Cubist Deconstruction Appetizer (Printable Version)

A modern appetizer showcasing geometric-cut vegetables, fruits, and cheese arranged for vibrant taste and texture contrasts.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 small cucumber, peeled
02 - 1 medium golden beet, cooked and peeled
03 - 1 medium watermelon radish, peeled
04 - 1 ripe avocado

→ Cheese

05 - 3.5 oz block feta cheese

→ Fruit

06 - 1 ripe mango, peeled

→ Garnishes & Seasoning

07 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
09 - Flaky sea salt, to taste
10 - Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
11 - Microgreens or fresh herbs (basil, cilantro), for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Slice vegetables and fruits into non-standard geometric shapes approximately 0.4 inch thick using a sharp knife or small cookie cutters for precision.
02 - Cut the feta cheese into geometric cubes or prisms complementing the theme.
03 - On a large flat platter, arrange vegetable, fruit, and cheese pieces side-by-side without overlap, creating a cubist-style mosaic.
04 - Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice evenly over the mosaic.
05 - Sprinkle flaky sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste.
06 - Top with microgreens or fresh herbs and serve immediately to preserve visual integrity.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks intimidating but takes just 25 minutes, making you seem like a culinary artist without the stress.
  • Every bite combines different flavors and textures in ways that feel unexpected and delightful.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so you can serve it to almost anyone without worrying.
02 -
  • Prep everything before you start arranging. Once you begin placing pieces, you want to keep that momentum. A prepared ingredients station means a composed plate.
  • Cut your avocado last. Its buttery flesh browns quickly, and this dish lives or dies on pristine appearance. Reserve it for final assembly.
  • Use a cold platter if you can. It keeps the vegetables fresher and somehow makes the colors pop more vividly.
03 -
  • A chilled serving platter makes a surprising difference. Cold surfaces keep vegetables crisp and somehow make colors appear more saturated and alive.
  • If you're nervous about your hand-cut shapes, use cookie cutters for at least two ingredients to anchor the design and build confidence for the rest.
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