My Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Debarshi Chatterji

Movie night! Ah how I keep waiting for you. I don’t remember if I have ever written about our ‘Legendary Movie Nights’ but they are our guilty pleasure nights when we eat anything we want without worrying about the calories. So, Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Fish, Chicken Nuggets, Pizza and Ice Cream are a big yes! The idea is to eat different varieties of finger foods till we are full and enjoy back to back movies or binge watch series.

This weekend, I decided to have a lovely Cheese Plate for our movie night. I wanted to get a readymade cheese plate where we will get everything pre selected and arranged. However, when I went to buy it, the price was a shock! For those who don’t know, even the smallest cheese plates can be pretty expensive. Now they usually have many new and different types of cheese and meats in them along with fruits, crackers, olives and dips. However, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money for a fun evening, so after some consideration and research, I decided that since neither Debarshi nor I am fond of cured meats like Prosciutto and Salami so they are off the list. Also all the expensive cheeses like Gouda, Manchego or Mimolette are just too expensive to buy for a fun movie night. Now I had already decided to include a cheese plate so I thought why not create my own version of it? That way, I can include all the fun and delicious items that we like without worrying about the cost. I read somewhere that it is best to serve at least one familiar Cheese and that for us is Pepper Jack. It’s spicy and has a beautiful taste, also not at all expensive. You can in fact include any cheese you like (example: Cheddar). So, I got a big pack of Pepper Jack cheese and once that was settled, I moved on to the next item of my plate - Bread.

A cheese plate asks for a selection of Breads, you can go for Baguette, Bread Sticks, Crackers, Garlic Toasties or even Flatbread. I got a baguette, cut it up into small pieces and laid it on a big tray. Yes, you will need a big flat serving plate or tray to show off the items even if they are budget friendly. Presentation matters! 

Next on the list: Condiments, now this section totally depends on your personal taste. I read that Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Horseradish and Caponata (it’s a Sicilian eggplant dish, sort of a salad) go very well in a cheese plate and if you like to go for an extra mile Caramelized Onions are an excellent option which can be prepared at home within a short time. Another quick and fuss-free option is to go for jarred condiments and vegetables, sweet preserves or tart chutneys. I got Honey and Spicy Mustard for my plate.

Next section is Fruits and Nuts. I had Grapes and Toasted Salted Almonds at home so I included them but you can also use Candied Nuts and Pistachios or go for an assorted option of seasonal and dried fruits which can include Figs, Cherries, Apples and Pears. I also included Stuffed Green Olives but you can also go for Kalamata. Finally, is there anything better than Chocolates? Yes! to complete the sweet part, add some pieces of chocolate on the tray. 

After the sweet part comes the savory which is Meat. Here you can be as creative as you like because it will depend on what you like best. You can go for Ham (Smoked, Peppered, Black Forest), Smoked Turkey Breast, Roast Beef, Salami (Hard or Genoa). For me Chicken is always the best option so I went for a delicious Chicken Andouille Sausage. You can also get Buffalo Chicken Breast or even Sliced Pepperoni whatever you like.

Of course there are no special serving tips for my Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate but some time soon I will try arranging the real cheese platter with all the delicious and expensive cheese and meats and then I will be able to share further information with you. Till then how about you enjoy a movie night with friends and family with your own version of cheese plate. Let me know what all you included. My only advice is, do not include expensive cheese for a group of more than ten or for a fun evening. Try going for the cheap ones which taste great like Pepper Jack, Provolone, Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack or Swiss cheese whichever you like best. Serve with some tooth picks and paper towels and enjoy your own homemade cheese plate with your favorite movie.

For the Movie Nights:

Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Fish, Chicken Nuggets, Pizza and Ice Cream

To create My Cheap and Delicious Cheese Plate:

A big flat serving plate or tray 

Cheese: Pepper Jack, Provolone, Sharp Cheddar, Colby Jack or Swiss cheese 

Bread: Baguette

Condiments: Honey and Spicy Mustard 

Fruits and Nuts: Grapes and Toasted Salted Almonds, Stuffed Green Olives and Chocolates

Meat: Chicken Andouille Sausage

To create a fun Cheese Plate for Date Night:

A beautiful platter or wooden cutting board

Cheese: Gouda, Manchego or Mimolette 

Bread: Baguette, Bread Sticks, Crackers, Garlic Toasties or Flatbread

Condiments: Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Horseradish, Caponata, Caramelized Onions or jarred condiments and vegetables, sweet preserves or tart chutneys 

Fruits and Nuts: Candied Nuts and Pistachios, assorted option of seasonal and dried fruits which can include Figs, Cherries, Apples and Pears, Kalamata Olives, Chocolates

Meat: Ham (Smoked, Peppered, Black Forest), Smoked Turkey Breast, Roast Beef, Salami (Hard or Genoa), Prosciutto, Buffalo Chicken Breast or Sliced Pepperoni

Recommended Reading (easy and quick recipes for your Movie Night):

• Pyaz Ke Pakore (Onion Fritters)
• Meethi Chutney Matar Phulki
• Alu Tikiya ki Chaat (Crispy Fried Potato Patties with Dried Peas, Yogurt, Chutney and Spices)
• Methi Pakora (Gram flour and Fenugreek leaves Fritters)
• Palak ke Pakore (Gram flour and Spinach Fritters)
• Dhania Chutney (Cilantro Chutney)
• Tamarind Chutney – sweetness with tang
• Jalapeno Poppers with Cream Cheese and Bacon
• Plum Chutney