Clockwork Orange Citrus Cheese (Print View)

Vibrant citrus slices paired with creamy cheese arranged in a circular pattern for easy entertaining.

# Components:

→ Citrus

01 - 1 large orange
02 - 1 blood orange
03 - 1 grapefruit
04 - 2 clementines
05 - 1 lemon
06 - 1 lime

→ Cheese

07 - 5.3 oz firm goat cheese or manchego
08 - 3.5 oz aged cheddar or gouda

→ Garnishes

09 - 2 tbsp honey
10 - 2 tbsp chopped pistachios or walnuts (optional)
11 - Fresh mint leaves (optional)
12 - Crackers or crusty bread, to serve

# Method:

01 - Slice all citrus fruits into thin, even rounds, removing seeds where necessary.
02 - Arrange the citrus slices in a circular pattern on a large round serving platter, alternating colors for visual appeal and placing one slice at each of the twelve hours on the clock.
03 - Cut the cheeses into long, narrow strips; shape two pieces to represent clock hands and place them at the center, pointing to your chosen time.
04 - Drizzle honey over the center and sprinkle chopped pistachios or walnuts if using.
05 - Garnish with fresh mint leaves for color and aroma.
06 - Serve immediately with crackers or crusty bread on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks intimidating but takes barely twenty minutes, which means you can actually pull it off before guests arrive.
  • Everyone gravitates toward it first because it's impossible to ignore, giving you those precious minutes to finish other dishes.
  • It works for any occasion—fancy dinner parties, casual game nights, or that random Thursday when you want to feel fancy.
02 -
  • Slice your citrus no more than thirty minutes before serving or the fruit will start to weep liquid and make everything soggy—trust me, I learned this the hard way when my beautiful platter started looking like a puddle.
  • Choose a round platter that's at least fourteen inches across so you have room to breathe between each hour and can actually see the clock structure you're creating.
03 -
  • Pat your citrus slices dry with a paper towel before arranging them so they don't slip around on the platter and ruin your clock design.
  • Use a sturdy cheese knife to cut your cheese strips—regular kitchen knives can drag and tear, especially with harder cheeses like manchego and aged cheddar.
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