Mediterranean Inspired Cheeseboard with Cauliflower Hummus

A step by step photo & video guide to building the perfect Mediterranean inspired Cheeseboard, including an easy recipe for Cauliflower Hummus.

 

If there is a cheeseboard at a party, you can bet I am gravitating toward it.  There isn’t anything I love more than noshing on the many different flavors and textures – in fact, I can make a meal out of them.  Select cheeses, nuts, olives, veggies, fruits and dips.  Different crackers, breads and sauces.  There is always something for everyone.

 

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When Paisley Farm introduced me to their new line, newly available at Kroger stores, my mind was swimming with ideas for recipes.  Their new 24 ounce jars have great new products like Sweet Cauliflower, Hot and Dilled Brussels Sprouts, Asian and Southwest Bean Salad along with their current flavors Five Bean Salad and Sweet Pickled Beets.    You’re going to want to stock up, because they make life so convenient.  Just a couple of weeks ago, I shared a recipe for Brussels Sprouts Gratin made with their Hot Brussels Sprouts.     

 

I decided that this time, we would make something perfect for holiday parties and family get-togethers;  a cheeseboard!  I love bringing a beautiful cheeseboard to get-togethers.  Not only does everyone love them, the presentation is just breathtaking.  Don’t you agree?

 

Just the other day, my aunt said to me,  “I wish I could build a cheeseboard like you do.  Mine would never look like that.”  It’s really just so easy.  

 

I don’t have a cheeseboard, what else can I use?

You don’t need a fancy high-dollar cheeseboard to make presentation out of this world.  Other options to build on could be:

• a cookie sheet
• a cutting board
• a clean black board
• a large meat platter
• round or oval larger plate
• a pizza pan

 

Use lots of small bowls or even shot glasses to hold some of your cheeseboard items.  It gives it nice height and interest.  Adding fresh herbs always makes it look pretty, too. Here I used a shot glass for my pear slices, and wrapped the grapes around the bottom.  

 

Before we can build our Mediterranean inspired cheeseboard, we need to make our cauliflower hummus.  

 

 

I have a confession to make.  I have never really liked hummus.  One reason? I don’t like chickpeas, garbanzo beans, whatever you call them.  It’s a texture thing, I just can’t get past it.  Then recently, I read that you can make hummus without them, and a whole new world opened up to me!  I made this hummus with white beans, Great Northern Beans to be exact, and Paisley Farm’s New Sweet Cauliflower!  It was perfect, because many hummus recipes call for that tang, typically from lemon juice.  The Sweet Cauliflower has that all on its own from the pickling process Paisley Farm uses.

 

 

What Do I need to make this Cauliflower Hummus?

• Great Northern Beans
• Paisley Farm Sweet Cauliflower
• minced garlic
• sesame oil
• cumin
• rosemary
• salt & pepper

 

 

I placed everything in my mini food chopper , set it to puree,  and in seconds … hummus!

 

Serve it up with pita bread and crisp veggies like carrot sticks, celery and cucumbers.  Or … you can add it to your Mediterranean Cheeseboard!

 

 

^LOVE IT??  Pin this Cauliflower Hummus to find it when you need it!^ 

 

 

Doesn’t that look delicious??  It took me minutes to put together. I’m going to show you how to make this cheeseboard in easy to follow steps.  You can make it just like mine, or use your own choices of ingredients.  

Ingredients Needed for Mediterranean Cheeseboard:

• Cauliflower Hummus, Pictured Here
• Pita slices
• Cheeses like Goat, Feta and Smoked Gouda
• Fruits like Grapes and Pears
• Olives like Kalamata and Spanish Feta Stuffed
• Fresh Produce like Heirloom Grape Tomatoes and Cucumbers
• Nuts like Pistachios
• Paisley Farm Sweet Cauliflower and Dilled Brussels Sprouts
• Crackers like these Rosemary Triscuits

 

 

I used a wooden cheeseboard with chalkboard inset that measures about 17″ x 10 “.  You don’t need anything gigantic.  I first placed my Cauliflower Hummus all the way in the corner, then I surrounded it with pita bread triangles. 

 

Next up we will add some sweet.  I used pears and grapes for my fruits.  Some other Mediterranean fruits would be; figs, persimmons, pomegranates and mandarines.  

 

 

Then comes the cheese.  I used three kinds.  What would a Mediterranean cheese plate be without feta and goat cheese?  I found a nice soft goat cheese that was flavored with garlic and herb, some crumbled feta, I then added in a harder cheese, like this smoked Gouda.  Other Mediterranean cheese would include: Halloumi, ricotta, pecorino, and Manchego. 

 

 

One of my favorite things about a cheeseboard?  the olives!! I used both a Kalamata and a Spanish Queen olives stuffed with feta cheese.  

 

 

I added some pistachios, native to the Mediterranean region, and some tomatoes and cucumbers.  Zucchini, peppers, broccoli, almonds and walnuts would also be great choices.  

 

 

Finally, I added some Paisley Farm Dilled Brussels Sprouts, and the rest of my Sweet Cauliflower.  I decided that instead of going with pickles like most cheese platters have, adding these pickled veggies would be a unique way to round out our feast!  I also added some crackers, these were a rosemary flavored one, that paired nicely.  Don’t forget spreaders, spoons, forks, to keep everyone civilized! 

^LOVE IT? PIN IT!!^

 

J.W. Paisley, founder of Paisley Farm, based their original company concept on an ethic that they still carry forth today.  Paisley Farm makes their products out of the freshest ingredients.  You’ll taste authenticity in every spoonful of their products.

 

My friends at Paisley Farm and I are always sharing great recipes with you! See ALL of My Paisley Farm Recipes Here, and be sure to visit Paisley Farms website for recipes, products and store locations.  Paisley Farms is on FaceBook, Instagram and Pinterest, where they share great new recipes and product tips year ’round!

 

 

 

Let’s make some Cauliflower Hummus so we can build this beautiful Mediterranean Inspired Cheeseboard!

Cheers!