Crafting the Perfect African Food Charcuterie Board

Create an unforgettable African food charcuterie board with this simple yet essential plan. Just follow the 3-3-3-3 rule: three kinds of cheese, three types of meat, three starches, and three accouterments. Discover the essential meats for your African food charcuterie board, including South African biltong, droëwors, and Nigerian suya. Enhance your board with cheeses like Lebanese labneh, Ethiopian ayibe, and West African wara, along with a variety of breads, fruits, greens, spreads, pickled items, sweets, and beverages for a rich, cultural experience.

Crafting the Perfect African Food Charcuterie Board

Our African Food Charcuterie Board features a lush selection of delicacies that beautifully showcase the diverse culinary heritage of Africa. Here's a curated selection of foods for your African food charcuterie board:

African Food Charcuterie Board 

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Meats

Biltong is not beef jerky but a dried and cured meat snack popular in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. It is typically made from beef, game, or ostrich meat.

Droëwors are dried sausages from South Africa, made from beef or game meat and flavored with coriander seeds.

Suya is a famous Nigerian skewered meat, usually beef or chicken.

African Food Charcuterie Board 

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Cheeses

Lebna is a type of strained yogurt cheese, thick and spreadable, commonly found in countries like Egypt and Libya.

Ayibe is an Ethiopian fresh cheese, mild and crumbly, often used in salads.

Wara is a West African cheese made from cow's milk or soymilk, similar to tofu in texture.

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Breads and Crackers

Fufu is rolled into golf ball-sized balls, and an indentation is made with the right finger. Then, it is dipped into a soup, sauce, or stew to soak up the flavor.

Chapati is a flatbread from East Africa, perfect for wrapping or dipping.

Injera is an Ethiopian and Eritrean sourdough flatbread, spongy in texture, used to scoop up other foods.

Khobz is a Moroccan round bread, slightly crusty and perfect for spreading or dipping.

Funge is a traditional and authentic side dish commonly served with classic Angolan stews, but you can also dip it in a spicy sauce.

Making fufu

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Fruits and Nuts

Kola Nuts are a cherished and revered ancient nut plant that is culturally very important for West and Central tribes in traditional ceremonies, special events, and welcoming visitors. Kola nut has natural sweetness as well as lots of caffeine.

Baobab Fruit, either dried or as a powder, is known for its tangy flavor and high nutritional value.

Tiger Nuts or Chufa is a traditional snack in West Africa, chewy and slightly sweet.

Umkhiwa salted figs with honey is a fruit popular on African food charcuterie boards.

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Greens and Herbs

Black-eyed pea leaves have a tender texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. 

Raw sorrel is a leafy green herb with a tangy, lemon-like flavor. Blueberry farmers are familiar with the plant because it thrives in the same conditions under which blueberries are cultivated.

Young okra is delicious raw. Young tender okra is soft and ideal for eating raw or cooked, while large old okra is tougher and more fibrous.

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Spreads and Dips

Harissa is a spicy Tunisian chili paste, great for adding a kick to meats and pieces of bread.

Peanut Sauce is common in West African cuisine, rich and savory, perfect for dipping meats or breads.

Zaalouk is a Moroccan eggplant and tomato dip, flavorful and slightly smoky.

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Pickled and Preserved Items

Atchar is a South African pickled relish, usually made from green mangoes.

Chakalaka is a South African vegetable relish that is spicy and tangy and often served cold.

Pickled Lemons are common in North African cuisine, adding a tangy, citrusy note.

Banana Beer

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Sweets

Koeksisters is a South African sweet, syrup-coated doughnut that is sticky and delicious.

Sesame Brittle, also known as Nougat, is crunchy and sweet, popular in many African regions.

Coconut candies are sweet and chewy and are enjoyed in coastal parts of Africa.

African Food Charcuterie Board Essentials: Beverages

Madila from Botswana is a traditional fermented milk product, thick and similar to yogurt cheese, used in various dishes.

Rooibos Tea is a South African herbal tea that is naturally sweet and caffeine-free.

Hibiscus Tea, also known as Bissap, is famous in West Africa, tart and refreshing, often served cold.

Rwanda is famous for Urwagwa or Banana-beer served in traditional containers. Urwagwa is a local Rwanda banana beer brew made out of crushed banana nectar.

Ginger Beer is a famous African drink with spicy and sweet notes. This non-alcoholic beverage is common in nearly every African country.

Palm Wine is the most time-honored and universal moonshine in Africa. Palm wine, or white drink, is an alcoholic beverage widely consumed in West, South, and Central Africa. For centuries, people of Africa have tapped the sap found in palm trees and let it ferment to make a popular alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm trees.