Garden Vegetable Spread (Printable Version)
A light, creamy blend of fresh vegetables with herbs and cheese
# 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
# Directions:
01 - In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and Greek yogurt (or sour cream). Stir with a spatula until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps.
02 - Add the finely diced red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, green onions, and celery to the cream cheese mixture. Fold gently until all vegetables are evenly distributed throughout.
03 - Stir in the chopped fresh parsley and dill, mixing until the herbs are well incorporated and the spread has a uniform appearance.
04 - Add the garlic powder, salt, freshly ground black pepper, and lemon juice if using. Stir thoroughly, then taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled with crackers, fresh bread, pita pockets, or crudités, or use as a sandwich spread.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It takes about fifteen minutes from cutting board to table, which makes it the laziest impressive thing you can serve.
- The spread tastes even better after a night in the fridge, so making it ahead feels like a gift to your future self.
02 -
- Softened cream cheese is nonnegotiable because once I tried rushing it with cold cheese and spent ten minutes chasing lumps around the bowl.
- The spread thickens considerably after chilling, so if it looks a bit loose right after mixing, trust the fridge to fix it.
03 -
- Pat the diced cucumber dry with a paper towel before adding it, because that one extra step saves the entire texture of the spread.
- Let the spread sit uncovered for five minutes after taking it out of the fridge so it softens to a spreadable consistency without microwaving.