How to Make a Cheese Plate
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Putting together a cheese plate is the easiest and most impressive party appetizer you can do, whether you’re entertaining friends or just have a crowd over for dinner. Plus, it doesn’t require any actual cooking, which means you can make one for a special occasion or even just when you’re feeling lazy (which is pretty often, especially if you’re hosting!).
How to Make a Cheese Plate
To make an impressive cheese plate, you need to start by selecting a few types of cheese that will be the star of the show. You want a mixture of hard and soft cheese, as well as varieties that come from different milk sources.
For instance, you’ll want to select a few types of cows’ milk cheese like Gruyere and Istara as well as a few goats’ milk cheeses like Humboldt Fog.
You’ll also need a few types of crackers, breads, and nuts. These items add texture and flavor to the board, and are a nice contrast to the smooth texture of the cheeses you’ve selected.
Once you’ve chosen your cheeses, you can start assembling the board! Ideally, you’ll put the cheeses on a serving platter, but if you don’t have one, you can use an ordinary dinner plate.
Lay the cheeses out on the platter, making sure to keep them at room temperature so they’ll be ripe and ready to eat when your guests arrive. You’ll also want to place some small bowls of condiments, such as tapenade, olives, jam, or honey, on the board.
Fill in the empty spaces with your other toppings and garnishes! A few pieces of sliced fruit can help give the board some color. If you haven’t already, place some edible flowers or fresh herbs on the board as well, such as sage or thyme.
Another option for garnishing your cheese board is to shave some charcuterie and place it on the top of the board. If you’re hosting a large crowd, consider adding some roasted meats to the plate as well!
If you’re serving a variety of wines, a lighter wine will pair best with the cheese plate. A light Chardonnay or Riesling will work nicely, as will a pinot noir that has some fruit in it.
Assemble your cheese plate about 30 minutes before you’re planning to serve it, so the cheese has time to ripen and warm up. This will prevent the cheese from becoming too dry and gummy and will ensure it’s at its most savory!
You should also plan for a little extra room on the plate to accommodate any other accouterments you’re going to include, such as crackers or crostini.
Belle English, our test kitchen cook and cheese board guru, says she likes to “go big or go home.” If you’re going to spend the money on good cheese, she says, it’s important to support that investment with a nice array of high-quality accompaniments. Her favorite board combines Rush Creek Reserve, an unpasteurized grassy, raw milk cheese from Colorado, with dried fruit and verdant Castelvetrano olives.
Putting together a cheese plate is the easiest and most impressive party appetizer you can do, whether you’re entertaining friends or just have a crowd over for dinner. Plus, it doesn’t require any actual cooking, which means you can make one for a special occasion or even just when you’re feeling lazy (which is pretty…
Putting together a cheese plate is the easiest and most impressive party appetizer you can do, whether you’re entertaining friends or just have a crowd over for dinner. Plus, it doesn’t require any actual cooking, which means you can make one for a special occasion or even just when you’re feeling lazy (which is pretty…