Clockwork Orange Citrus Cheese (Print View)

Bright citrus rounds arranged with cheese strips and garnishes for a fresh, visually appealing starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Slice all citrus fruits into thin, even rounds, removing seeds where necessary.
02 - Place citrus slices in a circular pattern on a large round serving platter, alternating colors. Position one slice at each hour, mimicking a clock face.
03 - Cut cheeses into long, narrow strips. Shape two pieces to form clock hands and place them at the platter’s center indicating your chosen time.
04 - Drizzle honey over the center and sprinkle with chopped pistachios or walnuts if desired.
05 - Finish with fresh mint leaves for added color and aroma.
06 - Serve immediately accompanied by crackers or crusty bread.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks restaurant-quality and takes barely twenty minutes, so you'll feel like a culinary genius without the stress.
  • Every element can be prepped ahead, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of scrambling in the kitchen.
  • The whole thing is vegetarian and gluten-free naturally, and it somehow feels fancier than cheese and crackers.
02 -
  • Slice your citrus no more than two hours before serving, or the cut surfaces start to look tired and oxidized.
  • If your cheese is cold and brittle, let it sit out for five minutes before cutting—it'll slice into actual shapes instead of crumbling into frustration.
  • A round platter matters more than you'd think; it makes the clock design read instantly instead of leaving people confused.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline slicer if you have one; it makes your citrus rounds uniform and thin enough to curl slightly at the edges, which looks more refined.
  • Chill everything except the honey for thirty minutes before serving—cold cheese tastes creamier and cold fruit tastes brighter.
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