Creating A Delicious Cheese Tray: The Ultimate Guide

A cheese tray is a great appetiser for any occasion, from a dinner party to a holiday get-together. The key to a good cheese tray is variety. This includes different types of cheese, such as soft, semi-firm, and hard cheeses, as well as different textures and milk types (cow, goat, or sheep's milk cheese). In addition to cheese, a well-rounded cheese tray will include cured meats, crackers or bread, fruit (fresh or dried), nuts, pickled or marinated items, and something sweet like jam or honey.

Cheese:

Cheese is the star of the show when it comes to a cheese tray, and there are a few things to consider when selecting the perfect combination.

Firstly, it's a good idea to include a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours. A good rule of thumb is to select three to five different cheeses, including a mix of soft, semi-firm, and hard/aged varieties. This gives your guests plenty of options and ensures a range of textures on the tray.

When it comes to specific cheese suggestions, here are some popular options:

• Soft cheeses: Brie, Camembert, Goat Cheese, Gorgonzola, Boursin, Havarti, Raclette, Mozzarella, or Chevin (soft goat cheese).
• Semi-hard cheeses: Cheddar, Gouda, Edam, Gruyère, Dubliner, or Manchego.
• Hard cheeses: Parmesan, Pecorino, Asiago, Comte, or Swiss.
• Blue cheese: Stilton, Roquefort, or Danish Blue.

It's also a nice touch to include something a little unusual, such as a cheese made with goat's or sheep's milk, or a locally sourced variety.

To elevate your cheese selection, consider the way you display and prepare the cheeses. You can display them in different ways, such as spears, wedges, cubes, or rolled-up slices. It's best to avoid pre-sliced cheese as it can dry out, and it's preferable to slice the cheese yourself just before serving. If you're serving Brie, a tip is to use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer paper-like rind.

Finally, don't forget to let the cheese come to room temperature before serving. This ensures the cheese is easy to slice and provides the best flavour and texture for your guests to enjoy.

Meat:

Meat is a key component of a cheese tray, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Salami

Salami is a type of cured meat that can be made from pork, beef, or veal. It is usually flavoured with garlic and other herbs, adding an extra boost of flavour to your tray. Salami is a great choice as it pairs well with a variety of cheeses. When adding salami to your tray, try to slice it thinly and arrange the slices in a fish scale pattern for a visually appealing presentation.

Prosciutto

Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham that can be wrapped around fruits such as cantaloupe or paired with crusty bread. It is a long piece of meat, so you can roll it up and even spear it with a toothpick to make it easier for your guests to enjoy.

Pepperoni

Pepperoni is a popular choice for pizzas, but it can also add some spice to your cheese tray. It comes in various sizes, making it easy to decorate your tray.

Deli Meats

Deli meats such as Black Forest Ham, Smoked Turkey, or Roast Beef are budget-friendly options that can be rolled or folded and stacked on your tray. Ask your deli to slice the meats thinly, and consider separating the roast beef and turkey on your platter to avoid discolouration.

Summer Sausage

Summer sausage is a cured meat that pairs well with cheeses such as Cheddar and Smoked Gouda. Make sure to slice summer sausages thinly as they can be quite chewy.

Bologna

Bologna is a soft meat that is made from a mixture of meats and is particularly popular with children.

In addition to these options, you can also consider adding pastrami, corned beef, or peppered salami to your cheese tray. When selecting meats, try to choose a variety of shapes, flavours, and textures to make your tray more interesting and appealing to your guests.

Crackers and Bread:

Crackers and bread are an essential part of a cheese tray, providing a variety of textures and acting as a vehicle for the cheese. Here are some tips for choosing and arranging crackers and bread on your cheese tray:

Types of Crackers and Bread:

• Offer a variety of crackers and bread to your guests. This can include crostini, breadsticks, sliced fresh baguette, pita chips, pita bread, whole wheat crackers, butter crackers, or gluten-free crackers.
• Look for crackers with nuts, seeds, and whole grains to add extra flavour and texture.
• If you're on a budget, opt for cheaper options like Ritz or Wheat Thins.
• For bread, you can toast slices of baguette and drizzle them with olive oil, or simply serve a fresh baguette sliced into thin pieces.

Amount of Crackers and Bread:

• Offer 2-4 different types of crackers and/or bread.
• If your cheese tray has a lot of accompaniments like charcuterie, fruits, and nuts, you may need less crackers and bread.
• If your cheese tray is the main attraction, plan for more crackers and bread to make it more filling.

Arranging Crackers and Bread:

• Place the crackers and bread around the cheeses, meats, and other items on the tray.
• Fan out crackers and bread along the edges of the tray to make them easily accessible.
• If you're using bowls for dips or other accompaniments, you can place crackers or breadsticks in the bowls to add height and visual interest.
• If you're worried about the crackers becoming stale, you can keep them in a separate bowl or plate and serve them alongside the cheese tray.

Fruits and Nuts:

Fruits and nuts are essential components of a cheese tray, adding colour, texture, and variety to the spread. Here are some ideas to elevate your cheese tray with fruits and nuts:

Fresh Fruits:

• Seasonal Fruits: Allow the season to dictate your choice of fresh fruits. In winter, opt for sliced apples, pears, persimmons, pomegranate, and dried fruits like apricots, cherries, and figs. During summer, berries, plums, and cherries are excellent choices.
• Apples: Thinly sliced apples, such as Envy, Pink Lady, Opal, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala, pair well with most cheeses, especially when paired with fig jam or honey.
• Pears: Bosc, D'Anjou, Bartlett, or Comice pears are excellent choices, especially when paired with Brie or Gouda.
• Persimmons: Fuyu persimmons, with their sweet and mild flavour and beautiful orange colour, pair well with soft cheeses like goat cheese, Burrata, or Camembert.
• Berries: Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries are fantastic with cheese. They go exceptionally well with feta, but also shine when paired with Brie.
• Grapes: Juicy, crunchy grapes are a classic choice. Red or green grapes, arranged in small clusters, make for an attractive and easy-to-grab addition to the tray. They pair exceptionally well with Gouda.
• Apricots: Fresh apricots are a wonderful summer choice, while dried apricots are a great option for the rest of the year. Apricots pair well with goat cheese and are supposedly good with blue cheese.
• Plums: Bold, sweet plums go well with strong, salty cheeses like Manchego or Fontina, as well as Brie.
• Pomegranates: These sweet-tart jewels have bursts of juice that are fantastic with goat cheese, feta, or Swiss. Segmenting the pomegranate for a beautiful presentation on the cheese board.
• Dates: Intensely sweet dates pair well with stronger-flavoured cheeses like goat cheese.
• Cherries: Fresh or dried cherries are a classic combination with Brie, Camembert, or goat cheese.
• Figs: Fresh figs, halved, add a stunning visual element to the tray. They pair well with Manchego cheese for a bold pairing.
• Oranges and Blood Oranges: Blood oranges, with their striking colour, make a gorgeous presentation. They pair wonderfully with Brie, enhancing the salty creaminess of the cheese.

Dried Fruits:

Dried Apricots, Cherries, Figs, or Mango: These are all delicious choices to add to your cheese tray and are great when fresh fruits are not in season.

Nuts:

• Marcona Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachios, Hazelnuts, Macadamia Nuts, Cashews, or Almonds: Roasted and salted nuts add great texture and variety to the tray.
• Spicy Candied Walnuts: For something a little different, try these sweet and spicy nuts.
• Honeycomb or Honey-Glazed Nuts: For an extra touch of sweetness, look for nuts glazed with honey or honeycomb.

Extras:

For a whimsical touch, add something fun to your cheeseboard. For a Christmas cheeseboard, add mince pies or festive chocolates. You could also add chocolate Easter eggs for an Easter cheeseboard or Halloween candy for a Halloween board.

Artichokes, roasted peppers, and other pickled, marinated, or roasted vegetables are also delicious. Adding finishing touches like fresh herbs (rosemary is particularly pretty) just adds a bit of finesse but is optional.

If you want to add something sweet, you could include jams, jellies, or fruit preserves like apricot jam, fig jam, or melon preserves. Sweet elements like these add much-needed sweetness to your meat and cheese board.

You could also add caramelized onions, fig jam, or chutney. Honey is another great option, as it pairs well with many fruits and cheeses.

For a festive holiday board, try cranberry sauce and tuck in sprigs of fresh rosemary.

Frequently asked questions