Cobblestone Courtyard Platter (Printable)

A visually charming platter of crisp crackers paired with assorted olives and fresh herb garnishes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Crackers

01 - 36–40 round crackers (water crackers, multigrain, or rice crackers)

→ Olives

02 - 1 cup assorted pitted olives (Castelvetrano, Kalamata, black)

→ Garnishes (optional)

03 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, or rosemary)
04 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
05 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

# Directions:

01 - Select a large serving platter or charcuterie board to serve as the courtyard base.
02 - Place the round crackers closely in a random, overlapping pattern to resemble cobblestones.
03 - Nestle assorted pitted olives into the spaces between crackers to mimic mortar and enhance presentation.
04 - Optionally sprinkle chopped herbs and crumbled cheese evenly over the arrangement.
05 - Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top to add flavor and sheen.
06 - Present immediately as an interactive and visually appealing appetizer.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter that looks like you spent hours planning when it takes just ten minutes.
  • Everyone gets to pick their own combination of textures and flavors as they graze.
  • The simplicity means you can make it beautiful without any special skills or fancy equipment.
02 -
  • Pit your olives beforehand unless you want guests biting down on a stone and wondering if you're pranking them.
  • Mix cracker sizes and styles—uniform crackers flatten the visual effect, but varied shapes and colors actually make it look more authentic and intentional.
03 -
  • Prepare your platter no more than thirty minutes before serving, so the crackers stay crisp and the olives don't start releasing their brine all over everything.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, arrange everything on a wooden board or neutral-toned platter—the contrast between the board and the food is half the visual appeal.
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