Creating The Perfect Cheese Plate: A Guide To Pairings

A cheese plate is a great appetizer for any gathering, be it a holiday, a get-together, or even just a Tuesday when you're too lazy to cook. It's easy to put together and offers something for everyone. The secret to a good cheese plate is variety – in flavours, textures, and shapes. This creates visual interest and makes the plate more delicious. You can include a mix of soft and hard cheeses, such as brie, camembert, cheddar, gouda, parmesan, and blue cheese. You can also add meats like prosciutto, salami, and chorizo, as well as crackers, bread, fruits, nuts, olives, and dips like honey or jam.

Cheese types: soft, semi-soft, semi-firm, firm, blue, funky

When creating a cheese plate, it's important to include a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours. Here is a guide to the different types of cheeses you can include:

Soft Cheeses

Soft cheeses are spreadable and include options such as Brie, Camembert, and goat cheese. These cheeses are perfect for spreading on crackers or bread and can be served as they are.

Semi-Soft Cheeses

Semi-soft cheeses include Swiss cheese and some varieties of cheddar. These cheeses have a slightly firmer texture than soft cheeses but are still relatively easy to cut and can be sliced or cubed for your cheese plate.

Firm Cheeses

Firm cheeses, such as aged cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Gruyère, Dubliner, and Manchego, have a more defined texture and can be sliced or cubed. They are ideal for adding variety to your cheese plate in terms of both taste and appearance.

Blue Cheeses

Blue cheeses, like Gorgonzola, Stilton, or Roquefort, are known for their strong, pungent flavour and distinctive veining. They can be a polarising choice, so consider your audience before including them.

Funky Cheeses

If you want to add a unique twist to your cheese plate, consider a funky cheese. This could be a strong, pungent blue cheese or something else with a particularly distinct flavour or aroma, like a creamy Kaltenberg or a mimosa.

When selecting cheeses for your plate, consider the shapes (square, round, triangle, sliced) to make the presentation more interesting and appealing. A good rule of thumb is to include at least three to four different cheeses from various categories to ensure a well-rounded offering.

Sweet treats: honey, dried fruit, seasonal fruit

Honey, dried fruit, and seasonal fruit are essential components of a well-rounded cheese plate. Honey is a sweet and fruity addition that balances out the salty and tangy cheeses. It can be drizzled over soft cheeses or served in small bowls for dipping. Dried fruits such as apricots, cherries, figs, and mango add sweetness and texture to the plate. They can also be used to fill small bowls or scattered across the board.

When it comes to seasonal fruit, it's best to let the current season guide your choices. In spring, apricots, strawberries, and citrus fruits like clementines are ideal. During summer, berries such as raspberries and blueberries, along with cherries and sliced peaches, will add a burst of colour. Autumn calls for apples, pears, and grapes, while winter is the perfect time for fun citrus varieties like mandarins and Cara Cara oranges, as well as pomegranates.

When preparing a cheese plate, remember to include a variety of flavours, colours, and textures. Play with different combinations of sweet, salty, tangy, and crunchy elements to create a delightful and enticing spread for your guests.

Crunchy snacks: nuts, crackers, breadsticks

When it comes to creating the perfect cheese plate, variety is key. A mix of crunchy snacks, nuts, crackers, and breadsticks will add texture and flavour to your cheese plate. Here are some tips to elevate your cheese plate with crunchy snacks:

• Choose a variety of textures: Opt for a mix of crunchy, crispy, and crispy-chewy textures. This can include nuts, crackers, breadsticks, or even crispy chickpeas.
• Select complementary flavours: Choose crackers or breadsticks that complement the cheeses on your plate. For example, pair a strong, pungent cheese with a plain cracker to let the cheese shine. Alternatively, match a mild cheese with a flavoured cracker, such as a seeded or grainy variety, to add interest.
• Offer a range of shapes and sizes: Include a variety of shapes and sizes to make your cheese plate visually appealing. For instance, fan out sliced semi-hard cheeses like cheddar, or create stacks of crackers or breadsticks to add height. You can also roll or fold softer meats like prosciutto to add dimension.
• Provide an assortment of crackers and breads: Offer a selection of crackers with different flavours, shapes, and textures to cater to various tastes. Consider options like butter crackers, whole wheat crackers, pita chips, crostini, breadsticks, or sliced baguette.
• Add some crunch with nuts: Nuts not only add a crunchy texture to your cheese plate but also provide a flavourful contrast. Choose from almonds, pecans, walnuts, pistachios, or Marcona almonds. You can even include spiced or roasted nuts for an extra punch of flavour.
• Don't forget the dips: While not strictly crunchy, dips can enhance the overall crunchiness of your cheese plate. Consider adding some honey, jam, or chutney to your selection. These sweet elements will provide a delightful contrast to the salty, crunchy snacks.

Remember, the key to a successful cheese plate is to offer a variety of options that will appeal to different tastes and create a visually appealing and textured platter.

Salty foods: olives, cornichons, pickles

Salty foods are a must on a cheese plate, offering a delicious contrast to the creamy cheeses and sweet elements. Olives, cornichons and pickles are all fantastic salty additions to a cheese plate and can be added in a variety of ways.

Olives are a classic choice and can be placed directly on the plate or in a small bowl. If you opt for olives with pits, it is a good idea to provide a small bowl for the pits. Olive lovers may also want to include a tapenade, which is an olive-based spread. Pickled peppers, such as pepperoncini, are another briny option to add to the plate.

Cornichons, or tiny pickles, are a great salty addition to a cheese plate and can be placed in a small bowl or scattered across the plate. Other pickles, such as pickled onions, radishes, and cucumbers, are also a fun choice and add a pop of colour to the plate.

When adding salty elements to your cheese plate, it is important to consider the other items on the plate and ensure a good balance of flavours and textures. Salty foods pair well with the sweetness of honey or jam, the crunch of nuts, and the freshness of fruits and vegetables.

Meat: prosciutto, salami, chorizo, coppa

Meat is a great addition to a cheese plate, and there are many options to choose from. Here are some tips and suggestions for including meat on your cheese plate, specifically focusing on prosciutto, salami, chorizo, and coppa:

Variety of Meats:

When creating a cheese plate, it is essential to offer a variety of flavours and textures. This can be achieved by selecting different types of meat, such as prosciutto, salami, chorizo, and coppa. These meats can be folded, stacked, or fanned out to create visually appealing arrangements that also save space. For example, prosciutto can be held vertically and gently lowered onto the plate, creating folds and allowing it to fit in a compact space. On the other hand, salami can be folded into triangles or cones and tucked between cheeses and bowls.

Amount of Meat:

The amount of meat included on a cheese plate depends on the number of people you are serving and their appetites. As a general guideline, plan for 2-3 oz. of cheese per person if served as an appetizer. If you are serving a lot of accompaniments, people will likely eat less cheese. You can also include 2-4 different types of meat on your cheese plate, depending on the size of your group.

Meat and Cheese Pairings:

When selecting meats to pair with cheese, consider choosing options that complement each other. For example, prosciutto goes well with mozzarella, as seen in the Persimmon and Prosciutto Salad with Mozzarella. Salami pairs nicely with pickles, as demonstrated in the Salami and Pickle Grilled Cheese. Chorizo can be a tasty addition to a frittata or creamy dishes like queso. Coppa can be used in pressed sandwiches or paired with broccoli rabe pesto.

Presentation Tips:

To enhance the presentation of your cheese plate, consider the following tips:

• Place the meats in different ways, such as stacking, fanning, or folding, to create visual interest and save space.
• Use small bowls or jars to hold dips, honey, or roasted red peppers, adding height and breaking up the arrangement.
• Add some greenery, such as arugula or fresh herbs, to fill any remaining gaps and add colour.
• Play with different textures by including crispy meats like prosciutto and softer options like salami.

In conclusion, when including prosciutto, salami, chorizo, or coppa on your cheese plate, focus on variety, amount, pairings, and presentation. By offering a range of flavours and textures, you can create a visually appealing and delicious cheese plate that your guests will love.

Frequently asked questions