Pickled Grapes Deserve A Spot On Your Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards have been having their moment for some time, and we get it. These cured meat and cheese boards that have their roots in all things French allow culinary artists to create a new and unique pièce de résistance each time they make one. According to Serious Eats, these Instagram-worthy plates have been around for a while. They first made their humble debut in the 1400s when French meat makers couldn't sell uncooked pork, so they would hang their meats at the window to entice hungry carnivores. Of course, charcuterie did not start as the elaborate spreads we see today, but the concept has definitely evolved. 

Today, Food Business News reports charcuterie boards are everywhere from restaurants to parties to date nights, noting that their versatility is their biggest selling point. So what's on a charcuterie board today? Cork Dining shares that in addition to cured meats, a charcuterie board can be comprised of soft and hard cheeses, crackers, berries, honey, pickles, and the list goes on. You can even add nut butter to elevate this dish. But one food item that deserves a spot on your charcuterie board is pickled grapes, and here's why.

If you've never considered pickled grapes for your charcuterie board or tasted them at all, you may want to reconsider because according to Esquire, these babies are delicious. James Beard award-winning chef John Currence told the publication that the idea of pickled grapes first came to him when he was making lamb shoulder. The chef explained he was looking for something "sweet and tart" when he decided to try pickled grapes, an homage to his grandmother's pickled plums. The pickled grapes provided the balance the chef was looking for and he raved about the flavor: "They retain all of their natural flavors and pick up the bite of the vinegar."

Pickled grapes are definitely the perfect taste to compliment some of your favorite meats and cheeses, but they can be used in other recipes as well, like these scallops with ajo blanco and pickled grapes. Making your own pickles may sound intimidating, but per this recipe, it's as simple as boiling water with sugar and vinegar, then pouring the mixture over the grapes. So if you're looking at your charcuterie board and notice it's missing a sweet and tart component, you can easily whip up some pickled grapes.