Medusa Curls Party Platter (Printable)

A creamy dip center surrounded by curled meats and colorful pepper strips for an impressive platter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Central Dip

01 - 1 cup whipped cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup sour cream
03 - 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
04 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
07 - Salt to taste

→ Curls

08 - 6 oz prosciutto or deli ham, thinly sliced
09 - 6 oz 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 pitted black olives

→ Garnishes (optional)

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

# Directions:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth. Transfer to center of serving platter and shape into a mound.
02 - Cut bell peppers into long, thin strips; for extra curl, use a julienne peeler or spiralizer on peppers and cucumber.
03 - Roll slices of prosciutto and salami into loose spirals or curls.
04 - Place meat and vegetable strips radiating outward from the dip mound, alternating colors and types to resemble snakes.
05 - Set a black olive at the end of each curl to mimic snake heads.
06 - Decorate platter edges with fresh dill or parsley sprigs and sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
07 - Present immediately alongside crackers, toasted bread, or fresh vegetable dippers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • People will genuinely gasp when they see it, which never gets old.
  • It comes together faster than any appetizer has the right to, leaving you relaxed instead of frazzled.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble five minutes before guests arrive.
02 -
  • Prep all your ingredients before you start assembling—once you begin, you want momentum and confidence, not rifling through the fridge.
  • If your bell peppers are rolled too early, they'll start to weep; slice and curl them no more than a couple of hours ahead.
03 -
  • Use a spiralizer or julienne peeler for vegetables that actually curl; a regular peeler or knife tends to produce limp strips that won't hold their shape.
  • The dip tastes better the next day once the flavors have had time to mingle, so feel free to prepare it a few hours ahead and assemble everything at the last minute.
Return