Frederic Melton
A cheese platter is a great appetizer for any occasion, be it a holiday get-together, a dinner party, or a casual hangout. It is simple to put together and requires no cooking. The first step is to select a board or platter that is large enough to fit all the ingredients comfortably. Next, choose your cheeses. It is recommended to have at least three different types of cheese to offer a variety of flavors and textures. You can then add crackers, fruits, nuts, meats, and condiments such as honey, jams, or mustards. Let the cheese come to room temperature before serving and provide different knives for each variety of cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | 1 if serving after dinner, 3-6 if serving before dinner |
| Type of cheese | Lighter cheeses like herb-coated goat cheese or fresh mozzarella for before dinner, rich and creamy or full-flavored for after dinner |
| Cheese sources | Bargain bins, Trader Joe's or Aldi for inexpensive cheese, local cheese shop for expert guidance |
| Cheese tools | Cheese knives, forks |
| Board type | Large, flat, wooden, plastic, or cutting board, serving platter, or dinner plates |
| Board accompaniments | Crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, dips, veggies, meat, olives, pickles, condiments, jams, honey, fancy mustards, bowls, knives, spoons |
| Board arrangement | Spread wedges, logs, and wheels evenly, fill around cheese with salty items, add piles of sweet items, fill empty spaces with crunchy items, grapes, cherry tomatoes, cherries, herbs |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your cheese
When choosing your cheese, the number of varieties you select will depend on how many people you are serving and whether the cheese platter is an appetizer or the main course. A good rule of thumb is to have one standard-sized wedge of cheese per three people if served as an appetizer, and one per two people if served as a main course. It is recommended to have at least three cheeses on a cheese board, and five to six cheeses for a large party.
If you're serving cheese before dinner, choose lighter cheeses such as an herb-coated goat cheese or fresh mozzarella. If you're serving cheese after dinner, you can opt for one rich and creamy cheese, such as triple-crème St. Andre, or go for full-flavored cheeses like Manchego, cheddar, aged gouda, or blue cheese.
You can also choose cheeses based on a theme, such as focusing on cheeses from a specific region, or select cheeses made with different types of milk, like cow, goat, or sheep's milk. If you want to offer a variety of flavors, choose cheeses from the same family but with distinct flavors, such as tangy, herb-coated goat cheese and buttery brie.
To add interest and contrast, consider including a "funky" cheese like a strong blue cheese, but be mindful of your guests' preferences. Balance out salty or funky cheeses with something sweet, such as dried fruits, honey, or jam. Olives are also a great pairing with cheese, especially those with pits for added flavor.
Remember, there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to choosing cheese, so feel free to get creative and select cheeses that you and your guests will enjoy!
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Selecting a board
You don't need to buy a new board specifically for serving cheese. A plain board will do, and you can cover it with cheese and other items. It's a good idea to choose a board that is big enough to fit all your cheeses and accompaniments comfortably, with some space in between to avoid overcrowding. You may also want to consider the shape of your board, as a circular board can add a nice touch to your presentation.
If you're serving cheese after dinner, you may want to plate the cheeses individually. This method allows you to prepare the cheese course ahead of time and avoids the need for cutting the cheese during the meal. Individual plates also ensure that each guest has access to their own selection of cheeses.
When arranging the cheese on your board, spread the wedges, logs, and wheels evenly across the surface. Leave some space between the cheeses to add other items like crackers, fruits, nuts, and condiments. You can fill any remaining gaps with space-filling items like grapes, cherry tomatoes, or cherries. Finally, garnish your cheese board with fresh herbs to add a touch of colour and freshness.
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Preparing your cheese
Preparing the cheese is the most important part of making a cheese platter. The number of cheeses you select depends on the number of people you are serving and whether the cheese platter is an appetizer or the main course. A good rule of thumb is to have one standard-sized wedge/circle/log (4-6 ounces each) of cheese per three people if it's an appetizer and one per two people if it's the main course. It's a good idea to have at least three cheeses on a cheese board as it looks visually appealing. If you are serving cheese before dinner, choose lighter cheeses such as herb-coated goat cheese or fresh mozzarella. If you are serving cheese after dinner, you can either serve one rich and creamy cheese or go for full-flavoured cheeses like Manchego, cheddar, aged gouda, or blue cheese.
You can also choose one cheese made with each type of milk—cow, goat, and sheep's milk. If you pick two cheeses from a single category, make sure that they still contrast in some way. For example, goat cheese and brie are both soft cheeses, but their flavours are distinct. You can also choose cheeses from a specific region, such as the United States, Spain, Italy, or France.
Take the cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes to one hour before serving. This will ensure that the cheese is soft and flavourful. Slice the cheese in various ways to maximize texture. For blue cheese and Parmesan, use a fork to create large chunks. Slice semi-hard cheeses like cheddar into thin slices and fan them across the board. For brie or soft round cheeses, cut several bite-sized slices or wedges and leave cheese knives nearby for guests to slice as desired.
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Adding accompaniments
When it comes to accompaniments, you can add texture and flavour to your cheese platter with a variety of items. It is recommended to have at least one item from each of the following categories:
- Something sweet: Balance out the salty, funky cheeses with a little something sweet. Dried fruits, honey, jams, and preserves are great options. You can also add sauces, chutneys, or anything else that suits your taste.
- Salty items: Briny olives, cocktail onions, and pickles are great salty additions.
- Crunchy items: Crackers, crostini, and bread are perfect crunchy accompaniments. For the best flavour, opt for plain breads such as sourdough or French bread. If you want to add some crunch without overwhelming the flavour of the cheeses, choose crackers that are plain or contain nuts, seeds, or whole grains.
- Condiments: Mustards, dips, and spreads can add a fun twist to your platter.
In addition to the above, you can fill in any empty spaces on your platter with space-filling items such as grapes, cherry tomatoes, or cherries. Fresh herbs can also be used as a garnish.
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Presentation
The presentation of a cheese platter is important, as it can be a real conversation starter at a party or get-together. You can be creative and have fun with the presentation, mixing different flavours, colours, shapes, and textures. You can use a large, flat board, such as a wooden or plastic cutting board, or a serving platter. If you are serving a large group, you may need to use multiple platters or boards.
It is recommended to have at least three cheeses on a platter, and up to five or six for a large party. You can choose a variety of cheeses with different textures, such as soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses. You can also include different types of milk, such as cow, goat, and sheep's milk. If you are serving cheese before dinner, opt for lighter cheeses. For after-dinner cheese, you can choose rich and creamy options or full-flavoured cheeses.
When arranging the cheeses, spread them evenly across the board, and include cheese knives. Fill around the cheese with salty items, such as cocktail onions, olives, and crackers or crostini. Be sure to offer a variety of crackers or bread, such as sourdough or French bread, and consider including options with nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Avoid flavoured breads with sesame seeds or garlic, as these can overwhelm the flavour of the cheese.
Next, add some sweet items, such as dried fruits, jams, honey, or chutney. Include some crunchy items, such as nuts, and fill any remaining spaces with grapes, cherry tomatoes, or cherries. Finally, garnish the platter with fresh herbs. You can also include small bowls or jars of condiments, such as mustard or preserves, and a small bowl for olive pits, if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the number of people and the occasion. For an appetizer, one standard-sized wedge/circle/log of cheese per three people is a good rule of thumb. For a main, you can go with one per two people. If cheese is the centerpiece of your party, you can have three to six types of cheese.
You can choose cheeses based on the type of milk used, such as cow, goat, or sheep's milk. You can also select cheeses from a specific region, like the United States, Spain, Italy, or France. Some popular options include Manchego, cheddar, gouda, gorgonzola, stilton, roquefort, brie, and camembert.
You can add crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, olives, meats, and condiments such as honey, jams, mustards, and chutneys.
Start by spreading the cheese wedges, logs, and wheels evenly across the board. Add cheese knives for guests to slice the cheese. Then, fill around the cheese with salty items, followed by sweet items, and crunchy items. Finally, fill any empty spaces with items like grapes, cherry tomatoes, or cherries.
You can take the cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. You can also prepare the platter by setting out the board and arranging any small bowls the night before. You can also place out the items you plan to use, such as nuts, salt, or honey.
