Fossil Cheese with Fresh Herbs

# What you'll need:

→ Cheese

01 - 9 oz soft cheese (goat cheese, cream cheese, or ricotta)

→ Herbs & Imprints

02 - 1 small bunch fresh herbs (parsley, dill, cilantro, chervil, or mixed)

03 - 1 tbsp olive oil (optional, for brushing)

→ Nuts

04 - 3.5 oz assorted nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts), preferably in shell

05 - 1/2 tsp sea salt (optional, for sprinkling)

# Method:

01 - Line a small tray or plate with parchment paper for easy removal.

02 - Spread soft cheese about 3/4 inch thick into a rough oval or round shape on the tray, smoothing the top with a spatula.

03 - Gently press fresh herb sprigs or leaves into the cheese surface to form fossil imprints, then carefully lift away the herbs to reveal detailed impressions.

04 - Lightly brush the cheese surface with olive oil to enhance appearance, if desired.

05 - Scatter cracked nuts and some shell fragments around the cheese for an archaeological effect.

06 - Optionally sprinkle sea salt over the nuts and cheese.

07 - Serve immediately with crackers or fresh bread, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

It looks like edible archaeology, which means your guests will actually pause and admire it before diving in.
Takes just 15 minutes but tastes like you fussed for hours, making you look like the most thoughtful host.
Works for vegetarians, gluten-free eaters, and people who love good cheese—basically everyone worth impressing.

02 -

Your cheese needs to be cold and firm enough to hold an impression without oozing—if it's too soft, chill it for 10 minutes first, a lesson I learned the hard way when my fossil became a cream cheese puddle.
Delicate herbs with fine fronds (like dill and chervil) create sharper, more convincing fossils than thick leaves, so choose your botanicals with intention.

03 -