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Marinated Cheese Plate Recipe

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4.3 from 51 reviews

This Marinated Cheese Plate is a delightful appetizer featuring layers of mozzarella, cheddar, and cream cheese soaked in a flavorful marinade of olive oil, lemon vinegar, roasted red peppers, green onions, garlic, and herbs. Perfect for entertaining, this recipe requires minimal prep and allows the cheese to absorb the vibrant marinade, creating a savory and tangy treat served best with crackers, pretzels, or toasted bread.

  • Total Time: 5 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 16

Ingredients

Marinade

  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup lemon vinegar
  • 8 oz roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
  • 3 green onions, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Cheeses

  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, chilled
  • 2 (8 oz) blocks mozzarella
  • 1 (8 oz) block cheddar cheese

Instructions

  1. Chill the Cream Cheese: Place the cream cheese in the freezer while preparing other ingredients to ensure it slices neatly and evenly.
  2. Prepare the Marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon vinegar, chopped roasted red peppers, diced green onions, minced garlic, sugar, dried oregano, sea salt, and black pepper until fully blended to create a vibrant and flavorful marinade.
  3. Slice the Cheeses: Cut the cheddar and mozzarella into small squares approximately 1/4 inch thick. Remove the cream cheese from the freezer and slice into squares of similar size for uniform layering.
  4. Layer the Cheese: In an 11×7-inch baking dish, arrange the cheese slices by alternating between mozzarella, cheddar, and cream cheese until the dish is fully lined with cheese squares.
  5. Pour the Marinade: Whisk the marinade once more if needed and pour it evenly over the layered cheese, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
  6. Marinate the Cheese: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 5 hours or up to overnight to allow the flavors to deeply infuse into the cheeses.
  7. Serve: Remove from the fridge and serve the marinated cheese plate chilled alongside crackers, pretzels, or toasted bread for a delightful appetizer experience.

Notes

  • Freezing the cream cheese briefly before slicing helps achieve clean, even slices for better presentation.
  • Marinating for longer than 5 hours, even overnight, enhances the flavor absorption for a more pronounced taste.
  • This dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of crackers and breads, so feel free to get creative with your accompaniments.
  • For a slightly different tang, lemon vinegar can be substituted with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
  • Keep the dish tightly covered in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and prevent the cheese from drying out during marinating.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/marinated-cheese-plate-recipe/