Polished Pebble Cheese Almonds (Printable)

An artful blend of smooth oval cheeses and roasted almonds with fresh basil accents.

# 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 - 5.3 oz babybel cheese, peeled and halved

→ Nuts

04 - 3.5 oz whole raw almonds

→ Garnishes

05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
06 - 1 tsp flaky sea salt
07 - Small handful fresh basil leaves
08 - Microgreens or edible flowers, optional

# Method:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours planning when you actually threw it together in minutes.
  • Every element tastes incredible on its own, so there's no pretense—just good cheese, toasted nuts, and a pinch of salt doing the heavy lifting.
  • Gluten-free and vegetarian without announcing it, which means everyone at your table can enjoy it without feeling like they're eating something separate.
02 -
  • Don't arrange this more than 30 minutes before serving, or the basil will start to darken and the cheeses will lose their polished appearance.
  • Roasting your own almonds makes an enormous difference—it's the difference between good and memorable, and it takes only a few minutes of actual work.
03 -
  • Use smoked almonds or marcona almonds if you want to add another layer of flavor—they're both buttery and distinctive in their own ways.
  • If you're serving this to a crowd, make the platter on a board or slate that you can easily move, so it becomes part of the table display rather than stuck on a side counter.
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