When I’m entertaining, I always put out a lot of different snacks such as caramel popcorn, sausage balls, spanakopita, spinach artichoke wontons, chex mix, 7 layer dip and this easy yet impressive veggie platter. Every good party starts with a vegetable tray – it’s an appetizer that’s quick to make and fun to eat! My version of this classic dish includes both raw and blanched vegetables, with plenty of dipping options to choose from.
Veggie Tray Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need carrots, celery, cucumbers (such as English cucumbers), cherry tomatoes, radishes, asparagus, green bean and dips of your choice. You can also garnish with fresh herbs.
How Do You Make A Veggie Tray?
Start by collecting an assortment of vegetables of different sizes, colors and textures. Arrange the veggies in a decorative pattern on a board or platter. Spoon some dips of your choice into bowls, and nestle the bowls among the veggies. Garnish with fresh herbs, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Platter
You can scatter your vegetables around the platter, or serve them upright in glasses for a different look. For added color, line your tray with lettuce or radicchio leaves. I always peel my carrots, and I recommend peeling other vegetables with tough skins such as waxy cucumbers. If you’re pressed for time, you can purchase pre-cut vegetables in the produce area of the grocery store. I recommend blanching tougher vegetables such as cauliflower, asparagus and green beans. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the vegetables to the pot, and cook for 2-3 minutes or until just tender. Transfer the vegetables to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Pat the veggies dry and they’re ready to add to your platter.
Flavor Variations
This recipe is great as-is, but there are so many different ways to customize your platter to your tastes.
Veggies: Add a few unexpected items to the mix with different vegetables such as zucchini, snap peas, french radishes, refrigerator pickles, jicama, rainbow carrots, pickled red onions, marinated mushrooms or broccolini. Other Additions: Get creative with ingredients such as olives, marinated artichokes, breadsticks, mozzarella balls, cubes of cheddar cheese, pita chips, crackers or other bite sized snack options.
Dip Options
There are so many great dips to pair with your veggies! Ranch dip and hummus are classic choices, but here are some other options.
Herb Veggie Dip Avocado Dip Dill Pickle Dip Spinach Dip Pesto Dip Artichoke Dip
Making your own veggie platter tastes much better than the store bought version, and is sure to get rave reviews! You can serve it as a healthy snack recipe, and it also makes a great after school snack for the kids.
Veggie Tray Video
