A cheese platter is one of the easiest thing to prepare and the yummiest appetiser ever. No one in a party would turn down a cheese platter, and you should not be friends with anyone who does. It can be a bit pricey to get the ingredients, but trust me, it’s absolutely worth it. With these simple tips, you’ll be able to prepare a cheese platter with your eyes closed, although we don’t quite recommend that.
First, you need to identify the different types of cheese. Cheese comes in a multifarious texture, creamy, nutty, soft, hard, and so on. A good and basic cheese platter will have one of each type, preferably with at least 5 different types of cheese.
Second, you need to have some sort of an accompaniment for your cheese plate. The easiest choices would be crackers or baguette. Make sure to choose something plain, any bread or crackers with strong flavour will mute the flavour of the cheese. You can also serve dried fruits, fresh fruits, nuts or berries.
Third, remember to take out your cheese from the refrigerator at least an hour before serving. They should not be too cold when served. Prepare a plate, or a wooden board for the cheese. You can also buy cheese knives if you like, but butter knives can also work.
Some people also like to label their platter, while some prefer to call out the names of the cheese as their guests are trying them. So totally up to you!
Now on to the platter:
Something Soft
You can use anything from Camembert cheese, Constant Bliss, Brillat-Savarin, or Boursin. I’d recommend Camembert because it is easily available in Cold Storage or AEON.
Something Sharp
Go with cheddar. It is fail-proof, and apart from serving its job as “something sharp”, it also fulfils the criteria of serving something familiar for your guests.
Something Nutty
You want to get something mild flavoured but nutty. Go with Gruyere, Beaufort, Comte, or Emmental. The easiest ones the find are gruyere and emmental; gruyere has a rich and nutty flavour that contributes well to the plate.
Something Aged
Usually one name pops into mind when it comes to aged cheese: gouda. It is a popular choice for cheese platters. Aged cheddar or compte can work too.
Something Quirky
This trick is usually done by blue cheese. Some people like to use pecorino, limburger, or farmhouse cheese, anything with a very strong odour and flavour. It’s up to you to go with the staple choice, or the lesser used ones. If you do pick blue cheese, it goes very well with wine, so don’t forget to also have a bottle of red on stand-by!
Once you have mastered the basics, go ahead and explore the possibilities, and be creative with your choices.
Good luck! 🙂
