Polished Pebble Cheese Almonds (Print Version)

Smooth cheeses and roasted almonds artfully arranged to mimic polished pebbles for a charming appetizer.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz oval-shaped mini mozzarella balls
02 - 7 oz oval goat cheese medallions or soft cheese shaped into ovals
03 - 5 oz babybel cheese, peeled and halved

→ Nuts

04 - 3.5 oz whole raw almonds

→ Garnishes

05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 tsp flaky sea salt
07 - Small handful fresh basil leaves
08 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional)

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread almonds on a baking tray and roast for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once until golden and fragrant. Allow to cool.
02 - Drain mozzarella balls and goat cheese medallions then pat dry with paper towels for a polished appearance.
03 - On a large serving platter or wooden board, arrange cheeses and roasted almonds in an organic, winding pattern resembling a stream of polished pebbles, alternating types for visual appeal.
04 - Lightly drizzle olive oil over the arrangement and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
05 - Decorate with fresh basil leaves, microgreens, and edible flowers to create a natural garden-inspired presentation.
06 - Offer immediately with cocktail picks or small serving forks.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours planning when you really just spent twenty minutes arranging.
  • Everyone assumes you hired a caterer, and you get to enjoy their surprised faces.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free without announcing it or tasting like compensation.
02 -
  • The drying step genuinely changes how the cheeses look—it's the difference between appetizer and catering board.
  • Roasted almonds cool quickly, but they're better slightly warm when you arrange them because they're more forgiving and actually smell better.
03 -
  • The texture contrast between smooth cheese and toasted almonds is what makes this memorable, so don't skip the roasting step.
  • Wooden boards photograph better than ceramic, and if someone takes a picture, that's the highest compliment you can receive for an appetizer.
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