Randy Chandler
A cheese plate is a simple yet effective way to impress your guests. They are perfect for parties, holidays, or any get-togethers. The process is simple: you choose a variety of cheeses with different flavours and textures, and then add accompaniments such as meats, crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, olives, and sweet treats like honey or jam. The key is to create a visually appealing platter with a variety of colours and textures that will tantalise the taste buds and provide something for everyone to enjoy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | 3-4 is a good number to have a variety of flavors |
| Type of cheese | Mix of soft, semi-firm, and hard/aged cheeses |
| Milk type | Cow, sheep, goat, or a combination |
| Quantity of cheese | 3-4 ounces per person |
| Accompaniments | Nuts, fresh fruit, dried fruit, Crackers, bread slices, olives, dips, veggies, honey, confits, jams, preserves, meats |
| Arrangement | Pile everything in chaotic piles on a large board or platter |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the cheeses
When choosing the cheeses for your cheese plate, it's important to consider the variety of flavours and textures you want to offer your guests. A good rule of thumb is to choose three to five cheeses, but you can get away with just one or two if you're on a budget.
First, make sure to serve at least one familiar cheese, such as Gouda or Brie. This will ensure that guests who prefer to stick with what they know will still have something they enjoy.
Then, choose at least one cheese from each of the following categories:
- Aged or hard cheese: These cheeses have stronger flavours due to the chemical reactions that take place during ageing, such as lactic acid development, protein breakdown, and moisture loss. Examples include Asiago, Parmesan, and Reggiano.
- Soft or creamy cheese: These cheeses have a higher moisture content (between 42 and 80 per cent) and are usually aged for just a few weeks. They often have milder and/or tart flavour profiles. Goat cheese is a great option in this category.
- Firm and nutty cheese: Examples include Manchego and Gruyère.
- Tangy and funky cheese: This could be a blue cheese, like Gorgonzola, Stilton, or Roquefort.
- Ripe and oozy cheese: A Brie would be a good choice here.
If you're serving a pungent, stinky-socks type of cheese, it's best to place it on a separate plate so it doesn't overpower the more delicate cheeses. It's also a good idea to use a separate knife for each cheese to ensure that the flavours don't mix.
When deciding how much cheese to buy, plan on serving about 3-4 ounces (roughly the size of a pair of dice) per guest. If you're buying from a grocery store, don't be shy about asking the cheesemonger for advice and tasting samples. They can recommend cheeses that are in season and help you find options that align with your taste preferences.
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Selecting meats
When selecting meats for a cheese plate, it's essential to consider variety, quality, and quantity. Here are some tips to help you choose the best meats to complement your cheese selection:
Variety is the Spice of Life
Adding a variety of meats to your cheese plate makes it more interesting and appealing. Aim for a mix of whole-muscle cuts, encased meats, and forcemeats. Whole-muscle cuts, such as prosciutto, are preserved whole and then thinly sliced for serving. Encased meats, like salami, can be served whole or sliced, while forcemeats, including pâtés and rillettes, offer a different texture with their uniform mixture of meat and fat.
Meat Types
Popular choices for a cheese plate include cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, Spanish chorizo, soppressata, mortadella, and pepperoni. Deli counters at grocery stores are great for sampling and buying just the right amount of meat. You can ask for a few slices of different salamis, prosciuttos, or other meats that catch your eye.
Quantity
As a general rule, plan for about 2-3 ounces (56-84 grams) of meat per person if serving as an appetizer. This equates to around 4 slices of meat per person. If your cheese plate is the main course, double the quantity to 6 ounces (170 grams) per person.
Quality
While you don't have to break the bank, investing in good-quality meats will elevate your cheese plate. Seek out specialty stores or delicatessens known for their high-quality offerings. Regional charcuterie boards can be a fun way to showcase the best meats and cheeses from a particular area, whether it's an Italian-inspired selection or a celebration of local producers.
Presentation
The way you arrange your meats on the cheese plate also matters. Meats can be stacked, fanned out in lines or half-circles, or folded into fun shapes to add visual interest and make them easier to pick up. For thin meats like prosciutto, try folding them like ribbons.
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Adding fruits
When creating a cheese plate, you can add fruits for sweetness and colour. Start by arranging the larger items on your platter or board, such as bowls of olives, small jars of jam, or a ramekin of honey. Then, place your chosen cheeses near items they pair well with. For example, brie goes well with honey, so you could place a small bowl of honeycomb next to the cheese. You can also add cured meats like salami or summer sausage for contrast and to balance the sweetness of the fruit.
Next, add larger fruits like sliced apples, pears, persimmons, pomegranate segments, oranges, or stone fruits like plums, peaches, or nectarines. Fill in any gaps with smaller fruits like grape clusters, berries, dried fruit, nuts, and even squares of dark chocolate. You can also use sprigs of fresh rosemary to fill in empty spaces and add a decorative touch.
When choosing fruits for your cheese plate, avoid juicy fruits like pineapple or watermelon, as they will make the crackers and bread soggy. Instead, opt for fruits that pair well with cheese, such as:
- Red grapes
- Green apples
- Berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries
- Cherries
- Figs
- Dried fruit, such as dried apricots, dried cherries, dates, or cranberries
Fruits add a pop of colour and a touch of sweetness to your cheese plate, creating a well-rounded and delicious appetiser for your guests to enjoy.
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Adding crackers, bread, and nuts
When it comes to creating a cheese plate, crackers, bread, and nuts are essential components. These additions provide textural contrast, flavour variety, and make the cheese plate a more well-rounded snacking experience. Here's a detailed guide to adding crackers, bread, and nuts to your cheese plate:
Crackers:
Crackers are a must-have on any cheese plate. They serve as a palate cleanser between different cheeses and are perfect for scooping soft cheeses, preserves, and jams. You can fan them out along the edges of the plate, making them easily accessible to your guests. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even make your own crackers from scratch. A simple cracker recipe typically includes flour, cornstarch, oil, and water, but you can experiment with different types of flour, such as rye, buckwheat, or whole wheat, to add unique flavours and textures.
Bread:
Bread is another crucial element of a cheese plate. Like crackers, bread helps to cleanse the palate and provides a base for cheeses and toppings. You can offer a variety of bread options, such as sliced baguette, toasted crostini, strips of focaccia, or even breadsticks like sesame or olive oil breadsticks. If you want to keep things simple, a handful of crostini or crackers on the plate with a bowl of extra crackers on the side will do the trick.
Nuts:
Nuts add crunch, flavour, and texture to your cheese plate. Aim for a variety of salty, sweet, crunchy, spicy, and herb-flavoured nuts. Some popular options include candied pecans, roasted almonds, candied walnuts, cashews, pistachios, and spiced or herb-coated nuts. A small bowl of nuts on the side or scattered across the cheese plate will provide a delightful contrast to the cheeses.
When adding crackers, bread, and nuts to your cheese plate, remember to balance flavours and textures. You can also get creative with spreads, fruits, and vegetables to create a visually appealing and delicious cheese plate that your guests will rave about!
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Presentation
When it comes to presenting a cheese plate, there are a few things to consider to make it visually appealing. Firstly, it's important to have a variety of colours, shapes, textures and flavours on the plate. This can be achieved by selecting different types of cheese—soft, semi-firm, and hard or aged—and choosing cheeses made from different kinds of milk, such as cow, sheep, or goat.
It is also recommended to include crackers, bread slices, or cheese crackers to help cleanse the palate between different cheeses. These can also be used to scoop soft cheeses, preserves, and jams. A mix of crunchy and soft breads and crackers can be offered, with different flavours such as salty, herbed, or smooth and buttery. Adding meats to the plate can also kick up the flavour and add interesting textures.
To fill in the gaps on the plate, consider adding fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, berries, dried fruits, or watermelon radishes and rainbow carrots. Olives are also a popular choice, especially Castelvetrano olives. If serving olives with pits, it is a good idea to provide a small bowl for the pits. Honey, jams, and preserves can be added to mix up the flavours and cut through the fat in the cheese. Nuts are another great addition to a cheese plate, providing a salty or sweet and crunchy texture. When arranging the plate, it is suggested to create organised chaotic piles to make the plate look gorgeous and Instagram-worthy.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a variety of cheeses, crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, honey, and meats.
It is recommended to have a variety of textures and flavours. Pick from soft, semi-firm, and hard/aged cheeses. If you pick two cheeses from the same category, make sure their flavours are distinct.
It is recommended to allow for about 3 ounces of cheese per person.
Place the cheeses on the corners and in the middle of the plate, then arrange the rest of the ingredients spaced out evenly around the cheeses. Fill in any gaps with greenery such as arugula or rosemary sprigs.
