There is an abundance of high-quality, often artisanal kosher cheeses available today. Avail yourself of this opportunity to try something new, pair it with something unexpected, and feel very chi-chi at that sixth meal of the holiday instead of very overstuffed.

This meal should be relaxed and personal. Be creative, experiment, mix and match as much as you like—there really are no rules. There is little-to-no cooking involved in this meal; most items will be store-bought so all you have to do is assemble them. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re short on time (or sick of the kitchen).

Our Guide to the Cheese Platter

Start out by buying the cheeses. Once you see what’s available at your local grocery, kosher market, or even online, you can choose the accompaniments that complement specific cheeses. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Dips and Spreads

• Coarse grain mustard (you can find many different varieties in your grocery store; the crunchy grains in the mustard are a pleasant compliment to soft cheeses)
• Honey mustard (perfect with apples and cheese)
• Fig spread or fruit jams
• Onion or pepper jams
• Roasted eggplant dip

Breads & Crackers

• Buy an assortment, such as olive bread, ciabatta, sourdough baguette, pumpernickel raisin, pepper crackers and garlic pita chips

Fruit

• Fresh fruit such as berries, grapes, apples, pears and melons strike a nice contrast with the saltiness of the cheese
• Dried fruits, including apricots, figs and cherries, provide a rich combination of flavors and textures to complement the cheese

Other Additions

• Roasted peppers
• Marinated artichokes
• Olives
• Gerkin or Israeli pickles

If you feel like the assortment you’ve put together isn’t going to be enough of a meal, think about serving a chunky vegetable soup, a hearty vegetable dish like roasted tomatoes, or a simple salad of greens with a light dressing. You may also want to add a smoked fish platter to your table.

Simple Prep

• Choose a large platter or cheese board, or a few smaller plates or boards, and arrange your cheeses. Make sure each type of cheese has the appropriate serving implement (cheese knife, cheese slicer, serving fork).
• Place the bread(s) on one or more cutting boards along with a serrated knife so that people can slice their own bread.
• Mix and match bowls and little dishes for the dips, spreads, condiments and other accompaniments. Make sure anything that requires a spreader or serving spoon has one.

Play around with mixing up colors and textures as you assemble dishes and lay your table. Finish off the meal with a selection of sorbets and an assortment of cookies made with real butter (one of the perks of serving dairy!). Have fun with this meal and relax—with preparation this easy you can actually sit down and enjoy the holiday!