Clodagh McKenna's pimped up sharing platter
If you’re planning some alfresco dining this summer, Clodagh is making sure your guests leave impressed. She’s in the kitchen to show you how to create the ULTIMATE sharing platter. A variety of cheese, meats, crackers and fruit all loaded up on a board - with both sweet and savoury, there’s something to satisfy everyone
Harissa hummus
Makes about 700g
Ingredients
150ml extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, peeled
500g cooked, canned chickpeas
3 tbsp tahini paste
1 tbsp harissa, plus a little extra for drizzling
juice and zest of 1 lemon
salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve
Pumpkin seeds
Method
1. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and whizz until well blended - If needed add a small drop of water to get a smooth consistency.
2. Scoop the hummus into a bowl. Drizzle with extra harissa, a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds and olive oil before serving.
Creamy garden herb dip
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
For the feta marinade:
250g feta
2 lemons, zest and juice
200ml extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the rest of the dip:
100g Yogurt
1 tbsp fresh mint
1 tbsp fresh dill
1 tbsp fresh chives
2 tbsp fresh rocket
To serve, finely chopped seeds and nuts
Extra crumble of feta
Method
1. Marinade the feta with listed ingredients in a bowl and leave to chill in a fridge for 1 hour.
2. Roughly chop all the herbs, and rocket, then place all ingredients, including the marinated feta, in a blender. Blend until smooth, then season with salt and pepper.
3. Serve in a bowl with a garnish of finely chopped seeds and nuts, and an extra crumble of feta. Serve with pitta bread or vegetable crudities.
For the vegetable platter
A selection of vegetables such as:
Carrots
Celery
Broccoli
Radishes
Cucumber
Peppers - red and yellow
Peas in their pod
French beans
Purple chicory leaves
For the cheese and meat platter:
Sliced cured meats such as salami, ham etc
Different cheeses - one blue cheese, one hard cheese and on esemi-soft
Plus a selection of the following:
Crackers
Grapes
Apricots
Pears
Apples
Tomatoes, fresh and dried
Relishes
Nut and seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds, almonds
To make the salami roses
You will need about 9-12 slices of salami. Using a small glass or cup, take a slice of salami and place inside the glass and fold the excess salami over the edge. Repeat with the other slices, one at a time, overlapping the previous slice each time.
Turn the glass onto a board and tap down, then carefully remove to reveal the rose!