Jarcuterie – The Perfect Personalized Snack

Create the perfect portion-controlled snack using your favorite cheeses, lean meats, fruits, nuts and other fun finger foods with the newest charcuterie trend – JARcuterie!

A jarcuterie is a single-serving charcuterie board packed into a cute little jar or container. Homemade jarcuterie makes the perfect personalized snack for any situation, from a romantic evening in with your significant other to a family movie night.

How to Make Your Own Jarcuterie

• Include foods like cheeses, meats, olives, sliced fruit and nuts, displayed on skewers or toothpicks.
• Start with the most durable ingredients you have, such as nuts or fruits, at the bottom of the skewer to weigh it down.
• Next, layer traditional charcuterie meats or even deli turkey, alongside cubed cheese, fruit, crackers or pretzels to really pack the container.
• Then, stuff smaller foods like chocolate pieces or berries in the front of the container, using the larger items and skewers to hold them up.
• To personalize your jarcuterie, tie ribbons or bows around the containers or label them with personalized nametags.

Not only is it delicious, but this charcuterie board alternative can also help you to manage your portions and get a variety of nutrients in one snack. Cheese is the second leading food source of calcium in the U.S. diet. It is also an excellent source of high-quality protein and contributes other essential nutrients such as phosphorus and vitamin A to your diet.

A serving size of cheese is about 1 ½ ounces (or 4 dice-sized cubes). The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating three servings of dairy foods, like milk cheese and yogurt, a day to improve your overall diet, get more nutrients and improve bone health.

Not sure what to add to your jarcuterie? Dairy and plant-based foods work together to deliver essential nutrients! Consult this quick guide of common cheese pairings:

Swiss

Classically nutty and sweet, pair with olives, dried fruits like raisins and figs.

Baby Swiss

Nutty, sharp and a bit milder than its originalcounterpart, pair with berries and green apple slices or fruit jam and rye bread.

Cheddar

Creamy and sharp, a classic that goes perfectlywith pickles or fruits like apples, pears and grapes or almonds.

Colby

Mild and mellow, and a little bit sweet, pair with dried apricots and almonds or fruits like grapes, pineapple or dates.

Gouda

Mild, creamy and slightly sweet, pair with piquillo peppers and almonds or crackers and specialty mustard.

Pepper Jack

Sharp and a little spicy, balance with melon, nutsor savory crackers.

Marble

Mild, smooth and tangy, pair with dried apricotsand almonds or whole wheat crackers.

Support Ohio dairy farmers by including Ohio-made cheese in your jarcuterie. Find Ohio cheese available for online purchase or at local cheese shops near you.

Contributor Emily Gabel, dietetic intern The Ohio State University