Cheese platters can be put together in a relatively short time, using a variety of gourmet and grocery store items. Keep a selection of crackers, nuts, dried fruits and other items in the pantry at all times.
Choosing Cheese Varieties
When unexpected company arrives, add 3-5 varieties of cheese to the pantry items to create an instant appetizer tray. Many grocery and gourmet specialty stores have large cheese departments. The cheese monger can offer suggestions, along with giving out samples of the different cheeses to taste before buying. The three main types of milk used to create cheeses are goat, cow and sheep. Ask the cheese monger for recommendations that compliment one another.
A Festive and Creative Cheese Tray
A large cutting board can be used as the base for a cheese platter. The cheeses can be sliced, cubed, or left whole, and placed directly on the cutting board. When adding blocks of cheese to the platter, be sure to place a small knife alongside each cheese, so guests can serve themselves. Soft cheeses can be served in a small crock, along with a small spreading knife.
Choose a variety of decorative containers to display other items on top of, or around the cutting board. Interesting display items, such as wine glasses, mortars and fine crystal pieces can be used to hold nuts, dried fruit and crackers.
Display appetizer size plates, forks and napkins near the cheese tray. Guests can help themselves to whichever ingredients they find most appealing on the appetizer platter. There are a vast variety of items that can be placed on the cheese tray, this article contains a few suggestions. Both dried and fresh fruit make a nice addition to the cheese platter. Plain, salted or flavored nuts can also be placed on the appetizer tray.
Breads and Crackers
- Breadsticks
- Assorted crackers
- Pieces of pita bread
- Bagel chips
- Small, toasted slices of French bread
- Miniature rice cakes
Cheeses
- Cheddar
- Pepper Jack
- Monterey Jack
- Mozzarella
- Gouda
- Brie
- Camembert
- Roquefort
- Herb flavored goat cheese
- Munster
- Havarti
- Swiss
- Parmesan
Fruits
- Dried apricots
- Dried cranberries
- Dried cherries
- Regular or golden raisins or currants
- Fresh or dried figs
- Fresh raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or strawberries
- Bunch of green, purple or red grapes
- Sliced pears or apples
- Sliced kiwi, mango or papaya
Nuts
- Cashews
- Pecans
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Brazil nut
- Macadamia
Additional Cheese Tray Items
- Black olives
- Green olives
- Seasoned olives such as calamata
- Green onion, blue cheese or ranch dip
- Marinated mushrooms
- Roasted red peppers
- Dill and/or sweet pickles
Additional Appetizer Ideas
The Elegant Appetizers article contains recipes for making asparagus roll-ups, crab canapes and stuffed mushrooms. How to Create Antipasto Platters has instructions and suggestions for putting together a variety of quick-and-easy appetizer trays.
Lynn Smythe - ABOUT THE WRITER Born and raised in Rochester, New York, freelance writer Lynn Smythe obtained her bachelor's degree in Geology from ...
