, you can use your countertop or a table. I suggest you use parchment paper before you start assembling your food.

The Grazing Board – Your Art

A charcuterie board is like a canvas, and you can be as creative as you like. Putting together an Indian platter is a form of art that involves contrasting textures and colors. There are absolutely no rules on how you create one. Whether it is simple or elaborate, you are still bound to enjoy it!

Where Can I Buy a Charcuterie Board?

A wide variety of options are available these days. You can find them locally in almost any store that has a kitchen goods section. You can find them at Target, TJ Maxx, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, and Williams-Sonoma, among other retailers. They are also available online on Amazon.

I am using a large-size tray from Ikea in this Indian Charcuterie Board.

What All Do You Need For An Indian Charcuterie?

The concept is very similar to a cheese or snack board. You need to consider how to incorporate familiar components to make them more inviting. I found that masala nuts, spicy chips, dhoklas, samosas, and bhel puri work well. Additionally, adding pieces of naan with a yogurt dip complements the tangy and crunchy elements remarkably. Think about your favorite items/ snacks, and consider what your family likes and dislikes, and start building with them.

What Is Typically On An Indian Charcuterie Board?

A traditional desi charcuterie board must include the four basic components: salt, acid, heat (spice), and fat. You can use what you already have on hand. You can also mix store-bought and homemade items to make things easier. Some of my favorite items to include are –

Appetizers

• Samosa – Samosa has to be on the menu for any Indian affair! You can make your own or get ready to heat frozen ones. You can also include a variation, such as my samosa jalapeño poppers or paneer puffs.
• Chutneys/ Dips – You can serve the traditional mint cilantro chutney and tamarind chutney, or these exotic cranberry chutney and apricot chutney.
• Dhokla/ Khandvi – These are amazing Gujarati appetizers: Khaman, Rava Dhokla, and Khandvi. They are light and airy.
• Patra: This is a Gujarati/ Maharashtrian savory snack shaped like pinwheels made from colocasia leaves.

Crunchy Munchies

• Shakarpara – these are crisp, mild, sweet snacks.
• Namak para – This is a savory, crunchy snack popular in the Indian subcontinent
• Bhel: It’s a popular spicy street food made from crispy puffed rice.
• Chakli – It is a spiral savory, fried snack made from rice flour
• Roasted Makhana – These lotus seed snacks are straightforward to make, and you can enjoy them plain or with a masala flavor.
• Roasted Cashews – make your own or use store-bought
• Masala Peanuts – Make your own or buy from the Indian grocery store.
• Khatta meetha Chivda – It’s a flavorful, sweet, and salty Indian mixture
• Parle-G Biscuits: Also called glucose biscuits. I have grown up eating these.

Sweets

• Jalebi: Jalebi is a spiral-shaped, crispy sweet made with all-purpose flour and dipped in sugar syrup.
• Ladoo: These are like circular sweets – besan laddoo, chocolate laddoo, coconut almond ladoo, rava ladoo, mango coconut ladoo.
• Barfi: These are fudge-like Indian sweets. You have a wide variety to choose from- besan barfi, magas, khoya barfi, badam katli, and kalakand.

Fruits

• Fruits/Vegetables – I like to include some sort of fruits and vegetables on my Indian-style charcuterie board, if possible. You can also do a fruit chaat.

How To Make Indian Charcuterie Board

7. Present and savor this Indian grazing platter! It is ideal for entertaining and will be loved by friends and family.

Pre – Preparation

• Items like roasted makhana, masala peanuts, roasted cashews, etc., can be made a few days before. Keep in an airtight container.
• Chutneys can be made a couple of days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
• You can make some simple sweets at home like these – badam katli, Chocolate Ladoo, besan ladoo etc.
• Fruits can be washed and refrigerated the night before.
• You can take out snacks from your favorite eateries or purchase frozen or prepared snacks from your preferred grocery stores. I would unquestionably advise purchasing snacks from the brands you have previously tried and enjoyed to avoid any disappointments especially for a large gathering.

Different Indian Inspired Board Options

Pakora Platter: Assorted pakoras – paneer pakora, eggplant pakora, aloo pakora, cauliflower pakora, onion bhaji with sweet and tangy chutneys make a great choice for an Indian-inspired board.

Chaat Board: Create this colorful, finger-licking board for your next get-together. Golgappas, papdi chaat, bhel puri, sev puri, dahi bhalla, aloo chaat, vada pav can be assembled and served in a fun way!

Curry Board: Transform your favorite dals and curries into a dip-like consistency and serve them on a board with papad, mini naan, missi roti, etc. Enjoy!

Asian-inspired Board: Make use of Asian flavors, and foods like wontons, spring rolls, sushi rolls, edamame, and tofu are great for creating this board.

Dessert Board: Charcuterie boards can be used for more than just cheeses and meats! They’re great for dessert snacking, and you can use a mix of your usual cupcakes, brownies, cheesecakes, and chocolates, along with some Indian fare.

Diwali Platter – Mixed Sweets: You can create this exciting Diwali platter with savory munchies, including farsan/namkeens, nuts, and assorted Indian sweets. Hop on to my special post on Best Diwali Recipes for some inspiration!

Ramadan Platter: Break your fast in style with a Ramadan platter. You can include dates, fruits, kebabs, tikkas, kheer, kuli-falooda, etc.

I suggest just getting creative and making such a board for any holiday dinner, such as an Indian-inspired Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, or for Holi.

Expert Tips

• Do not feel compelled to select a giant board because, ultimately, you must utilize every inch of the available space.
• Choose a tray/ platter with raised, higher edges to keep the food from spilling over.
• Draw a rough sketch/ template for how you want the final board to look, or you can use pictures from this post or the internet/social media for inspiration.
• Create height/ dimension by using bowls and small dishes, such as tapas plates.
• Try to gather all food/ items in advance to avoid any last-minute hiccups.
• Use a good mix of sweet and savory items, as well as a variety of strong and mild flavors, along with different textures.
• Assemble the board from the largest to the smallest items and then fill the empty spaces.
• You can use preportioned cups of desserts/snacks for easy picking and eating.
• Accompany your board with any utensils/ cutlery/ toothpicks if needed.
• Pair your board with the right drinks to enhance your food experience.

More Recipes to Include In Your Indian Charcuterie Board

Desserts

Gulab Jamun Custard Jars

Desserts

Gujiya

Appetizers & Snacks

Roasted Poha Chivda (Namkeen Snack)

Appetizers & Snacks

Crispy Sabudana Vada (+Air Fryer Option)