Snowman Crudités with Herb Dip Recipe
Introduction
Snowman Crudités with Dip is a festive and fun way to serve fresh vegetables, perfect for holiday gatherings or kid-friendly parties. This colorful arrangement pairs crisp veggies with a creamy herb dip that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 1 large cauliflower head, cut into florets
- 1 large cucumber, sliced into 0.4 inch rounds
- 2 medium carrots, peeled (1 cut into sticks, 1 sliced into ribbons)
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced into small strips
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, sliced into small strips
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- 1 black olive, thinly sliced
- 7 oz Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives or dill, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Slice the cucumber into 0.4 inch rounds. Cut one carrot into sticks for the snowman’s arms and peel thin ribbons from the other carrot for the scarf. Slice bell peppers into small strips for the hat, buttons, and scarf accents. Thinly slice the black olive for the eyes and mouth.
- Step 2: On a large serving platter, arrange three cauliflower florets vertically in ascending size to form the snowman’s body. Place cucumber rounds at the base to simulate snow. Position carrot sticks as arms and wrap carrot ribbons around the neck as a scarf. Use black olive slices for eyes and mouth, a small carrot piece as the nose, and bell pepper strips to create the hat and buttons. Arrange cherry tomatoes and remaining vegetables around as additional crudités.
- Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chopped chives or dill, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Step 4: Place the herb dip in a small bowl next to or within the platter for dipping alongside the crudités.
Tips & Variations
- Try swapping the Greek yogurt for sour cream to adjust the creaminess and tang of the dip.
- Use fresh dill instead of chives for a different herbal flavor.
- Add other seasonal vegetables like radishes or snap peas for extra color and crunch.
- To make the dip more flavorful, let it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
Storage
Store any leftover vegetables and dip separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The crudités are best enjoyed within 2 days to maintain freshness. The dip can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Before serving again, stir the dip and let it come to room temperature for better flavor.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I prepare the snowman crudités in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the vegetables and dip a few hours ahead. Assemble the snowman just before serving to keep the veggies fresh and crisp.
What can I use if I don’t have Greek yogurt or sour cream?
You can substitute with regular plain yogurt or a cream cheese-based dip, but the texture and flavor will be slightly different.
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Snowman Crudités with Herb Dip Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Create a charming and healthy Snowman Crudités platter featuring fresh cauliflower, cucumber, carrots, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and a creamy herb dip made with Greek yogurt and fresh herbs. This fun and festive veggie arrangement makes a perfect party appetizer or kid-friendly snack that’s both visually appealing and delicious.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 large cauliflower head, cut into florets
- 1 large cucumber, sliced into 0.4 inch rounds
- 2 medium carrots, peeled (1 cut into sticks, 1 sliced into ribbons)
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced into small strips
- 1 small yellow bell pepper, sliced into small strips
- 6 cherry tomatoes
- 1 black olive, thinly sliced
Dip
- 7 oz Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives or dill, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Vegetables: Begin by preparing all your vegetables. Slice the cucumber into 0.4 inch rounds. Cut one carrot into sticks to form the snowman’s arms, and peel thin ribbons from the other carrot for the scarf. Slice the red and yellow bell peppers into small strips to use as the hat, buttons, and scarf accents. Thinly slice the black olive for creating the eyes and mouth details.
- Assemble Snowman: On a large serving platter, arrange three cauliflower florets vertically in ascending size order to create the snowman’s body. Place cucumber rounds at the base to resemble snow. Position the carrot sticks as arms and wrap the carrot ribbons around the neck area as a festive scarf. Use black olive slices for the eyes and mouth, a small piece of carrot for the nose, and place bell pepper strips as the hat and buttons. Surround the snowman with cherry tomatoes and remaining vegetable pieces for extra crudités garnish.
- Prepare Herb Dip: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, finely chopped chives or dill, and minced garlic until smooth. Season the dip with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Serve: Place the herb dip in a small bowl either next to or within the platter. Serve alongside the colorful crudités allowing guests to dip and enjoy this creative and healthy appetizer.
Notes
- Use Greek yogurt for a thicker, tangier dip or sour cream for a richer flavor.
- You can swap mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a healthier dip option.
- Feel free to use fresh herbs like dill or chives depending on your flavor preference.
- Prepare the vegetables just before serving to keep them crisp and fresh.
- This recipe is perfect for holiday parties and kids’ snacks due to its fun presentation.
- Adjust the salt and pepper in the dip to accommodate dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: snowman crudités, vegetable platter, veggie dip, healthy appetizer, party snacks, holiday appetizers, Greek yogurt dip, fresh vegetables
