Pressed ham and cheese appetizer
At home parties or when I need something quick for guests, I often make this pressed ham and cheese appetizer. I like that it requires no cooking, and the ingredients are readily available. The most time-consuming part is cutting them nicely and assembling them, but it's not complicated. You don't even need to plan ahead; it can be made on the spot, exactly when something is needed on the table.
Quick info
Total time: 10-15 minutes
Preparation time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking/baking time: not applicable
Servings: about 4, depending on how large you cut the pieces
Difficulty: very easy
Recipe type: cold appetizer, suitable for platters or quick snacks
Ingredients
sliced pressed ham – 5-6 slices, as equal and not too thick as possible
sliced cheese – 5-6 slices, about the same size as the ham
green or black olives – one for each piece
toothpicks
Preparation method
1. Place a slice of ham on a cutting board. On top of it, place a slice of cheese. Continue alternating layers until you have 5-6 slices of each, preferably ending with ham on top. Do not press down, just arrange them as straight as possible.
2. Once you have formed the "tower" of ham and cheese, trim the uneven edges. This way, you get a shape as close to a rectangle or square as possible.
3. Cut everything into 4 equal squares. If you made a larger stack, you can cut even more small pieces, depending on the size of the slices.
4. Insert a toothpick in the center of each square. On each toothpick, place an olive (choose what you have on hand, green or black).
5. Transfer the appetizers to a platter or plate, ready to serve.
Why I make this recipe often
I use it whenever I need something quick for a platter or when friends drop by unexpectedly. I like that I don’t need expensive or hard-to-find ingredients, and the result is visually appealing without much effort. You can make small portions or adapt it for more people without hassle.
Tips and variations
Tips
If you want straight layers, use the most equal slices, both for ham and cheese. For cheese, firmer varieties are easier to cut.
A sharp knife helps prevent the slices from tearing during cutting.
If you have time, you can lightly press the stack at the end to help the layers stick better.
Substitutions
Pressed ham can be replaced with any other type of ham or fillet, as long as it is thinly sliced.
Cheese can be substituted with sliced melted cheese or another type of hard cheese, to taste.
You can use any type of olives, plain or stuffed.
Variations
If you feel like it, you can add a lettuce leaf or a thin slice of pickled cucumber between the layers, but don’t overdo it with extra ingredients to keep the piece compact.
You can make a larger shape to get more pieces.
Instead of squares, you can cut triangles or rectangles, depending on what you need for the platter.
Serving ideas
Place them on a platter, directly with the toothpick and olive. They look good alongside other cold appetizers, cold cuts, or cheeses.
They also work as a quick snack for the office or picnic if kept in a container.
Frequently asked questions
1. What type of cheese is best?
I usually use classic cheese, which is quite firm and doesn’t break when cutting. It’s best to avoid very soft varieties.
2. Can they be prepared in advance?
Yes, they can be assembled a few hours ahead and kept cold, but I don’t recommend leaving them overnight, as they dry out at the edges.
3. Can it be made without olives?
Sure, olives are just for decoration. The appetizers can be served without them.
4. Can smaller or larger portions be made?
Yes, cut according to how large you want the pieces to be. If you have larger slices, you can even make more squares.
5. What if the slices are not perfectly equal?
You can adjust at the end by trimming the edges and keeping only the well-overlapping part. The leftover pieces can be used in other sandwiches.
Nutritional values
Estimate for one serving (1 square with olive):
Calories: approximately 70-90 kcal, depending on how thick the slices are and what type of cheese or ham you use.
Protein: 5-6 g
Fat: 5-7 g
Carbohydrates: under 1 g
Values are indicative and depend greatly on the type and amount of slices.
Storage and reheating
They store well in the refrigerator, in a container, for up to 12 hours. I don’t recommend keeping them longer, as they dry out at the edges and the cheese may change texture. No reheating is needed. If you want to keep them for a few hours, cover the platter with plastic wrap.
At home parties or when I need something quick for guests, I often make this pressed ham and cheese appetizer. I like that it requires no cooking, and the ingredients are readily available. The most time-consuming part is cutting them nicely and assembling them, but it's not complicated. You don't even need to plan ahead; it can be made on the spot, exactly when something is needed on the table.
Quick info
Total time: 10-15 minutes
Preparation time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking/baking time: not applicable
Servings: about 4, depending on how large you cut the pieces
Difficulty: very easy
Recipe type: cold appetizer, suitable for platters or quick snacks
Ingredients
sliced pressed ham – 5-6 slices, as equal and not too thick as possible
sliced cheese – 5-6 slices, about the same size as the ham
green or black olives – one for each piece
toothpicks
Preparation method
1. Place a slice of ham on a cutting board. On top of it, place a slice of cheese. Continue alternating layers until you have 5-6 slices of each, preferably ending with ham on top. Do not press down, just arrange them as straight as possible.
2. Once you have formed the "tower" of ham and cheese, trim the uneven edges. This way, you get a shape as close to a rectangle or square as possible.
3. Cut everything into 4 equal squares. If you made a larger stack, you can cut even more small pieces, depending on the size of the slices.
4. Insert a toothpick in the center of each square. On each toothpick, place an olive (choose what you have on hand, green or black).
5. Transfer the appetizers to a platter or plate, ready to serve.
Why I make this recipe often
I use it whenever I need something quick for a platter or when friends drop by unexpectedly. I like that I don’t need expensive or hard-to-find ingredients, and the result is visually appealing without much effort. You can make small portions or adapt it for more people without hassle.
Tips and variations
Tips
If you want straight layers, use the most equal slices, both for ham and cheese. For cheese, firmer varieties are easier to cut.
A sharp knife helps prevent the slices from tearing during cutting.
If you have time, you can lightly press the stack at the end to help the layers stick better.
Substitutions
Pressed ham can be replaced with any other type of ham or fillet, as long as it is thinly sliced.
Cheese can be substituted with sliced melted cheese or another type of hard cheese, to taste.
You can use any type of olives, plain or stuffed.
Variations
If you feel like it, you can add a lettuce leaf or a thin slice of pickled cucumber between the layers, but don’t overdo it with extra ingredients to keep the piece compact.
You can make a larger shape to get more pieces.
Instead of squares, you can cut triangles or rectangles, depending on what you need for the platter.
Serving ideas
Place them on a platter, directly with the toothpick and olive. They look good alongside other cold appetizers, cold cuts, or cheeses.
They also work as a quick snack for the office or picnic if kept in a container.
Frequently asked questions
1. What type of cheese is best?
I usually use classic cheese, which is quite firm and doesn’t break when cutting. It’s best to avoid very soft varieties.
2. Can they be prepared in advance?
Yes, they can be assembled a few hours ahead and kept cold, but I don’t recommend leaving them overnight, as they dry out at the edges.
3. Can it be made without olives?
Sure, olives are just for decoration. The appetizers can be served without them.
4. Can smaller or larger portions be made?
Yes, cut according to how large you want the pieces to be. If you have larger slices, you can even make more squares.
5. What if the slices are not perfectly equal?
You can adjust at the end by trimming the edges and keeping only the well-overlapping part. The leftover pieces can be used in other sandwiches.
Nutritional values
Estimate for one serving (1 square with olive):
Calories: approximately 70-90 kcal, depending on how thick the slices are and what type of cheese or ham you use.
Protein: 5-6 g
Fat: 5-7 g
Carbohydrates: under 1 g
Values are indicative and depend greatly on the type and amount of slices.
Storage and reheating
They store well in the refrigerator, in a container, for up to 12 hours. I don’t recommend keeping them longer, as they dry out at the edges and the cheese may change texture. No reheating is needed. If you want to keep them for a few hours, cover the platter with plastic wrap.