Medusa Curls Party Platter (Printable View)

A visually striking platter combining creamy dip with curled meats and vibrant vegetables for sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Central Dip

01 - 1 cup (8 fl oz) whipped cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) sour cream
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
07 - Salt to taste

→ Curls

08 - 6 ounces prosciutto or deli ham, thinly sliced
09 - 6 ounces Genoa salami, thinly sliced
10 - 1 large red bell pepper
11 - 1 large yellow bell pepper
12 - 1 large green bell pepper
13 - 1 small English cucumber
14 - 1/2 cup (3.5 ounces) pitted black olives

→ Garnishes (optional)

15 - Fresh dill or parsley sprigs
16 - Crushed red pepper flakes

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Spoon onto the center of a large serving platter, shaping into a mound.
02 - Cut bell peppers into long, thin strips. For added curl, use a julienne peeler or spiralizer on the peppers and cucumber.
03 - Roll each slice of prosciutto and salami into loose curls or spirals.
04 - Place meat and vegetable strips radiating from the dip mound, alternating colors and types to resemble serpents.
05 - Position a black olive at the end of each curl to mimic snake heads.
06 - Sprinkle fresh dill or parsley around the platter and lightly dust with crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
07 - Present immediately with crackers, toasted bread, or fresh vegetable dippers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours preparing when you actually spent minutes, which is the kind of kitchen magic that never gets old.
  • There's something deeply satisfying about the visual payoff—people genuinely pause before diving in just to admire it.
  • Everything is room temperature and ready to eat, so you can actually enjoy your own party instead of sweating in the kitchen.
02 -
  • If you make this more than an hour ahead, the dip will start sweating and the platter will look wet and sad, so always assemble it closer to serving time, even if it means multitasking during the party.
  • The difference between curls that look casual and curls that look intentional is rolling them loosely and standing them up slightly instead of laying them flat like dead things.
03 -
  • Spiralize your peppers and cucumber instead of slicing them if you have the tool—those actual curls are what make people stop and look.
  • Assemble close to serving time so everything stays fresh and the dip doesn't start leaking into your meats, and always have a second platter set up so you can refresh halfway through the party without anyone noticing the transition.
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