Posted by Linda Spiker | Oct 7, 2015 | appetizer, holiday food, mediterranean | 59
Go big or go home…that’s my motto. When it comes to theUltimate Mediterranean Appetizer Platter that motto definitely applies!
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The Ultimate Mediterranean Appetizer Platter: Pretty fabulous right?
All kinds of savory, salty, and spicy goodness with some sweet relief provided by fruit makes this the platter everyone at the party will be flocking to. And the best part is a lot of it is assembly only! Don’t have a big enough board? Find alarge wooden serving boardhere.
Breaking Down The Board: Let’s Start with the Cheeses….
We bring the heat with some fresh uber creamy crumbled feta drizzled with olive oil and mixed with minced jalapeño! Spread this spicy goodness on pita or a chip for a treat with a kick. Of course if spicy isn’t your bag try feta with sun dried tomatoes for a savory twist. That cube of cheese in between the two is greek feta sprinkled with greek oregano. These cheeses were all found in the deli section at my local Sprouts and Whole Foods Markets.
I am a huge fan of gouda (because it’s soooo gouda). Here I use raw gouda from grass fed cows and gouda aged five years, it tastes like caramel and cheese rolled into one! And last but not least soft goat cheese topped with fig spread (a favorite I have shared before on my No Fuss Appetizer Platter). Spread it on your favorite cracker and enjoy!
The Hummus, Olives, Tapenade and Bacon Wrapped Dates
Homemade Sun Dried Tomato Hummus (<—click for recipe) is perfect for dipping with pita and a variety veggies!
And the the bacon… oh the bacon! Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates are a huge hit at every party and much easier to make than you’d think. And down there in the right bottom corner…that is black olive tapenade. I used store bought because a girl only has so much time!
Of course noMediterranean appetizer platter would be complete without an assortment of olives.You can usually find these in the deli section of almost any grocery store.
The Fruits, Veggies and Breads:
To counter all the savory, salty and spicy goodness above we add sliced pears, cantaloupe (alone and wrapped in prosciutto), grapes, Persian cucumbers (smaller than their American cousins and the skin can be left on!) sliced carrots and colorful cherry tomatoes. Of course you need something to spread all this amazingness on… so supply an ample amount of sliced toasted baguette, your favorite crackers, flatbreads, chips and pita.
How To Make It Look Pretty:
With all this incredible color you don’t have to do much to make this board gorgeous, but I do have some tips: First, find a large wooden serving boardyou love, after all this is the UltimateMediterranean Appetizer Platter, size matters! Arrange lettuce leaves around the edges of the board to garnish and serve as a ‘platform’ for fruits and veggies. Begin by arranging the items that have more staying power, the sliced Persian cucumber, carrots, olives, hummus, and grapes. Then shortly before guests arrive add cheeses, and last add sliced fruit, crackers, breads and bacon wrapped dates straight out of the oven. Then set out some cheese knives and let your friends have at it! Important tip: set out small portions of everything you make and replenish as the food disappears. That way you keep it fresh throughout the party!
What you will need:recipes for bacon wrapped dates and hummus can be found above. You will need a large wooden serving board&cheese knives.My favorite crackers are Leslie Stowe Raincoast Crisps. If you can’t find Adriatic Fig Spread at your grocery store, have it delivered to your door!
5 from 1 vote
The Ultimate Mediterranean Appetizer Platter
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
My favorite cheeses and spreads for a fabulous appetizer board! This isn't really a 'recipe' per se but more of a guide of what to include on the platter with recipes linked above in the blog post.
Course:Appetizer
Cuisine:Mediterranean
Keyword:easy appetizer recipe, party recipe
Servings: 16 servings
Author: Linda Spiker
Ingredients
Fruits and veggies:
- Diced cantaloupe and slices wrapped in prosciutto
- green and purple grapes, fresh pears, sliced, and assortment of kamalata olives
- sliced carrots, cucumbers, celery and cherry tomatoes
Breads and Crackers:
- Sliced toasted baguettes, crackers, pita (fresh and/or chips), tortilla chips
Cheeses:
- Aged gouda and raw gouda cut into cubes
- Greek feta sprinkled with Mediterrean oregano
- Soft goat cheese topped with fig spread, link above I always have the deli cut about 4 oz off a log of fresh soft goat cheese
Sun Dried Tomato Hummus and Bacon Wrapped Dates: recipe linked above
Instructions
Fresh crumbled feta with jalapeno (preferably sheep's milk)
8 oz feta, mix with chopped jalepeno (start with a teaspoon and add more to taste) or mix with chopped sun dried tomatoes to taste. I also like to combine the two! Tomatoes and jalepeno together.
Drizzle cheese mixture with extra virgin olive oil and use to spread on crackers, or as a dip for chips or pita.
Goat cheese with fig jam:
Spoon Fig Jam onto goat cheese and use a knife to spread on crackers
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About The Author
Linda Spiker
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59 Comments
anna@greentalkon October 8, 2015 at 2:22 pm
This looks so delicious. I am stopping by too. I dry my tomatoes but don’t put them in oil. They are in the fridge so they are slightly plump. Do I just add some oil to the dish?
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Linda Spikeron October 8, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Hmmm. I have never tried to rehydrate tomatoes and use them in hummus. I am not sure if it would work but you could try, and please let me know what happens! Or are you talking about just using them on top of feta?
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The Food Hunteron October 8, 2015 at 2:52 pm
This looks amazing!! My kind of appetizer for sure!
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Andrea Fabryon October 8, 2015 at 4:21 pm
I’m going to use this as a guide for Thanksgiving!Reply
Emily @ Recipes to Nourishon October 8, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Oh my goodness this looks amazing!!! I wish I had this in front of me to enjoy. Yum!
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Megan Stevenson October 8, 2015 at 4:55 pm
This is so so so beautiful!! And most of it is GAPS-friendly, gentle healing food, despite being totally indulgent. Isn’t that so so cool!? 🙂
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Linda Spikeron October 8, 2015 at 5:21 pm
Yes! It is very cool.
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Mindy Benkerton October 8, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous! Can’t wait to try this at my next party. Although I don’t think it would turn out that pretty, lol. 🙂
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Linda Spikeron October 8, 2015 at 10:14 pm
Yes it would!
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Mikkion October 8, 2015 at 8:37 pm
Wow! That looks AMAZING! Pinning this. Though I can’t eat the cheese, all the other stuff looks amazing and great recipes too!
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Michelle @ The Complete Savoriston October 11, 2015 at 6:34 am
What a platter. I have some holiday entertaining on my horizon, I will be referring back to this fantastic post.
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Linda Spikeron October 11, 2015 at 1:38 pm
Thanks!
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christineon October 12, 2015 at 12:32 am
We just had a few friends over for a board game night and we served all sorts of cheeses and accompaniments but man, you are putting my spread to shame! I absolutely love that serving board. I’m going to have to step up my app game!
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Linda Spikeron October 12, 2015 at 4:05 am
Lol well I am sure yours was beautiful!
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Brittanyon October 12, 2015 at 12:43 am
Yum! Totally making this in Sundance this week! Looks like the perfect “veg out” trayReply
Linda Spikeron October 12, 2015 at 4:04 am
I hope you have the best time!
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Heather Mechamon October 12, 2015 at 9:05 pm
Hummus is one of my very faves!
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Kimon October 14, 2015 at 1:09 am
What a great variety of food, good food!
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Treishaon October 15, 2015 at 8:30 pm
So yummy, we are hosting a big investor next week. This would be so impressive as several men sit around bargaining for moolah 🙂
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Lindi Hawson October 16, 2015 at 4:17 pm
Ok, I am totally making those bacon covered dates! So yummy!
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Linda Spikeron October 16, 2015 at 5:17 pm
They are super easy!
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Laraon October 16, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Now I am thinking of reasons I can have a party just so I can make this appetizer plate!
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Linda Spikeron October 16, 2015 at 5:17 pm
There is always a reason to have a party!
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Mandy Al-Bjalyon October 16, 2015 at 5:37 pm
My husband is from Jordan, so this food is what he loves. It all looks so good!
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Emmyon October 16, 2015 at 8:48 pm
This seriously looks so good! I would have a hard time not wanting to eat it all myself 🙂
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Heidion October 17, 2015 at 2:33 pm
This sure beats my standard appetizer fare! I love trying new things, and this looks so amazing!
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Julieon January 28, 2016 at 5:02 pm
First off, I love your website! I love how cheery and vibrant the colors are. Second, this looks like an awesome platter! I have a party i’m hosting this weekend and will definitely include this! Thanks!
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Linda Spikeron January 28, 2016 at 10:29 pm
Thank you! It was designed by BlogDoo 🙂
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Karenon January 28, 2016 at 5:16 pm
I have been meaning to try bacon wrapped dates. Thanks for the recipe. Will be pinning it.
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Karion January 28, 2016 at 6:16 pm
This is so perfect for a girls night!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.comReply
Kristina Padgetton January 28, 2016 at 6:17 pm
This appetizer looks amazing!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Rhiannonon January 28, 2016 at 6:39 pm
What a stunning platter! That wood serving board belongs in my house. Now.
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Linda Spikeron January 28, 2016 at 10:29 pm
Isn’t it gorgeous!
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Ashleighon January 28, 2016 at 9:29 pm
Ohhh this looks so good! I love eating Mediterranean foods, probably my fav! This platter looks right up my alley, thank you for sharing!
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Linda Spikeron January 28, 2016 at 10:30 pm
You are welcome!
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Rachel Lloydon January 28, 2016 at 11:30 pm
Wow! This is absolutely stunning!!! It looks like a work of art, so well done.
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Linda Spikeron January 29, 2016 at 1:51 am
Thank you <3
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anandaon January 29, 2016 at 4:09 am
serious LOVE everything here! the feta with olive oil and jalepeno….yum… and do i see fig jam too?
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Linda Spikeron January 29, 2016 at 4:48 am
Why yes…yes you do 🙂
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Angie Scheieon January 29, 2016 at 6:32 am
Thsi looks absolutely amazing!! I love gouda too;) Thanks for including so many great recipes!
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Elizabethon April 6, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Lovely at sight and delicious at the same time!! Thanks for the idea!
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Jessica Fancyon January 29, 2016 at 2:03 pm
OH. MY. YUM. This all looks SO amazing!Reply
Joanie @ Zaglefton January 29, 2016 at 3:13 pm
What a lucky neighbor! This is such a beautiful plate and would make a wonderful dinner with a glass of wine.
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Linda Spikeron January 29, 2016 at 4:27 pm
She had some good timing!
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Matt @ Plating Pixelson January 30, 2016 at 12:58 am
Wow now that’s a spread! Looks so healthy and much better option than the usually fried or crunchy appetizers.
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Jessica @ Nutritiouliciouson April 20, 2016 at 4:39 pm
I love platters like this – so pretty, festive, and delicious! Love that wooden board too – where’s it from?
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Linda Spikeron April 20, 2016 at 6:02 pm
I git it at Alice Lane Home but they don’t have it anymore:( so I linked to a similar one on WS. Hope that helps.
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BethAnn Roshetkoon June 14, 2016 at 1:02 pm
I am so-oo making this for my weekend party! So many delicious items and so artfully arranged!Reply
Linda Spikeron June 14, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Thank you! Enjoy!
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SandyBeachon September 13, 2016 at 1:56 am
O. M. G. !!!!!!
I think I love you!
This is the most gorgeous looking thing I’ve ever seen. I am sooooo excited to make this.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING!Reply
Linda Spikeron September 13, 2016 at 3:00 am
Well thanks sandy! I hope you love it as much as you love me!
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Annon June 4, 2017 at 10:36 pm
Wow!!! I want to make this right now. What are the brown things between the grapes and dates – crackers?
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Linda Spikeron June 5, 2017 at 4:09 am
Yes! Rain Coast Crisp crackers:)
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Annon June 5, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Thanks. Where do you get them? They look yummy.
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Linda Spikeron June 5, 2017 at 4:47 pm
Whole Foods market, Sprouts, Ralphs….just about any where. Of course you can order them on amazon if you can’t find them. They are delish!
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Barbara Paradison July 30, 2018 at 10:09 pm
That is perfection, right there! Keeping this for a special night with my girlies! Beautiful and with all my favorite nibbles! Thank you!Reply
Linda Spikeron July 30, 2018 at 10:40 pm
Hope you love it!
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Dandreon September 29, 2020 at 2:06 am
Making this for a Greek day we are having during lockdown!Reply
Linda Spikeron September 29, 2020 at 4:48 pm
That’s awesome! I hope you enjoy it.
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