The Cubist Deconstruction (Printer-friendly)

Vivid geometric cuts of fresh vegetables, fruit, and feta come together for a colorful, modern starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 small cucumber, peeled
02 - 1 medium golden beet, cooked and peeled
03 - 1 medium watermelon radish, peeled
04 - 1 ripe avocado

→ Cheese

05 - 3.5 oz feta cheese block

→ Fruit

06 - 1 ripe mango, peeled

→ Garnishes & Seasoning

07 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
09 - Flaky sea salt, to taste
10 - Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
11 - Microgreens or fresh herbs (e.g., basil, cilantro), for garnish

# Directions:

01 - Slice vegetables and fruits into various geometric shapes about 0.4 inch thick using a sharp knife or small cookie cutters for precision.
02 - Cut feta cheese into geometric cubes or prisms that complement the sliced produce.
03 - Place vegetable, fruit, and cheese pieces side-by-side on a large flat platter without overlapping, forming a cubist mosaic.
04 - Evenly drizzle extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice over the arranged pieces.
05 - Sprinkle flaky sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
06 - Top with microgreens or fresh herbs to enhance color and freshness, then serve immediately to maintain presentation integrity.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a conversation starter that feels fancy but takes just 25 minutes to pull together, no cooking required
  • Every bite delivers something different, textural contrasts keep things exciting from first taste to last
  • Naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, which means you're not limiting guests, you're expanding the table
02 -
  • Sharp knives are non-negotiable here, dull knives crush vegetables and ruin the geometry you've worked to create
  • Prep the beet ahead of time so you're not in a rush on serving day, its earthiness needs time to settle
  • The order matters, cut avocado and mango last because they oxidize quickly and you want them bright when guests arrive
03 -
  • Prep everything ahead except avocado and mango, store on the platter loosely covered in the refrigerator until guests arrive
  • If you don't have cookie cutters, vary your knife angles instead, angled cuts create interest just as much as geometric shapes do
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