Ingredients
Scale
Turkey & Proteins
- 2-3 lbs sliced roasted turkey (for the body)
- 8 oz turkey or chicken salami, thinly sliced
- 6 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced
Cheeses
- 8 oz aged cheddar, cubed and sliced
- 6 oz creamy brie, wedged
- 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
Accompaniments
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup fig jam or apricot preserves
- 1/4 cup grainy mustard
- 1/4 cup honey
Vegetables & Fruits
- 1 cup mixed olives (for the body)
- 1 cucumber, sliced into rounds
- 2 apples, sliced (toss with lemon juice)
- 1 cup red grapes
- 1/2 cup candied pecans
- Fresh blackberries (for accent)
Breads & Crackers
- Assorted crackers (water crackers, wheat thins, etc.)
- Sliced baguette or artisan bread
- Pita chips
For the Turkey Face
- 1 small white pumpkin or gourd (for the head)
- 1 small orange bell pepper piece (for the beak)
- 2 small black olives or peppercorns (for eyes)
Garnishes
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Fresh sage leaves
- Cinnamon sticks (optional)
Instructions
- Start with a large round board (24+ inches) or use a large rectangular board. Visualize your turkey: head at the top, body in the center, wings on the sides, and a magnificent fanned tail at the bottom.
- Position your white pumpkin or gourd at the top of the board for the head. Add two small black olives for eyes and a small piece of orange pepper for the beak. This becomes your turkey’s adorable face.
- Create the turkey’s body using overlapping slices of roasted turkey in the center area below the head. Layer them in a rounded, plump shape that looks like a turkey’s breast and body.
- Fill in around the turkey body with olives in a small bowl, and scatter some goat cheese crumbles to add texture and color to the body area.
- On each side of the body, create wings using the salami and prosciutto. Fold and layer the meats to create wing-like shapes that extend outward from the body.
- Add cheese wedges and crackers around the wing areas to fill out the shape and provide variety.
- This is where the magic happens! At the bottom of the board, create a magnificent fan of “tail feathers” using:
- Sliced cheeses arranged in overlapping layers
- Apple slices fanned out in semicircles
- Crackers standing upright like feathers
- Dried cranberries and nuts scattered between
- Arrange these elements in a large fan shape that spreads across the bottom third of your board.
- Adding Color and Detail
- Fill in any gaps with red grapes clustered like berries, cucumber rounds for freshness, and blackberries for dark accent colors.
- Place small bowls of cranberry sauce, jam, and mustard strategically around the turkey without disrupting the overall shape.
- Tuck fresh rosemary and sage leaves throughout to mimic real turkey feathers and add that holiday aroma.
- Add cinnamon sticks near the head area for a festive touch and extra fragrance.
- Scatter candied pecans and any remaining items to complete the look.
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
