It’s the festive season, and that means lots of entertaining!
I’ve never been the most creative when it comes to cheese platters – they’re usually an afterthought that I throw onto a board when I begin to panic that I’m not going to have a meal ready in time for guests. A couple of types of cheese, a packaged dip, some crackers, done.
But I enjoy trying new things and pushing myself creatively, and I wanted to come up with an idea for an entertaining platter that was a little less mediocre and a little more interesting.
This entertaining platter is definitely not ho-hum. With wedges of juicy grilled peach, a melty and gooey grilled Brie, oven-roasted balsamic tomatoes, torn bocconcini, cranberries, a ricotta and pesto dip, and shaved Jamón serrano (cured Spanish ham, available from the deli), it is an explosion of flavour.
Plus, all the colours and textures look SO pretty when put together on a platter!
Here’s the recipe – it’s super simple and will take your cheese platter game to a whole new level! The combination of flavours really is something so special.
Ingredients
- Brie
- Bocconcini
- Small tub ricotta
- Jar of pesto
- Jamón Serrano (get them to shave it for you fresh at the deli). I used 160g (5.5oz)
- Baby roma tomatoes
- Balsamic vinegar
- Cranberries
- 3 x Fresh peaches
- Assorted crackers (I used pita crisps, grissini and fig crackers for their contrasting shapes and textures)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180℃ (350℉)
- Cut the baby tomatoes in half and place on an oven tray lined with baking paper. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, then grind over some sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Bake for 10-15 mins.
- Cut the peaches into wedges. Place the peaches cut side down on the BBQ or in a grill pan. Add the Brie. Once placed on the grill, do not move the food until it's time to flip it over. This will give you nice grill lines. Cook until the Brie is just molten inside - about 10 minutes. To check, press the Brie with your finger until it feels loose and soft.
- Tear the bocconcini into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix together the small tub of ricotta and approx. half a jar of pesto. Place in a small serving bowl.
- On the platter, arrange the torn bocconcini, roasted tomatoes, ricotta and pesto dip, grilled Brie, grilled peaches, Jamón and crackers. Sprinkle with cranberries and serve immediately.
We enjoyed our cheese platter for a lazy Sunday lunch with a bottle of sparkling Italian Rosé.
That made me feel super fancy, typing that. We even locked ourselves out on the deck so the kids wouldn’t hassle us too much.
We both agreed that we need to eat cheese platters as an entire meal on a MUCH more regular basis. More cheese = happier parents, which = happier families, which = happier communities. So basically, eating cheese is good for world peace.
I do try to do my little bit for the good of humanity.
Do let me know if you try this combination for your next entertaining platter! I’d love to hear what you think. Or if you want to save it for later, make sure you pin it to your recipe board on Pinterest!
Do you find yourself doing heaps of extra entertaining over the Christmas season? Who’s planned a menu for Christmas lunch already? We’re eating at Mum and Dad’s place, so I’m just bringing a salad and perhaps a dessert. It will all be fairly simple and casual.
I’d love to hear your feasting plans. It’s always fun to hear the difference between our Aussie summer Christmas fare and what our Northern Hemisphere friends do.
Wishing you a house full of sunshine!
Yum! I’ll try the bbq ideas, they look great.
Yay, hope you love it as much as we did! Barbecuing the cheese + peaches really made it special and a little bit different! xo
Thank you Karen! I am always looking for different ways to present a cheese platter. I’ll “pin” this one 🙂
Awesome Min, so glad you like this! It’s fun to get some new ideas to try 😊
Love this combination 💕 can’t wait to use it over the Christmas holidays!!
I hope you enjoy it as much as we did! xo
My husband is French, so there will definitely be a cheese platter when we celebrate Christmas with his family. 🙂 I have never thought about adding grilled or roasted fruit, though. Thanks for the yummy idea! And yes, all those colors and textures do look pretty together!
Greetings from Germany,
Alicia
Oooh how wonderful! Nobody does a cheese platter as well as the French! ❤️Wishing you the most wonderful Christmas! xo
This looks stunning. How do you know where to place everything to make it flow nicely
Great question! I start with the bigger items – the Brie and the bowl of dip went on first. Then I add piles, placing each pile right next to a bigger item so it has a visual connection. I added a pile of peaches next to the Brie, then piled the bocconcini and tomatoes next to each other so they wrapped around the bowl of dip. Next I fanned the smaller crackers around in curves and then placed the bigger pita crackers on top for height. I added each piece of ham individually, pleating them a bit with my fingers so they kind of stood up and propped each other up. The cranberries were sprinkled on at the end. I find that by piling smaller foods around bigger items and wrapping things in curves, it helps it all flow. I also keep food in like groups but then add a random piece here or there at the end. I hope that makes sense! xo
Nice idea, Karen! I haven´t think about menu for Christmas yet!!!
Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina!
You’re not alone Roxana, we still have to figure out some details with our Christmas feast too! Whatever you eat, I hope you have a beautiful day and enjoy this special time with family! xo
It looks like art!
You always make me feel good about myself! You have a gift of encouragement. xo
oh wow, this is exactly what I’m looking for! I need to do a platter in a couple of weeks and didn’t want the typical meat cheese and crackers. Can’t wait to try this. Thank you!
Yay Tamalita, so glad you’re going to give this a try! 💜
Ooh, this looks lovely, pinning and hoping to try sometime! Here in South Africa, my family has alway been stuck on one menu that we love for festive occasions: leg of lamb and perhaps another meat with different salads and always trifle, please! Fortunately we are visiting family this year and I don’t have to do a thing – my brother-in-law loves cooking and prefers to be alone in the kitchen. It’s anybody’s guess what he will cook up this time!
Oh wow, that sounds like my dream Christmas right there!! 🙂 Make sure you enjoy every minute! xo P.S. We love our leg of lamb here in Australia too – and trifle always goes a treat at Christmas time!
This platter looks amazing, will make for sure, do you have ideas on a similar platter for kids?
Our kids eat the Brie, peaches and crackers, so we just let them pick and choose what they like off the platter. Usually with something like this I’ll just set out some cubed cheddar and sliced kebana for them as well. Not fancy, but they like it and it means there’s more yummies for us! 🙂
great ideas for Christmas appetizers! Thanks so much.
You’re so welcome, Alison! xo