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Ingredients
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Vegetables
Dips & Garnishes
Method
Vegetables
- 1
Prep and wash
Rinse all vegetables under cold running water and pat dry. Trim any brown or damaged ends. Trim broccoli and cauliflower into bite-size florets. Trim and peel carrots if desired.
- 2
Cut carrots
Peel (optional) and cut carrots into sticks about 3 to 4 inches long and roughly 1/2 inch thick so they are easy to pick up.
- 3
Prepare cucumber
Trim the cucumber ends and slice it lengthwise into quarters. If seeds are large and watery, scrape them out with a spoon, then cut each quarter into sticks about 3 inches long.
- 4
Prepare bell peppers
Remove stem, seeds, and membranes from the bell peppers. Cut the peppers into flat strips about 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long.
- 5
Radishes
Trim root ends and any long stems; halve or quarter radishes depending on size for easier picking.
- 6
Tomatoes and peas
Leave cherry tomatoes whole. Trim any strings from peas and trim the stem ends.
- 7
Celery
Trim ends and cut celery into 3 to 4 inch sticks, matching the length of other vegetables.
- 8
Blanch broccoli and cauliflower (optional)
If you prefer slightly tender florets, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli and cauliflower florets and blanch 30–60 seconds until bright green and slightly tender. Immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking and drain thoroughly.
- 9
Arrange
Arrange all prepared vegetables on a large platter or board grouped by type so colors and shapes contrast. Fill in gaps with cherry tomatoes and radishes for color and texture.
Dips & Garnishes
- 10
Make quick herb yogurt dip (if using)
In a small bowl, combine 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill or parsley, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir until smooth and taste; adjust seasoning as needed.
- 11
Prepare hummus
Spoon 1 cup of store-bought or homemade hummus into a shallow serving bowl. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of sea salt and chopped herb if desired.
- 12