Do you have visitors coming over for a wine night? And the best way to serve it is with a beautiful and delectable cheese platter. But how do you put a cheese platter together?
Your cheese platter must be well-balanced. It should contain a little something for everyone, with a mix of sweet and savory flavors as well as a variety of textures.
At every gathering, cheese platters have become a staple. When you love cheese, it might also be your go-to. We can’t deny how delicious cheese platters appear.
It can’t be that difficult to put together a cheese platter. Within minutes, you can have a beautifully arranged cheese board. All you have to do is follow our tips, and your guests and family will be impressed.
Keto-friendly cheese platters are also possible. Cheese platters are something that people on the keto diet will seek out in a restaurant that doesn’t have much of a keto-friendly menu.
Varieties of Cheese
There are many different kinds of cheese. What kind of cheeses should you include on your cheese platter? Your platter should consist of a range of textures.
Aim for a wide range of milk types, ages, and textures, as well as form and color. Make the platter visually beautiful as well as flavorful.
Include one goat or blue cheese, and alternate between creamy, semi-hard/hard, and aged cheeses.
Here are some cheeses to consider and include on your platter:
- Soft: burrata, mozzarella, brie, humboldt fog
- Semi-Soft: stilton, roquefort, Gorgonzola, Fontina
- Semi-Hard: manchego, Swiss, provolone, comte
- Hard: cheddar, parmesan, pecorino, Asiago
Tips for Making an Ultimate Cheese Plate:
It can be confusing deciding what to put and how to arrange your cheese plate. You might want to consider these tips to make an ultimate cheese plate for your gatherings.
- Offer savory and sweet options on your plate because everyone has their preferences when it comes to cheese. Some prefer it spicy, while others want it sweet. Including something for everyone is a good idea for everyone to enjoy it.
- To keep things modest, serve three to six different types of cheese.
- Choose cheeses with a variety of flavors and textures.
- Choose milder cheeses like herb-coated goat cheese or fresh mozzarella if you’re serving cheese before dinner.
- If you’re serving cheese after dinner, you can either go for full-flavored cheeses like Manchego, cheddar, aged gouda, or blue cheeses. You can also go for a single rich and creamy cheese like the easy-to-find triple-crème cheese called St. Andre.
- Label cheese using cheese markers so that everyone knows what they’re getting.
- To bring out the true flavor of the cheeses, bring them to room temperature before serving.
- Do not forget to include cheese knives, forks, toothpicks, etc.
Arranging Cheese on the Cheese Boards
Now that you’ve decided which cheeses to include on your plate, it’s time to get creative. Putting them together! There is no right or wrong way to do it. All that matters is that you enjoy yourself and remember the golden rule: variety, flavor, and texture.
- Place your cheeses
Always go with a cheese that is a crowd-pleaser. Just like the solid cheddar, everyone loves cheddar, and you can never go wrong with it. You can also use a couple of exciting cheeses, such as blue cheese, goat cheese, or even sheep milk cheese. Have a combination of soft, semi-hard, and hard cheeses.
- Add fruits, meats, and jams.
You can now add fruits, meats, and jams to your plate after you’ve put cheese on it. Fruits can add flavor to your platter. You can use fresh fruits, dried fruits, and fruit spreads. The flavors of the fruits complement the cheese nicely.
To accompany your cheeses, select a range of cured meats. Proscuitto, jam on serrano, salami, and pepperoni are crowd favorites. Arrange them neatly or use the smaller slices of meat as plate borders.
The jams also give your cheese a sweet taste. Most people enjoy fig jam, mango chutney, pear compote with black peppercorn syrup, and apricot jam. To complement the solid cheeses and salty meats, put in a small bottle of jam and several servings of honey.
- Fill in with bread, crackers, and nuts
Filling in the gaps with bread, crackers, and almonds is the final stage. They are the most visible cheese plate garnishes. It provides a surface for individuals to place or spread the cheese on. Play with shapes and arrange them in a series to make them more visually appealing.
You can try arranging them with a few round crackers on one side, a few square crackers overlapping each other at a different angle, and tiny amounts of the same nuts on the cheese boards in various spots.
You can also create your healthy bread at home. Keto bread Recipes contains the best recipes for healthier bread.
Cheesecakes are another way that I enjoy cheese. It’s become trendy and a new way to present cheese. These are cakes that are made out of cheese. It’s a popular choice for birthdays, gifts, and weddings. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, this is a great option.
When creating cheesecakes, it’s important to use cheese that comes in a variety of sizes. The layers will get smaller as the cake continues, giving it the appearance of a layered cake. Soft or semi-soft cheeses that are easy to break down are the best to use.
Cheesecakes and platters can also be accompanied by herbs grown in your backyard. These are low-cost garnishes that you can pick up at your home. Make sure that everything you put on your platter is edible and safe to eat.
Here is a video from Tasty, showing you a few steps to make your cheese platter.
Pair it with Beverage
Serving a cheese platter will not be complete without beverages. Choosing the right beverage makes your cheese platter more exciting. But what kind of beverage can go with your cheese?
The first decision to make is whether to provide a single beverage with the cheese selection or serve various beverages with each variety of cheese.
The simple but slightly expensive solution is to open a couple of different wines. There’s something for everyone and every cheese this way.
A slightly sweet white wine will usually do good, but make sure it’s not too sweet and that it has enough acidity to cut through the cheese’s richness.
You may also try pairing the cheese with a beer. The cheeses will take on new flavors if you use a beer that isn’t too strong.
There are also non-alcoholic beverages that will pair well with your cheese. It goes well with tea, coffee, chocolate drinks, lemonade, soda, and chicha Morada. It will always be a matter of personal preference.
People Also Ask
How is a charcuterie board different from a cheese
platter?
A charcuterie board is different because it has a variety of meats and foods that go well with some meats. A cheese platter has a variety of cheeses and other foods that go well with them. This also means that the foods that go with a cheese board and a charcuterie board will be a little different.
What should cheese’s temperature be?
Cheese should be kept between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit and in a place with a high humidity level, like the bottom bin for vegetables and fruits. Don’t put the cheese near the freezer or in the meat bin so it doesn’t get frozen by accident.
How long does cheese last?
Most soft cheeses can be stored in the refrigerator for at least 7 days after being opened, and also most hard cheeses can be kept there for 3–4 weeks.
Conclusion
We’ve all been drooling over the beautiful cheese platter. You can also make one by following some of our simple tips for making one. The first thing you should think about is the type of cheese you’ll use.
Adding fresh fruits, meats, crackers, jams, and herbs can improve the appearance and taste. Always keep a good balance of everything and ensure that there is something for everyone.
There is no right or wrong way to do it. All you need to do is have fun with it and be creative. When making the platter, don’t forget to keep the golden rule in mind. The balance should be made in terms of variety, flavor, and texture. It’ll be much more delicious if you couple it with the right beverage!
What type of cheese do you prefer on your cheese platter? Let us know in the comments section.
