Polished Pebble Cheese Almonds (Printable)

Smooth oval cheeses and roasted almonds arranged in a playful, elegant presentation for entertaining.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz oval-shaped mini mozzarella balls
02 - 7 oz oval goat cheese medallions or equivalent soft cheese
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)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread almonds on a baking tray and roast for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring once, until golden and fragrant. Allow to cool.
02 - Drain mozzarella balls and goat cheese medallions thoroughly. Pat dry with paper towels for a polished appearance.
03 - On a large wooden board or platter, arrange cheeses and roasted almonds in an organic, meandering pattern to mimic a stream-bed of polished pebbles. Alternate between cheese types and almonds for visual appeal.
04 - Drizzle lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt evenly over the arrangement.
05 - Decorate with fresh basil leaves, microgreens, and edible flowers as desired. Serve immediately with cocktail picks or small forks.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It takes fifteen minutes but looks like you spent hours designing it, which feels like a small magic trick you can pull off before anyone arrives.
  • The contrast between creamy cheeses and crunchy roasted almonds surprises your palate in the best way, and no one expects that from what looks like an edible art installation.
02 -
  • Wet cheese looks tired and won't photograph well; dry it completely or your pebbles will look like they've lost their shine.
  • Room temperature cheeses taste better than cold ones straight from the fridge, so pull them out about ten minutes before arranging if you have the time.
03 -
  • Roast your almonds the morning of if you can; they stay crispy longer and taste fresher than anything roasted days ahead.
  • Use a wooden board instead of ceramic or marble—wood looks warmer and more organic, which actually makes the pebble-stream story feel more real.
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