Olympic Rings Appetizer Platter (Print View)

Vibrant platter with five colorful interlocking rings showcasing fresh flavors and textures.

# Components:

→ Blue Ring

01 - 1 cup blueberries
02 - 1/2 cup blue corn tortilla chips, broken into bite-sized pieces
03 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons toasted walnuts

→ Yellow Ring

05 - 1 cup yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper
07 - 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
08 - 1/4 cup toasted cashews

→ Black Ring

09 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
10 - 1 cup black grapes, halved
11 - 1/2 cup black bean hummus
12 - 1/2 cup pumpernickel bread, cut into small rounds

→ Green Ring

13 - 1 cup cucumber slices
14 - 1/2 cup green grapes, halved
15 - 1/2 cup shelled, steamed edamame
16 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

→ Red Ring

17 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
18 - 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
19 - 1/2 cup strawberries, halved
20 - 1/4 cup roasted red pepper hummus

# Directions:

01 - Lightly sketch five interlocking circles on a large serving platter or clean surface using a pencil and parchment paper as a guide.
02 - Place the blueberries, blue corn tortilla chips, crumbled blue cheese, and toasted walnuts evenly within the leftmost circle, layering for visual appeal.
03 - Fill the bottom left circle with yellow cherry tomatoes, diced yellow bell pepper, pineapple chunks, and toasted cashews, maintaining a circular pattern.
04 - Position the black olives, black grapes, black bean hummus, and pumpernickel bread rounds in the top middle circle, ensuring slight overlap with adjacent rings.
05 - Layer cucumber slices, green grapes, steamed edamame, and fresh basil leaves evenly in the bottom right circle.
06 - Complete the top right circle by arranging cherry tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, strawberries, and roasted red pepper hummus, overlapping neighboring rings subtly.
07 - Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving to maintain freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of show-stopping appetizer that makes people gasp when you bring it to the table, then immediately want to know how you did it
  • Every single bite offers something different—fresh fruit, creamy spreads, toasted nuts, crisp vegetables—so there's something for everyone
  • Once you understand the concept, you can swap in whatever ingredients you have on hand and make it your own celebration
  • It requires zero cooking, just prep and arrangement, so you can actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen
02 -
  • Toast your own nuts and seeds just before you build the platter—they'll stay crunchier and taste infinitely better than pre-toasted versions that have been sitting in a pantry for months
  • Pat your vegetables dry before arranging them. Any excess moisture will start pooling and making the platter look sad within an hour. This is the difference between a platter that looks beautiful at serving time and one that still looks beautiful 30 minutes later
  • Don't peel your cucumbers for the green ring if you're using them raw—the skin helps them hold their shape and look intentional, not just sliced
  • Keep your platter cool. If you're assembling it ahead of time, refrigerate it on the platter itself rather than assembling it cold then transferring it. Movement and temperature changes can shift everything you've carefully arranged
03 -
  • The secret that actually changes everything: chill your platter in the freezer for 15 minutes before you start arranging. A cold platter keeps ingredients fresher longer and feels more elegant when you bring it to the table
  • Invest in a good sharp knife for this project. The difference between cleanly cut vegetables and crushed ones is the difference between a platter that looks handmade with love and one that looks like you didn't care enough to do it right
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