# Ingredient List:
→ Base Lines
01 - 3.5 oz black olives, pitted and sliced
02 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 3.5 oz cucumber, cut into thin half-moons
04 - 3.5 oz roasted red peppers, sliced
05 - 3.5 oz smoked salmon or marinated tofu strips (optional)
→ Cheese Rungs
06 - 5.3 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into thin strips or small cubes
07 - 3.5 oz cheddar cheese, cut into thin strips or small cubes
→ Accompaniments
08 - 1.8 oz fresh basil leaves
09 - 1.8 oz crackers or gluten-free crackers (optional)
10 - 1 tbsp olive oil
11 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - On a large serving platter, create two long, parallel, gently twisting lines using alternating ingredients such as black olives and cherry tomatoes to establish color contrast.
02 - Incorporate cucumber, roasted red peppers, or smoked salmon/marinated tofu strips alongside the base lines to enrich the visual and textural contrast.
03 - Place mozzarella and cheddar cheese strips or cubes perpendicularly at regular intervals to connect the two parallel lines, emulating the rungs of a DNA double helix.
04 - Insert fresh basil leaves along the lines to add both vibrant color and aromatic freshness.
05 - Lightly drizzle with olive oil, season with freshly ground black pepper, and serve alongside crackers if desired.
