Garden Vegetable Platter Recipes

BLANCHED CRUDITES

Steps:

• Prepare a large pot of boiling salted water, and fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Remove the tough bottoms of the asparagus stalks. If they are thick, peel the stems half-way up the stalk.
• Add the carrots to the pot of boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Immediately remove the carrots with a slotted spoon and plunge them in the bowl of ice water. Drain the carrots when fully cooled.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Immediately remove the asparagus with a slotted spoon and plunge them into the reserved bowl of ice water. Drain the asparagus when fully cooled.
• Slice the radicchio into wedges.
• Arrange the carrots, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and radicchio on a platter and serve with the Herb Dip.
• Place the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions, parsley, dill, salt, and pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and blend. Serve at room temperature.

MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE PLATTER

Steps:

• Favoring one side of a small wooden board, spoon and swirl the hummus directly on the board. Do the same with the roasted pepper hummus, favoring the other side of the board. Fill in the gaps with the peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, pita and crackers. Drizzle the vegetables and hummus with the olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt.

GARDEN VEGETABLE PLATTER

Steps:

• Choose new clay flowerpots and saucers in a variety of sizes. Line pots with plastic wrap, and loosely fill with greens. Line saucers with a lettuce or cabbage leaf.
• Place jicama, carrot and celery sticks and radishes in taller pots. Fill saucers with cauliflowerets, broccoli flowerets and dip.
• Arrange pots and saucers on a wooden serving tray.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST VEGGIE TRAY (PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO EAT)

Steps:

• Make it fun. Mix in a variety of colors, flavors, and textures, and consider your budget as you go along.
• On a budget? Veggies such as carrots, celery, and cucumbers are crowd-pleasers and easy on the wallet, while peppers, tomatoes, and jicama are fun for more adventurous eaters or when you want to go all out.
• Easy to eat. The most important thing is to select finger-food-friendly vegetables that are easy to eat.

GRILLED VEGETABLE PLATTER

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first 7 ingredients. Place 3 tablespoons marinade in a large bowl. Add vegetables; turn to coat. Cover; marinate 1-1/2 hours at room temperature., Transfer vegetables to a grilling grid; place grid on grill rack. Grill vegetables, covered, over medium heat until crisp-tender, 8-12 minutes, turning occasionally., Place vegetables on a large serving plate. Drizzle with remaining marinade.