Pomegranate Jewel Cascade Board (Printable Version)

An elegant cheese and fruit arrangement featuring pomegranate arils and a mix of nuts and cured meats.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 3.5 oz creamy goat cheese, sliced
02 - 3.5 oz aged Manchego, sliced
03 - 3.5 oz blue cheese, crumbled

→ Cured Meats

04 - 2.8 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced
05 - 2.8 oz spicy salami, thinly sliced

→ Fresh Fruits

06 - Seeds from 1 large pomegranate
07 - 1 small bunch red grapes, halved
08 - 1 ripe pear, thinly sliced
09 - 1 small apple, thinly sliced

→ Dried Fruits & Nuts

10 - 1.75 oz dried apricots, halved
11 - 1.4 oz dried figs, sliced
12 - 1.4 oz toasted pistachios
13 - 1.4 oz roasted almonds

→ Accompaniments

14 - Small piece honeycomb
15 - Small jar fig jam
16 - 1 crusty baguette, sliced
17 - 2.8 oz artisan crackers

→ Garnish

18 - Fresh mint leaves

# Directions:

01 - Visualize a diagonal cascade from the top left to the bottom right corner of a large platter.
02 - Arrange sliced and crumbled cheeses along the diagonal, alternating types for a striking presentation.
03 - Fold cured meats gently and layer them between the cheese sections, allowing edges to overlap attractively.
04 - Distribute fresh pear and apple slices, grape halves, and dried fruits along the cascade to maintain flow.
05 - Generously sprinkle pomegranate seeds across the diagonal, grouping clusters for a jewel-like appearance.
06 - Tuck toasted pistachios and roasted almonds throughout the cascade to add texture and crunch.
07 - Place honeycomb and fig jam in small bowls at either end of the arrangement for accessibility.
08 - Fan out baguette slices and artisan crackers along both sides of the composition for ease of serving.
09 - Finish with fresh mint leaves for color and aroma, then serve immediately at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually just spent 25 minutes arranging beautiful things.
  • The pomegranate seeds add a burst of tartness that cuts through rich cheeses in the most elegant way.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about creating a board where every element has a reason to be there—nothing feels random.
02 -
  • Arrange your board no more than 2-3 hours ahead of serving. Fresh fruits will start to weep, and cheeses need time to come to room temperature to taste their best.
  • Always remove pomegranate arils over a bowl of water—the white pith that comes away is bitter, and the water catches any juice so you don't end up with red fingers and a stained cutting board.
03 -
  • Choose a board with interesting texture or color—it becomes part of your composition and should complement rather than compete with your ingredients.
  • Prep everything the night before except the fresh fruits, which should be sliced close to serving so they stay crisp and don't discolor.
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