An Italian cheese board is typically a simple affair that celebrates exceptional regional produce and cheeses. Choose a few great cheeses, homemade grissini and quality accompaniments, then let each ingredient shine. Just make sure to include all your favourites! If you are short on time, use about 25 store-bought grissini instead.
What You’ll Need for an Italian Cheese Board
- Gorganzola or Taleggio (bold and creamy)
- Fontina (mild and buttery)
- Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano (aged and nutty)
- Mini Buffalo Mozzarella (fresh and creamy)
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Homemade Grissini (see recipe)
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts (briny and tangy)
- Sliced Apple (sweet and crisp)
- Fresh Honeycomb (sweet and floral)
- Salted, Roasted Almonds (crisp and savoury)
- Crackers
Homemade Grissini (Italian Breadsticks)
Ingredients
- 1⅔ cups white bread flour plus extra for dusting
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp active dry yeast
- ½ cup whole milk warm
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F; line large baking pan with parchment paper. Whisk flour, salt and yeast in large mixing bowl; add milk, butter and honey, and stir until you have a rough dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
- Divide dough into 25 pieces; roll into balls. Roll each on lightly floured surface into long grissini.
- Arrange on prepared pan and bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat with remaining grissini. Let cool and enjoy immediately or store in resealable bag for up to 5 days.
Notes
How to Assemble an Italian Cheese Board
Arrange the sliced and crumbled cheeses across a large wooden or marble board, leaving enough space for guests to easily serve themselves. Place the buffalo mozzarella in a shallow bowl with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, if you desire. Arrange grissini at one side of board, then fill in spaces with artichoke hearts, apples, honeycomb in a small bowl and crackers, finishing with almonds to fill any remaining gaps. Serve immediately.
Tips for the Best Italian Cheese Board
- Squeeze lemon juice over apple slices to prevent browning.
- Let cheeses come to room temperature for 30–60 minutes before serving.
- Use a mix of soft, hard and blue cheeses for variety.
- Store-bought grissini are a great shortcut if you’re entertaining.
Recipes reprinted with permission from The Grazing Table by Natalie Thomson, Hamlyn. 2023. Adapted for ELLE Gourmet. Photography by Andrew Burton.
