Roman Colosseum Snack Platter (Printer-Friendly)

A vibrant platter of crackers arranged with olives and garnishes for a striking party centerpiece.

# What You'll Need:

→ Crackers

01 - 3.5 to 4.2 oz round or oval crackers (about 40 to 50 pieces)

→ Gladiators

02 - 1 cup mixed olives (green and black, pitted, about 5.3 oz)

→ Garnishes

03 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
04 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional, for drizzling)

→ Accompaniments (optional)

05 - 1.8 oz cubed cheese (aged provolone or mozzarella)
06 - 1.8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved

# How To Make It:

01 - Select a large, round serving platter or board to serve as the Colosseum base.
02 - Position the crackers upright or slightly overlapping in concentric circles along the edge of the platter to replicate the tiered seating of the Colosseum, creating two to three layers if space permits.
03 - Pile the mixed olives in the center of the platter to symbolize gladiators in the arena.
04 - Surround the olives with cubed cheese and halved cherry tomatoes to enhance color and flavor, if desired.
05 - Sprinkle finely chopped parsley over the olives and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, if using.
06 - Present immediately as a vibrant, interactive centerpiece for your gathering.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It requires zero cooking and comes together in under 15 minutes, leaving you time to actually enjoy your guests instead of sweating in the kitchen.
  • The visual drama does half the work for you—people are so delighted by the presentation they forgive you for keeping the ingredient list refreshingly simple.
02 -
  • Pitted olives are absolutely worth the search because nothing kills the magic of a beautiful platter faster than watching guests navigate around pits.
  • Crackers go soft surprisingly quickly when exposed to any olive oil or moisture, so assemble this as close to serving time as possible or keep the oiling step until the last minute.
03 -
  • Assemble everything within 15 minutes of serving to keep crackers crisp and looking their best, delaying any oil drizzle until the very last moment if you're worried about sogginess.
  • A slightly damp paper towel underneath your platter prevents it from sliding around on the serving table and keeps the whole installation looking intentional and stable.
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