Making an excellent platter of cold cuts and cheeses isn't difficult: advice on combinations, decoration and final presentation of the most loved Italian antipasto of all time.
Among the most popular appetizers is the platter of cold cuts and cheeses , an evergreen that will probably never go out of style. Easy to make, versatile, ready to satisfy all tastes, to make it up to every occasion it is good to be clear what to put in an impeccable platter of cold cuts and cheeses , and how to organize it for a well-finished presentation . Here are ideas and useful advice on pairings .
What to put on a cold cuts and cheese platter
It's the classic Italian antipasto , but for the "region you go, typical products you find" series, its beauty lies in being able to offer infinite variations by playing on the most delicious combinations. Opening the menu by offering your guests a small or large selection of local products to accompany a Cabernet Sauvignon or a craft beer is almost like a cuddle. In short: despite having already been seen and revised, the chopping board allows us to always make an excellent impression. But what to put to make it unique?
Yes, because it is not enough to arrange a slice of cooked ham, one of salami and one of pecorino at random: the choice must necessarily be reasoned.
The extra tip: in addition to the well-known cheeses and cured meats, focus on a couple of niche products, perhaps from small local producers, to amaze your guests.
What cheeses to put on the cutting board
Let's start from the number: if it is good not to exaggerate in an attempt to demonstrate one's will to amaze, one must not skimp either. Let's say a cutting board should contain 4-5 cheeses . And, specifically:
- 1 fresh cheese
- 1-2 semi-mature cheeses
- 1 aged cheese
- 1 blue cheese
This, unless you want to bring a platter of themed cheeses to the table (for example, all goat cheese , or all from a specific region). The cheeses should be arranged in order, i.e. from the most delicate to the one with the strongest flavor and strictly at room temperature.
The extra tip: if there are children among the diners, it is always good to add some Grana, which they usually appreciate a lot and which adults also like.
Which cured meats to put on the cutting board
As for the cured meats to put on the cutting board, even in this case it is better not to overdo it, start from a minimum of 5 and reach a maximum of 7. Obviously a distinction must be made between cooked and raw cured meats . For example, mortadella and cooked ham belong to the first category, bresaola and speck , raw ham , bacon , salami belong to the second.
Extra tip: if there are pregnant women among the diners, bet on cooked sausages, which can be eaten even during pregnancy without health problems.
Combination of cured meats and cheeses
We come to the most difficult part, namely the combination of salami and cheese. The goal must be to create a well-studied mix that doesn't bore the palate. For example, one can try to favor a balanced assortment from the point of view of taste, giving the right importance to sweet but also to savoury, without forgetting acidity and bitterness, but also including those ingredients that complement each other.
How to garnish a plate of cold cuts and cheeses
Garnishing and decorating a platter of cold cuts and cheeses isn't difficult if you have clear ideas. You can use pickles, pickles, jams and/or jams ( pumpkin and cinnamon jam is perfect with fresh and medium-aged cheeses; Vulcano spring onion , on the other hand, with spicy cheeses) or even just dried fruit . Obviously bread (or, instead, breadsticks and croutons ) cannot be missing.
If they generally tend to contrast the more decisive flavors of aged cheeses, jams also go incredibly well with lard ; almonds , walnuts and pistachios , on the other hand, are perfect when served with soft cheeses .
Platter of Sicilian cold cuts and cheeses, how to prepare it?
In Sicily, as well as in all Italian regions to tell the truth, the choice of typical products is as vast as ever. Opting for a thematic appetizer can be an excellent idea when you want to let your guests know what this land has to offer.
If you want to bring a Sicilian-themed cutting board to the table, you can include:
- Capocollo of black pig
- Raw pork ham
- Salami from Sant'Angelo di Brolo
Among the cheeses, however:
- baked ricotta
- fresh provolone
- seasoned cosacavaddu
- saffron pecorino
The extra tip: the black tumminia bread goes very well with the Nebrodi black pig.
If you have the opportunity, don't miss it on a platter of Sicilian cold cuts and cheeses like this, it will be the icing on the cake.
Platter of cold cuts and cheeses, presentation
For an impeccable presentation of the cold cuts and cheese platter, everything must be taken care of down to the smallest detail. Starting from… cutting board, in fact.
Which cutting board to choose
Yes, because if convenient for slicing onion, carrots and celery, the usual "battle" plastic cutting board that many keep in the kitchen is not exactly suitable for being brought to the table.
Better to focus on a wooden chopping board , which always has its effect as a support bed for food and is suitable for both formal and informal situations. Nothing prevents you from opting for those in marble, steel or stone, of course, but these must be matched each time to the given occasion.
What decorations on the cold cuts and cheese platter?
The dispassionate advice? Favor quality rather than quantity: better a few slices of a good product than a few ounces of poor cooked ham. The same goes for decorations . For example, you can insert a few curly lettuce leaves here and there, or place a ceramic cup with toothpicks inside. To serve olives or pickles in general, use colored bowls.
