Burlap & Lace Platter (Print Version)

Hearty sliced meats artfully paired with thinly shaved cheeses and fresh herbs on a rustic serving board.

# Components:

→ Meats

01 - 4.23 oz smoked beef, thickly sliced or hand-torn
02 - 4.23 oz rustic country ham, roughly chopped
03 - 4.23 oz smoked sausage, thick-cut rounds or wedges

→ Cheeses

04 - 2.12 oz Parmigiano Reggiano, thinly shaved
05 - 2.12 oz aged Manchego, thinly shaved
06 - 2.12 oz Gruyère, thinly shaved

→ Accompaniments

07 - 1 small handful cornichons
08 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 2 tbsp grainy mustard
10 - 1 small bunch fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs
11 - 1 rustic country loaf or crusty baguette, sliced (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Layer the rough-cut smoked beef, country ham, and smoked sausage in overlapping rustic mounds on a large wooden board or platter.
02 - Use a vegetable peeler or cheese plane to shave Parmigiano Reggiano, Manchego, and Gruyère into thin, translucent ribbons. Place them artfully over and beside the meats.
03 - Distribute cornichons, thinly sliced red onion, and small dollops of grainy mustard around the platter to complement the flavors.
04 - Decorate with fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs for enhanced aroma and visual appeal.
05 - Present immediately, optionally accompanied by sliced rustic country loaf or crusty baguette.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No cooking required—just arranging, which means more time with guests and less time stressed in the kitchen.
  • Every element tastes incredible on its own, but together they create something way more interesting than the sum of parts.
  • It looks like you spent hours planning when you really spent fifteen minutes, and people notice that kind of thoughtfulness.
02 -
  • Cheese shaved too thick won't have that delicate, translucent quality—it becomes a chunk instead of a texture, and the whole board loses its visual magic.
  • Let everything sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving; cold meats and cheeses taste muted, but room-temperature ones sing.
  • Red onion adds sharpness that keeps your mouth from getting tired of the richness—it's not optional, it's essential.
03 -
  • Keep your cheese plane or vegetable peeler sharp; dull tools will shred the cheese instead of shaving it clean, destroying the whole effect.
  • If you're making this ahead, wrap the platter loosely with plastic wrap and let it come to room temperature for ten minutes before unwrapping—the cheeses especially will taste better and the flavors will be more pronounced.
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