Kamil Perry
A cheese plate is a fun, versatile, and delicious addition to any gathering. It's important to select a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours, including at least one familiar option like Gouda or Brie. Aim for at least four different cheeses from various categories, such as firm, soft, and semi-soft. Aged or hard cheeses, like Asiago or Parmesan, offer boldness and texture, while soft or creamy cheeses provide a milder or tart flavour. Firm cheeses, such as Manchego, can be either robust or mild. Blue cheese, with its unique texture and strong flavour, pairs well with fruits. To enhance your cheese plate, add crackers, breads, cured meats, and fresh or dried fruits. Nuts, olives, and compotes can also be included for extra texture and flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of cheeses | 3-5 different types |
| Cheese categories | Firm, soft, semi-soft, aged, hard, blue, nutty |
| Cheese examples | Gouda, Brie, Asiago, Parmesan, Reggiano, Cheddar, Manchego, Swiss, Gorgonzola, Dolce, Valdeón, Stilton, Irish Crozier Blue, Feta |
| Accompaniments | Crackers, bread, cured meats, fresh or dried fruits, nuts, olives, honey, chocolate, compote, jam, fruit spreads |
| Board | Slate, wooden tray, plate, cutting board, baking sheet |
| Knife | A separate knife for each cheese |
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What You'll Learn
Include a variety of cheeses
When selecting the cheeses for your cheese plate, it's a good idea to include a variety of different types of cheese. This means choosing cheeses with different textures and flavours, and from different families.
A good rule of thumb is to include at least one familiar cheese, such as Gouda or Brie, and then choose at least one from each of the following categories: aged or hard cheese, soft or creamy cheese, and firm cheese. Aged and hard cheeses, such as Asiago, Parmesan, and Reggiano, have bold, robust flavours and a dry texture due to moisture loss during the aging process. Soft or creamy cheeses, on the other hand, have a higher moisture content, giving them a milder or tart flavour profile. Firm cheeses, such as Gouda, Aged Cheddar, Manchego, and Swiss, fall in the middle of the texture spectrum. They can have a robust or mild flavour, but all firm cheeses have less moisture than hard cheeses and more than creamy cheeses.
Blue cheese is a category unto itself. Its texture can be either smooth or crumbly, but it is always strong and pungent. Blue cheese pairs well with apples, pears, grapes, and dried fruits. Some varieties include Gorgonzola, Dolce, Valdeón, and Stilton.
When selecting your cheeses, also consider the shapes: squares, rounds, triangles, and slices will make for a more interesting cheese plate. As a general rule, plan for 4-5 oz. of cheese per person if serving as a dinner portion, but this can be adjusted up or down depending on how much your guests like cheese.
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Add cured meats
Cured meats are a staple of any meat and cheese board, and there are many varieties to choose from. The term "charcuterie" refers specifically to the preparation of cured meats, but it is now commonly used to refer to a meat and cheese board.
When selecting cured meats for your board, variety is key. Aim for 2-3 oz of meat per person, and choose a few different cuts and types of meat. Some popular options include prosciutto, ham, salami, cured chorizo, soppressata, capricola, and summer sausage. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even try something like Spanish chorizo or mortadella.
When arranging your meats on the board, group similar types of meat together, and try to create a visually appealing display. Fold or roll some of the meats to add interest and vary the heights of the different elements on the board.
To complement the cured meats, add some sliced bread, crackers, or breadsticks to the board. These provide a neutral base for the strong flavours of the cured meats and allow your guests to create their own perfect bite.
Finally, don't forget to bring your meats to room temperature before serving. This will ensure that your guests can fully appreciate the flavours of the meats, and it will also make your board look more inviting.
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Use crackers and/or bread
Crackers and bread are essential components of a cheese plate. They provide a base for the cheese and help to round out the overall presentation. Here are some tips for incorporating crackers and/or bread into your cheese plate:
Types of Crackers and Bread
Offer a variety of crackers and/or bread to cater to different tastes and textures. You can include options such as:
- Plain crackers: These can be water crackers, rice crackers, or oat crackers.
- Flavoured crackers: While some sources discourage flavoured crackers, others suggest rosemary crackers as a pairing with blue cheese.
- Bread: Toasted baguette slices or crostini are a popular choice. You can also offer a sourdough loaf or a French baguette on the side for guests to slice and pair with cheese.
Presentation and Placement
The placement of crackers and bread on a cheese plate is important for both aesthetic and functional reasons:
- Perimeter Placement: Arrange crackers or bread around the outer perimeter of the cheese plate or board. This leaves space in the middle for the cheeses, meats, and other accompaniments.
- Filling Gaps: Crackers and bread can also be used to fill in any gaps or blank spaces on the cheese plate, especially after placing the larger items.
- Fan Out: For a visually appealing presentation, fan out the crackers or bread along the edges of the plate, making them easily accessible to guests.
- Separate Bowl: If you're serving a variety of cheeses and want to avoid overwhelming the plate, you can place a handful of crackers or crostini directly on the plate and set out a separate bowl filled with extra crackers.
Pairing with Cheese
When pairing crackers and bread with cheese, consider the following:
- Texture and Flavour: Match the texture and flavour of the crackers or bread to the cheese. For example, softer cheeses like Brie or Camembert pair well with toasted nuts and bread, while firmer cheeses like Cheddar or Gouda can be enjoyed with crackers.
- Sweetness: If your cheese plate includes sweeter options like dessert cheeses or fresh fruits, consider providing sweeter crackers such as oat biscuits or caramel-flavoured crackers.
In summary, crackers and/or bread play a crucial role in a cheese plate by providing a base for the cheeses and enhancing the overall presentation. By offering a variety of options, thoughtfully placing them on the plate, and pairing them with complementary cheeses, you can elevate the overall cheese plate experience for your guests.
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Put out fruits and vegetables
When creating a cheese plate, you can put out a variety of fruits and vegetables to add colour, flavour, and texture. You can put out larger fruits like sliced apples, pears, persimmons, and pomegranate segments. Fill in the gaps with smaller fruits like grapes, berries, dried fruit, and nuts. You can also add some sprigs of fresh rosemary for decoration. If you're making a summer cheese plate, you can use peaches, plums, and other stone fruits as a focal point, along with fresh berries. For a winter cheese plate, dried fruits and grapes are a good choice.
You can also put out vegetables like roasted red peppers, baby zucchini, peeled rainbow baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and blistered shishito peppers. If you're making a summer cheese plate, you can grill the vegetables to add a smoky flavour.
When choosing fruits and vegetables, consider what's in season and available at your local market. This will ensure that your cheese plate has a variety of colours, textures, and flavours. You can also use fruits and vegetables to add contrast to the cheese plate, especially if you have a lot of sweet elements.
In addition to fresh fruits and vegetables, you can also put out jams, dips, and spreads. Some options include fig or blackberry jam, roasted beet dip, and honey. These can be placed in small bowls or ramekins on the cheese plate. You can also provide crackers or slices of toasted baguette for guests to spread the dips and spreads on.
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Nuts and jams are great toppings
Jams, honey, and fruit spreads are also great toppings for certain cheeses, especially brie. A baked brie wheel topped with honey, nuts, and fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme is a delicious option.
If you want to get creative, you can make a compote to serve with your cheese plate. A cherry spread or cherry spiced wine fruit compote is a perfect pairing for brie. You can also get creative with your crackers. For a sweeter option, oat crackers or biscuits pair well with nutty hard cheeses like Manchego, aged Gouda, and aged Cheddar.
When creating a cheese plate, it's important to offer a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours. Include at least four different cheeses from different categories: firm, soft, and semi-soft. Start with crowd favourites like Gouda or Brie, and then choose a variety of other cheeses. Aged or hard cheeses bring texture and boldness to a cheese plate. Blue cheese, for example, pairs well with apples, pears, grapes, and dried fruits.
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Frequently asked questions
It's good to include a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavours. Include at least one familiar cheese, such as Gouda or Brie, and then choose from the following categories: aged or hard cheese, firm cheese, soft cheese, and blue cheese.
You can include cured meats such as prosciutto, salami, chorizo, or mortadella. Also, consider adding crackers or bread, fresh or dried fruits, nuts, olives, and compotes or jams.
If serving as an appetizer, plan for about 1 ounce of cheese per person. If it's for dinner, plan for 4-5 ounces per person. If you're worried about having too much cheese, cut your cheeses in half and only put out one half at a time.
Always offer a different knife for each cheese. Bring the cheese to room temperature before serving to allow the flavours to be fully appreciated.
