Mexican Charcuterie Board
This Mexican-themed charcuterie board may at first glance look like a “regular” charcuterie board. If you look a little closer, though, the various components have a decidedly Mexican twist. You’ll see homemade tajín, spicy avocado hummus, salsa verde, red chile pecans, Mexican dark chocolate, and more. Enjoy it on the patio on a Sunday evening like we do, or for a Super Bowl party or Cinco de Mayo party!
👩🏻🍳 Tamara Talks – About Charcuterie Boards
Charcuterie boards (aka “platter dinners” at Andersen casa) make a somewhat regular appearance at our house. My husband loves to do them for my birthday, and when we just want to spend extended time on the patio without a lot of work in the kitchen beforehand.
They’ve typically been global or eclectic in flavor profile, with favorites like gyros, hummus, tapenade, local quality meats and cheeses, fresh fruit, cornichons, crackers or baguette, olives, and dark chocolate. I have never put a charcuterie board together with a Mexican flair, and I love a challenge!
It was the tajín that inspired the other components. This simple spice blend of red chile powder, crystallized lime, and salt brings vibrant Mexican flavor to fresh mango, jicama, melon, cucumber and radishes. From there, you can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want. I include 3 of my favorite salsas, all homemade, from recipes on Beyond Mere Sustenance. Substitute your favorite commercial brands if you prefer. Be sure to check out the “how to make” section for ideas.
🧀 A Mexican-Inspired Charcuterie Board
Use this image for inspiration. It’s a “template” rather than a “recipe.” The components are keyed below the photo. In the how to section below, I will include alternatives and suggestions.
𝟙 black bean and corn salsa
𝟚 Spanish chorizo
𝟛 tomato bruschetta crackers
𝟜 melon with homemade tajín
𝟝 spicy avocado hummus
𝟞 radishes
𝟟 Mexican dark chocolate
𝟠 cocoa almonds
𝟡 candied red chile pecans
𝟙𝟘 mango with homemade tajín
𝟙𝟙 jicama with homemade tajín
𝟙𝟚 tomatillo and green chile salsa (salsa verde)
𝟙𝟛 cucumber with homemade tajín
𝟙𝟜 Tickler Cheddar Cheese with Chilies & Pepper
𝟙𝟝 queso cotija
𝟙𝟞 pickled jalapeños
𝟙𝟟 dry cured olives
𝟙𝟠 baked tortilla chips
𝟙𝟡 Mexican cheese ball (see FAQ below)
𝟚𝟘 homemade tajín
📋 How to Make a Mexican-Themed Charcuterie Board
In putting together an appealing charcuterie board, I like to cover all the tastes – salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. With Mexican flavors, I’d have to include a sixth taste – spicy! Remember: This is a template rather than a recipe!
You want to have a method when putting together a charcuterie board. This is my proces:
Step 1
Start by anchoring your board with bowls or small plates. These will hold your dips (salsa, hummus), spreads, olives, pickled jalapeños, etc.
Step 2
Next, add larger items that don’t require a container, like the cheese ball and the wheel of dark chocolate.
Step 3
Medium items like crackers, tortilla chips, sliced baguette, etc. come next. This is a good time to add sliced or julienned fruit and/or vegetables in a pleasing pattern. NOTE: Take care to keep the crackers and chips away from any damp items like cucumber or mango. Filling in with cheese is a good way to avoid soggy crackers and chips!
Step 4
Fill in with small items like radishes, lime wedges, and cilantro sprigs.
🌶️ Suggested Mexican-Themed Components
Dippers
If you plan to include salsas or hummus, you’ll need dippers. On photo day, I chose baked tortilla chips (see FAQ below) and bruschetta style crackers with tomato. They work well with all of the salsas and the spicy avocado hummus. To save time, use good restaurant style tortilla chips rather than baking or air frying them.
Toasted baguette is another good option, and don’t forget you can dip the crudité (sliced or whole raw veggies) in the salsas as well.
Crudité
While I chose cucumbers, radishes, and jicama, don’t stop there. I love sweet bell pepper strips and sliced zucchini or yellow squash. Of course carrots, celery, tiny tomatoes, and other more commonly used vegetables are fine as well…
Cheeses
The typical Mexican cheeses are obvious choices if you like them – queso fresco, asadero, queso añejo, cotija, panela, Oaxaca, manchego (Spanish but popular in Mexico). On photo day, I was fortunate to find the Tickler chile and peppers cheese and a red chile coated aged cotija, and both were fantastic with the other components. If you have more basic tastes in cheese, pepper jack and sharp cheddar are just fine.
You may have noticed the cheese ball in the upper left of the tray photo? I created that “on the fly,” and it was delicious! I’m hoping to have a recipe for you in the not-too-distant future. It was cream cheese, cotija, scallions, bacon, and minced red jalapeño that was then rolled in crushed red chile pecans. Delicioso!
I would offer one suggestion that many of you will love: Queso. It’s not a favorite at Andersen casa, but I know my readers love it. You can make queso or buy it. And, yes, I’m partial to queso with Hatch green chiles!
Meat(s)
We usually include prosciutto on a cheese and meat tray. I think the flavor of Spanish chorizo is more appropriate with the other Mexican flavors. Serrano ham would be a nice option. Some Latin markets and local farmers markets have really special cured meat products, so keep your eyes out!
Salsas
I’m always going to opt for homemade salsas and dips if I have the time. If you type “salsa” in my search bar, you will see both unique and traditional salsa options. On photo day, I included the spicy avocado hummus, the tomatillo and green chile salsa verde, and the black bean and corn salsa. I really wanted to include chamoy, but I didn’t get it done.
Not all of you have the time or the desire to start from scratch, and thankfully, there is no shortage of excellent commercial salsas available. Go for a combination of textures and flavors if possible – perhaps a pico de gallo, a smooth cooked chile sauce, and a chipotle mango salsa.
Sweets
This group includes both fruits and treats. I think both are important on a good charcuterie board. Melon is my “go to” fruit for this purpose. It is so delicious with tajín, wrapped in prosciutto, or just served plain. Mango, beloved by Mexicans, is an obvious choice. My dehydrated mango with tajín features the spice/fruit combination. They are amazing with tajín. That does not mean you can’t use grapes, apples, oranges, and more typical fruits. Make it your own.
I live in a 92% Mexican region on the border between Texas and Mexico. I can find many things you cannot. I had Taza Mexican vanilla chocolate, and it was a stellar addition. My local market had cocoa coated almonds, and I did some quick candied pecans with red chile. See FAQ below for easy instructions!
Accoutremants
This group includes all the “extras” like pickled jalapeños, olives, pickles, and nuts. Don’t box yourself in. Add what you like. We love the pickled jalapeños, and I always have to include olives. I’m particularly fond of dry cured olives. No, they’re not “Mexican.” However, Mexicans do love olives, and you have permission to use your favorite!
Include what you like. Let Mexican flavors inspire you, but not limit you. Cinnamon, chipotle (and other red chiles), fresh produce, yummy salsas, tasty cheeses, and a variety of dippers will make your charcuterie board unique.
❓ FAQ
How do I make baked tortilla chips?
How do I make the Mexican cheese ball?
How do I make the candied red chile pecans?
TIP: Store leftovers in individual containers rather than just covering the leftover on the board. It will taste fresher when you finish the items!
TIP: Group items in such a way that the flavors work if they touch each other!
I’m here to answer questions! If you have ideas, need a recipe or recommendation for a commercial product, please don’t hesitate to contact me via comments below or at tamara@beyondmeresustenance.com.
A Mexican-Inspired Charcuterie Board
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Equipment
Ingredients
Dippers
- tortilla chips
- bruschetta-style crackers with tomato
- toasted baguette
Crudité
- cucumbers
- radishes
- jicama
- tiny tomatoes
Cheeses
- chile pepper cheese - (like pepper jack or Hatch chile)
- queso añejo
- manchego
- cheese ball - see post FAQ section
Meats
- Spanish chorizo
- serrano ham
- specialty meats - found at Latin foods markets
Salsas and Dips
- Hatch chile and tomatillo salsa verde - or similar
- spicy avocado hummus - or guacamole
- black bean and corn salsa
- all natural chamoy
Sweets
- Mexican chocolate
- cocoa almonds
- tajín mango
- spicy candied pecans - see post FAQ section
Accoutrements
- pickled jalapeños
- olives
- nuts
- pickles
Instructions
- Start with any items that require a bowl or container (salsas, dips,nuts, olives). Place them from large to small.
- Add any other large items (like the cheese ball).
- Fill in the spaces in between with groups like veggies, fruits, and dippers (chips, crackers). Garnish with a few lime wedges, and enjoy!
Notes
NOTE: Macronutrients are an approximation only using unbranded ingredients and MyFitnessPal.com. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
We love this Mexican Charcuterie board idea! Bookmarking this idea for our next gathering. So many delicious ideas. I guess we are going to need a bigger board! LOL
Haha! We pretty much always have that problem at Andersen casa!
What a great idea for a charcuterie board. The husband and I put one together every once in a while for dinner. This is a great way to mix things up. Lots of tasty ingredients. I’d probably throw in a pickled vegetable, something I’ve become addicted to since watching A Mexican Table on PBS as well as other Mexican cooking shows. What fun!
A Mexican Table is a great show! I did add the pickled jalapeños, but they were kind of an after thought. I got fermenting gear for Christmas, and I’m thinking about coming up with some fermented vegetables with a Mexican flair, and they’d be a great addition…