Garden Vegetable Spread (Printer-Friendly)
Creamy blend of fresh vegetables with herbs, ideal for spreading or dipping.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
02 - 1/2 cup finely diced cucumber, seeds removed
03 - 1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
04 - 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
05 - 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
→ Dairy
06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
→ Seasonings & Herbs
08 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
09 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
10 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
11 - 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
12 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional
13 - 1 tsp lemon juice
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and Greek yogurt (or sour cream). Stir with a spatula until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
02 - Add the finely diced red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, green onions, and celery to the bowl. Fold gently until the vegetables are evenly distributed throughout the creamy base.
03 - Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and dill, mixing until the herbs are well incorporated.
04 - Sprinkle in the garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Add the lemon juice if using. Stir thoroughly until all seasonings are fully blended into the mixture.
05 - Taste the spread and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to balance the flavors.
06 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled with crackers, fresh bread, crudités, or use as a sandwich spread.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It uses up whatever vegetables are taking over your crisper drawer without requiring any cooking at all.
- The cream cheese base makes everything taste indulgent even though you are basically eating a salad in spread form.
02 -
- Salt your diced cucumber lightly and let it sit in a strainer for five minutes before adding it, otherwise the spread gets soupy by day two.
- Dicing everything as small and uniform as possible is the difference between a rustic spread and something that falls apart when you try to spread it.
03 -
- A pinch of smoked paprika stirred in at the end makes people think you did something far more complicated than you actually did.
- Use the flat side of your knife to press the diced vegetables against the cutting board once before adding them, which releases just enough flavor without bruising them.