Polished Pebble Oval Cheeses (Printable)

Smooth oval cheeses combined with roasted almonds create a visually stunning and flavorful appetizer.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

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

→ Nuts

04 - 3.5 oz whole raw almonds

→ Garnishes

05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt
07 - Small handful fresh basil leaves
08 - Microgreens or edible flowers (optional, for decoration)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread almonds evenly on a baking tray and roast for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once, until golden and aromatic. Remove and let cool.
02 - Drain mozzarella balls and goat cheese medallions. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels to achieve a polished appearance.
03 - On a large serving platter or wooden board, artistically arrange the cheeses and roasted almonds in an organic, flowing pattern that resembles a stream-bed of polished pebbles, alternating types for visual contrast.
04 - Lightly drizzle the arrangement with olive oil and sprinkle flaky sea salt evenly over all elements.
05 - Decorate with fresh basil leaves and optionally with microgreens or edible flowers to enhance a natural, garden-inspired presentation.
06 - Present immediately accompanied by cocktail picks or small forks.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like restaurant-quality art but takes barely 20 minutes from start to table.
  • Everyone eats with their hands and smiles, because something about the pebble concept makes grown-ups feel a little whimsical.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free without any sacrifice to flavor or elegance.
02 -
  • Never skip the drying step—wet cheese won't let the salt cling properly and loses that beautiful polished appearance.
  • If your almonds taste even slightly bitter or old, they'll overpower the delicate cheeses, so buy fresh and taste one before committing the whole batch.
03 -
  • Arrange everything just before serving so the almonds stay crunchy and the basil doesn't start to wilt or blacken at the edges.
  • If you want extra flavor depth, use smoked almonds or the slightly sweet and buttery marcona variety instead of regular roasted almonds.
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