Garden Vegetable Spread (Printable Version)
Creamy garden vegetable spread with cucumber, bell pepper, carrot and herbs. Serve chilled with crackers or toast.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fresh Vegetables
01 - 1 cup finely diced cucumber, seeded and peeled
02 - 1 cup finely diced red bell pepper
03 - 1/2 cup grated carrot
04 - 1/2 cup finely diced celery
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
→ Dairy
06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature
07 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
→ Seasonings
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
13 - 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
# Directions:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the finely diced cucumber, red bell pepper, grated carrot, diced celery, and sliced green onions. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with a spatula or hand mixer until smooth and free of lumps. Add the Greek yogurt or sour cream and continue mixing until fully incorporated and creamy.
03 - Stir the minced garlic, lemon juice, kosher salt, black pepper, chopped parsley, and dill into the cream cheese mixture until evenly distributed.
04 - Add the prepared vegetable mixture to the seasoned cream cheese base. Fold gently with a spatula until all vegetables are evenly coated and distributed throughout.
05 - Taste the spread and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to balance the flavors.
06 - Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve chilled with crackers, toasted bread, or fresh vegetable sticks.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It requires zero cooking, which means your kitchen stays cool and you get to spend more time outside.
- The cream cheese and yogurt base makes it rich without feeling heavy, and the crunch of fresh vegetables keeps every bite interesting.
02 -
- If you skip seeding the cucumber, the spread will weep water overnight and turn into something closer to soup.
- Refrigerating for the full thirty minutes is not optional because the garlic and dill need time to soften and bloom into the cream cheese.
03 -
- Pat the diced cucumber dry with a paper towel before adding it to the bowl for a thicker, creamier result.
- Letting the spread sit overnight transforms the flavor entirely, so if you can wait that long, it is absolutely worth it.