LIFESTYLE
Festive Cheeseboard with Clementine Compote
It's cold outside - So let’s bring the cheeseboard out!
In the winter season there are so many occasions to celebrate; Thanksgiving (for our friends in the US), Christmas, New year’s Eve and even Valentines Day – at times we can be running around with hundreds of crazy things to do, and also it is a time where unexpected guests can turn up. So I always make sure that I have something super easy at hand that is festive, delicious, crowd pleasing and takes no time.
And voilà bring out the cheeseboard… And not just any cheeseboard but a mouth watering selection with a delicious but simple clementine compote to accompany it.
So what makes this platter festive and where to start?
I like to choose a mature cheddar, a creamy blue cheese and of course you can’t really have a cheeseboard without an extra creamy brie.
On my board I like a mix of sweet, pickles and lots of textures:
For textures: I use nuts and crackers that I scatter across the board.
Pickles: Olives and Cornichons are always in my fridge.
Fruits: Figs and Clementine are best friends with cheese!
Cold meats: The piquancy and heat of Chorizo works superbly with most hard cheese.
But to add that touch of festive sweetness and the perfect pairing to any cheese, I like to make a quick clementine compote by gently cooking some clementines with maple syrup, star anise and bay leaves….
Drizzle on top of the brie, add a few rosemary leaves and pecans…. tada ….
There is no old bread that cannot find its cheese.
