Medusa Curls Party Platter (Printable)

Creamy dip surrounded by curled meats and colorful peppers for an impressive party centerpiece.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 thinly sliced prosciutto or deli ham
09 - 6 ounces thinly sliced Genoa salami
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 oz) pitted black olives

→ Garnishes (optional)

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

# Steps:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt in a medium bowl; mix until smooth. Spoon onto the center of a large serving platter, shaping into a mound.
02 - Slice bell peppers into long, thin strips. For extra curl, optionally 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 outward from the dip mound, alternating colors and types to mimic Medusa's serpentine hair.
05 - Position a pitted black olive at the end of each curl to represent snake heads.
06 - Decorate platter with fresh dill or parsley sprigs and sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately with crackers, toasted bread, or fresh vegetable dippers.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • It looks so stunning that guests assume you spent hours in the kitchen when you actually spent twenty-five minutes.
  • Everything is made from shelf-stable or easy-to-find ingredients, so there's no last-minute panic buying.
  • You can prep it in advance and assemble it just before people arrive, which means you're actually relaxed at your own gathering.
02 -
  • Assemble this platter no more than an hour before serving—the vegetables will start releasing moisture and the curls can wilt if they sit too long.
  • If you're making this for a crowd that eats slowly, keep the crackers and dippers separate and add them only when people start eating; this keeps everything crisp.
03 -
  • Chill your serving platter in the fridge for ten minutes before assembling—cold surfaces keep everything fresher looking for longer.
  • Use a spiralizer or julienne peeler on the peppers and cucumber instead of a knife; they curl naturally and look infinitely more dramatic.
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