Patrick Oconnell
A cheese platter is an easy and impressive appetizer for any gathering. It can be kept simple or made fancy, depending on your preference and budget. The first step to making a cheese platter is to select a board or platter, which can be a simple cutting board or a fancier wooden or marble board. Next, choose an assortment of cheeses with a variety of flavors and textures—an odd number of cheeses is recommended. Finally, add accompaniments such as crackers, bread, fruit, nuts, meats, and spreads like honey or jam.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | 3 or an odd number |
| Types of cheese | Smoked Gouda, Parmesan, Asiago, Cheddar, Pepper Jack, Brie, Manchego, Spicy cheese, Stinky cheese, Blue cheese, Cambozola, Creamy cheese, Soft cheese, Hard cheese |
| Meat | Salami, Prosciutto, Pepperoni, Soppressetta, Sausage |
| Crackers | Water crackers, Buttery crackers, Multigrain crackers, Flatbread crackers, Ritz crackers |
| Bread | Crusty bread, Breadsticks, Baguette, Crostini, Focaccia, Bread slices |
| Fruits | Apples, Grapes, Pears, Berries, Apricots, Cranberries, Dried fruits |
| Nuts | Candied pecans, Roasted almonds, Candied walnuts, Cashews, Pistachios |
| Spreads | Honey, Honey comb, Fig jam, Apricot preserves, Hot pepper jelly, Berry jam, Chutney, Mustard, Olive oil |
| Other | Pickled veggies, Olives, Pickles, Capers, Fresh herbs, Flowers, Chocolate |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a variety of cheeses
When creating a cheese platter, it's important to select a variety of cheeses to cater to different tastes and preferences. Here are some tips to help you choose the right cheeses:
Select an odd number of cheeses: An odd number of cheeses, such as three or five, can help to create a visually appealing platter. This allows you to include a variety of flavours and textures, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Choose different types of cheese: Opt for a mix of hard and soft cheeses, as well as different levels of maturity. For example, you could include a mature cheddar, a soft brie, a creamy ricotta, and a hard parmesan or Asiago. If you want to be adventurous, include a blue cheese or a spicy option.
Consider the flavour profile: Think about the flavours you want to showcase. You might want to include a range of mild, medium, and strong-flavoured cheeses. For instance, smoked gouda has a distinct flavour, while Manchego has a nutty, sweet taste.
Add some variety with spreads: While the focus is on the cheese, adding some spreads can enhance the overall taste experience. Honey, jams, and chutneys are popular choices. You could offer a fig jam, hot pepper jelly, or even a sweet and spicy chilli jam.
Prepare the cheese for serving: It is recommended to take the cheese out of the fridge 30 minutes to 1 hour or 20 minutes before serving to allow it to come to room temperature. This enhances the flavour and texture, ensuring your guests can fully appreciate the cheese.
Label the cheeses: Help your guests navigate the platter by labelling the different cheeses. This adds a touch of elegance to your presentation and makes it easier for guests to discover new favourites.
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Pick a board and platter
Picking a board and platter is an important step in making a cheese plate. You can use a large, flat board or platter, and you don't need anything fancy—a plain cutting board or even a few dinner plates will do! Just make sure it's big enough to fit everything comfortably. You can use wood, plastic, or marble, and if you're using a cutting board, never use plastic. You can also use a few plates placed next to each other on the table.
If you're serving soft cheeses, you'll need a butter knife or spreader. You can also use fun cheese knives or small butter knives to serve. If you don't have special cheese knives, it's fine to cut thin pieces of cheese ahead of time so your guests can grab and go.
You can assemble a cheese plate in 10-20 minutes, but if you want to do some prep in advance, you can set out your board or plate and any small bowls, containers, or other ingredients the night before.
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Prepare fruits and crackers
Preparing fruits and crackers is an essential part of crafting a well-rounded cheese platter. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare these components:
Selecting the Fruits:
Wash all fresh fruits to ensure they are clean and ready for consumption. Choose an assortment of fruits that pair well with cheeses. Popular options include berries, apples, grapes, and pears. You can also use dried fruits such as dried apricots, dried pears, or cranberries. If you're using larger fruits like apples or pears, slice them into manageable pieces ahead of time. To prevent browning, you can squeeze some lemon juice over the sliced fruit.
Preparing the Crackers:
Offer a variety of crackers to cater to different tastes and textures. Include options such as water crackers, buttery crackers, multigrain crackers, and flatbread crackers. You can also provide breadsticks like sesame breadsticks, olive oil breadsticks, or cheese straws. If you prefer, you can substitute crackers with sliced baguette, toasted crostini, or strips of focaccia. Arrange the crackers on the platter, ensuring they don't dominate the space and leave room for other items.
Assembling the Platter:
When assembling your cheese platter, start by laying out the cheeses first. You can keep some cheeses whole, slice others, or even create cheese cubes for variety. Then, fill in the spaces with crackers, honey or jams, and the prepared fruits. Add some nuts and spreads, such as fig jam, chutney, berry jam, or honey, to enhance the flavor profile. Garnish the platter with fresh herbs like rosemary or parsley. Finally, provide cheese knives and spreaders so your guests can easily serve themselves.
Timing and Presentation:
For the best flavor, let the cheese come to room temperature before serving. Remove the platter from the refrigerator about 20 to 30 minutes before serving. This ensures the cheese is neither too cold nor too soft. If you're using bread products, add them just before serving, as they can get soggy if prepared too far in advance. Aim for a bountiful presentation, allowing your guests to indulge in a variety of flavors and textures.
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Add meats and extras
When it comes to creating a cheese platter, there are endless possibilities for customisation and additions. Here are some ideas for meats and extras to take your cheese platter to the next level:
Meats
Meats are a great addition to a cheese platter, providing a savoury contrast to the cheeses. Here are some meat options to consider:
- Salami
- Spicy cured meat
- Prosciutto
- Pepperoni
- Soppressetta
- Sausage
Extras
The extras are the components that truly elevate a cheese platter and make it indulgent and luxurious. Here are some suggestions for extras:
- Crackers: Water crackers, buttery crackers, multigrain crackers, flatbread crackers, and breadsticks (such as sesame or olive oil breadsticks).
- Bread: Sliced baguette, toasted crostini, focaccia strips, or crusty bread.
- Fruits: Berries, apples, grapes, pears, dried apricots, dried pears, and dried cranberries.
- Nuts: Candied pecans, roasted almonds, candied walnuts, cashews, pistachios.
- Spreads: Sweet spreads such as honey, fig jam, berry jam, chutney, or apricot preserves.
- Pickles: Pickled vegetables, olives, or capers.
- Herbs: Fresh herbs such as rosemary or parsley for garnish.
- Condiments: Mustard, chilli jam, or pepper jelly.
Remember, the key is to have a variety of flavours, textures, and colours on your cheese platter. You can also get creative and add some seasonal produce or your favourite snacks to make it unique and personalised. Enjoy crafting your masterpiece!
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Arrange and serve
When it comes to arranging your cheese platter, you can use a large, flat board or platter. A wooden cutting board is a popular choice, but you can also use a plastic cutting board, serving platters, or even a few dinner plates. You don't need to buy something new, but make sure your board is big enough to fit everything comfortably.
Take the cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 20 minutes to an hour before serving. It's recommended to have a variety of flavours and textures on your platter, so choose 3 or more different types of cheese. You can keep some of the pieces whole, slice others, or even make a pile of cheese cubes. Arrange the cheeses first, filling in the gaps with other components.
Add bowls of jams, honey, mustard, and chutney, but don't pour them over the cheese. Leave this up to your guests, who can decide how they want to pair their spreads with their cheeses. You can also add some small bowls of nuts, salt, or other snacks like olives, crackers, bread, or breadsticks. If you're adding bread, it's best to add this just before serving, as the fat in the cheese can absorb the aroma of the bread and affect the flavour.
Garnish your cheese platter with fresh herbs and fruits like grapes, berries, apples, pears, or dried fruit. You can prepare your platter up to 8 hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just be sure to cover it tightly and let it come to room temperature before serving.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended to have a variety of flavours and textures on a cheese platter. You can choose from an assortment of cheeses such as cheddar, smoked gouda, parmesan, asiago, pepper jack, brie, and blue cheese.
Foods that go well with cheese on a platter include crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, cured meats, olives, and spreads such as honey, mustard, and fruit preserves.
Take the cheese out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 20 minutes to 1 hour before serving. You can also slice firm and semi-firm cheeses on a cutting board before transferring them to the platter.
