Bushra Griffith
A cheese platter is a versatile dish that is perfect for every occasion, from holiday parties to play dates. It is a crowd-pleaser and can be made fancy or simple, depending on your preference. The best thing about a cheese platter is that it is a plate full of cheese, and who doesn't love cheese? Creating the best cheese platter involves selecting a variety of cheeses with different flavours and textures, such as soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses. It is recommended to have at least three types of cheese on the platter. In addition to cheese, a cheese platter typically includes crackers, fruits, nuts, meats, and condiments such as honey, jam, or mustard. The key to a beautiful cheese platter is to mix different flavours, colours, shapes, and textures to create an enticing appetizer board.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Base | Large cutting board, serving platter, tray or baking sheet covered with parchment paper |
| Cheese | Aged white cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Gruyère, Dubliner, Manchego, goat cheese, brie, Parmesan, pecorino, Camembert, Tallegio |
| Sweet items | Dried and fresh fruits, honey, jam |
| Salty items | Nuts, crackers, pretzels, breadsticks, meats |
| Condiments | Mustard, chutneys, dips |
| Other items | Olives, cherry tomatoes, grapes, clementine segments, cocktail onions |
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What You'll Learn
- Choosing a board: Use a large, flat surface like a wooden cutting board, serving platter, or tray
- Selecting cheeses: Pick 3-5 cheeses with different flavours and textures, such as cheddar, gouda, brie, or goat cheese
- Adding accompaniments: Include crackers, nuts, dried fruits, and condiments like honey or jam
- Arranging the platter: Place cheese wedges first, then fill with salty items, sweet treats, and crunchy elements
- Serving tips: Let cheeses warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Provide cheese knives or butter knives for guests
Choosing a board: Use a large, flat surface like a wooden cutting board, serving platter, or tray
When creating a cheese platter, the first thing to consider is the board itself. A large, flat surface is ideal, such as a wooden cutting board, serving platter, or tray. You can also use a few dinner plates placed together on a table. If you don't have a dedicated cheese board, don't worry—a nice wooden cutting board or a large serving platter will do. Even a tray or baking sheet covered with parchment paper can work.
The size of your board is important, as you want to make sure it's big enough to fit all your cheeses and accompaniments comfortably. You don't want it to look crowded or cramped. A circular or rectangular board can work, depending on your preference and what you have available. If you're using a cutting board, a plain wooden or bamboo one is perfect, but you can also use plastic if that's what you have on hand.
If you want to get creative, you can use a large slate board or a cookie sheet for a rustic look. Remember, your board will be mostly covered with cheese and other items, so don't stress too much about finding the perfect one. You can also assemble your cheese platter on a few different surfaces, like a combination of a board and some small plates for items that take up too much space or to add variety to your presentation.
Once you've selected your board, it's time to move on to the fun part: choosing and arranging your cheeses and accompaniments! But remember, the board itself is an important foundation for your cheese platter, so choose a surface that is large, flat, and fits your style and needs.
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Selecting cheeses: Pick 3-5 cheeses with different flavours and textures, such as cheddar, gouda, brie, or goat cheese
When creating a cheese platter, selecting the right cheeses is crucial. Aim for 3-5 cheeses with different flavours and textures to create an enticing platter. Here are some tips to help you select the perfect combination of cheeses:
Firstly, consider the different categories of cheese. Choose from a variety of firm or semi-firm cheeses, soft cheeses, and hard cheeses. For firm or semi-firm cheeses, options like aged white cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Gruyère, Dubliner, or Manchego are excellent choices. Soft cheeses such as goat cheese, brie, or Camembert offer a creamy texture. Hard cheeses such as Parmesan or aged cheddar provide a sharper flavour.
When selecting your cheeses, feel free to choose two cheeses from one category, but ensure they have distinct flavours. For example, goat cheese and brie are both soft cheeses, but goat cheese is tangy and flecked with herbs, while brie is buttery. This way, you can offer a range of flavours within the same texture category.
To enhance the flavour of your cheeses, let them warm to room temperature before serving. Remove soft cheeses from the fridge about an hour ahead of time, while hard cheeses can be served straight from the fridge and will reach room temperature quickly. Slicing or cutting the cheeses ahead of time can also improve flavour and make it easier for guests to enjoy.
Lastly, don't be afraid to sample cheeses before purchasing. Most cheese counters at higher-end grocery stores will allow you to taste the cheeses, ensuring you find the perfect combination of flavours and textures for your platter.
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Adding accompaniments: Include crackers, nuts, dried fruits, and condiments like honey or jam
Once you've selected your cheeses, it's time to add some accompaniments to your platter. Crackers are a great option, and you can choose from a variety of different types to add some crunch to your platter. Breadsticks are another option for a crunchy texture.
Nuts are another classic addition to a cheese platter, providing a mix of textures and flavours. Try Blue Diamond Almonds, or get creative with different flavours like rosemary and sea salt, pink Himalayan salt, garlic, herb and olive oil, or black truffle.
Dried fruits are a great way to add some sweetness and acidity to your platter, especially in the winter months. Fresh fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and berries are also a good choice, adding colour and freshness to the platter. If you're worried about browning, you can squeeze some lemon juice over the fruit.
Condiments like honey, jam, and mustard are perfect for adding a touch of sweetness or spice to your cheeses. You can also add small bowls of tapenade, olives, or chutneys for a more savoury option.
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Arranging the platter: Place cheese wedges first, then fill with salty items, sweet treats, and crunchy elements
When arranging your cheese platter, it's a good idea to start with the cheese wedges first. Spread them evenly throughout the board, as they are the "hubs" of the platter. It's recommended to have at least three cheeses to offer a variety of flavours and textures. You can include firm or semi-firm cheeses like aged white cheddar, gouda, edam, gruyère, dubliner, and manchego. If you want to include softer cheeses, take them out of the fridge about an hour before serving so they can reach the perfect room temperature.
Once you've placed your cheese wedges, fill the gaps with salty items. You can add meats, such as sausage or salami, fanning them out or layering them attractively. Place them nestled against the cheeses. You can also add briny olives, or small bowls of tapenade.
Next, add a few piles of sweet treats. Dried fruits like cherries or grapes are a great choice, especially in the winter. You can also balance out the salty cheeses with something like honey, jam, or dried or fresh fruits.
Finally, sprinkle on the crunchy elements. Nuts are a great option, as are crackers or breadsticks. You can also include crispy chickpeas or pretzels for some extra crunch. If you want to prepare your platter in advance, leave off the crunchy items so they don't get soggy.
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Serving tips: Let cheeses warm to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. Provide cheese knives or butter knives for guests
When it comes to serving your cheese platter, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, let the cheeses warm to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. This will enhance their flavour and texture, especially for soft cheeses. If you're serving hard cheeses, you can serve them straight from the fridge as they will quickly lose their chill.
Next, ensure you have the right tools for your guests to enjoy the cheese. Provide cheese knives or, if you don't have any, butter knives for spreading softer cheeses. If you don't have any cheese knives, you can cut the cheese into thin slices ahead of time so that guests can easily pick them up. Place the knives near the relevant cheeses, and consider providing spoons or serving utensils for any condiments in bowls.
You can also add crackers, breadsticks, or crunchy items like nuts to your platter. However, if you're preparing these in advance, leave them off the platter until the last minute to prevent them from becoming soggy. Fill in any gaps on your platter with space-filling items like grapes, cherry tomatoes, or other seasonal fruits.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a wooden cutting board, a large serving platter, or a tray/baking sheet covered with parchment paper. If you're using a cutting board, avoid plastic.
Choose a variety of flavours and textures. Include firm or semi-firm cheeses such as aged white cheddar, gouda, edam, gruyère, dubliner, and manchego. You could also add soft cheeses like goat cheese and brie.
Include something sweet like honey, jam, or dried/fresh fruits. Add something crunchy like nuts, crackers, or breadsticks. You could also add meats, olives, and condiments like mustard.
