Autumn Ember Smoked Paprika Cheese (Print Version)

Vibrant autumn appetizer with smoked paprika cheeses and red-fleshed apples for a beautiful fall spread.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz Manchego cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 5.3 oz aged cheddar cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes

→ Spices & Seasonings

03 - 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (sweet or hot, as desired)
04 - 0.5 teaspoon flaky sea salt

→ Fruits

05 - 2 medium red-fleshed apples (e.g., Hidden Rose or Pink Pearl), cored and cut into wedges

→ Garnish

06 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)

→ Accompaniments

07 - Artisan crackers or rustic bread (optional, for serving)

# How To:

01 - Place the cubes of Manchego and aged cheddar cheese in a shallow serving dish or on a platter.
02 - Evenly sprinkle smoked paprika over the cheese cubes and toss gently to coat all sides.
03 - Lightly dust the cheese with flaky sea salt.
04 - Fan out the red-fleshed apple wedges around and between the cheese cubes to create a scattered ember-like display.
05 - Optional: sprinkle fresh thyme leaves atop the assembly for herbal aroma and color contrast, then serve immediately alongside crackers or rustic bread if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours fussing, but takes barely twenty minutes and no cooking whatsoever.
  • The paprika-dusted cheese and red-fleshed apples create this visual contrast that people genuinely pause to admire before eating.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free if you skip the crackers, so it works for almost any gathering.
02 -
  • Apples brown quickly once cut; toss them with a squeeze of lemon juice right before arranging to keep that ruby color from dulling.
  • The paprika and salt need to coat the cheese while it's slightly cool, not at room temperature—there's a window where the flavors meld instead of just sitting on the surface.
03 -
  • Buy your cheeses from a proper cheese counter where they'll cut them fresh; they're more flavorful than pre-packaged, and the texture is noticeably better for this.
  • If you can't find red-fleshed apples, don't skip this recipe—just slice regular apples, toss them in lemon juice, and let the paprika and cheese be the stars instead.
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