Checkerboard Garden Appetizer (Printable Version)

Alternating squares of creamy cheeses and fresh herbs create a vibrant, elegant presentation.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
02 - 5.3 oz ricotta cheese
03 - 5.3 oz feta cheese, sliced

→ Herb Mixtures

04 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves
05 - 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
06 - 2 tbsp chopped chives
07 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 small garlic clove
09 - 1 tsp lemon zest
10 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

11 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional)
12 - Freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine basil, parsley, chives, olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a food processor; blend until smooth and vibrant green. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
02 - Line a square or rectangular serving tray with parchment paper to facilitate removal.
03 - Cut the mozzarella and feta into uniform square pieces of equal size using a ruler or square cutter for precision.
04 - Spread the ricotta into even squares matching the size of other cheeses with an offset spatula or pipe for clean edges.
05 - Arrange the alternating cheese squares and herb paste squares in a checkerboard pattern on the tray, using a piping bag or spatula to neatly fill herb squares.
06 - Decorate the checkerboard with microgreens, edible flowers, or a light sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper as desired.
07 - Refrigerate the assembled checkerboard for 10 to 15 minutes to enhance presentation before serving with crackers, toasted bread, or crudités.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours when you really spent minutes, which is the secret weapon of good entertaining.
  • Every bite is different—creamy ricotta, tangy feta, fresh herbs—so people actually linger over it instead of grabbing and moving on.
  • You can prep everything ahead and just arrange it when guests arrive, which means you're actually present instead of stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
  • The cheeses need to be roughly the same thickness, or the checkerboard looks drunk instead of intentional—I learned this by having one side visibly taller than the other.
  • Don't skip the chilling step; cold cheese holds its shape infinitely better and the herb paste becomes more stable, making the whole thing last longer on the board without looking sad.
03 -
  • Room temperature ricotta spreads like butter; cold ricotta fights back, so let it sit out for ten minutes before you start building.
  • Make your herb paste the night before and store it in a small container—the flavors actually deepen, and you've already solved half the puzzle before your guests arrive.
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