A crudité platter might be one of the easiest and most beautiful party snack ideas. All you need is a selection of rainbow-colored vegetables that are in season or available to you. Then customize by adding your favorite dipping sauces and possibly olives or pickles and you will inspire everyone to eat more vegetables with this great, effortless, make-ahead appetizer for friends and family.
Watch how to make a veggie platter
What is crudite
Crudité (from French, pronounced “kroo-dee-TAY“) is an appetizer made of raw vegetables, often served with creamy dips and arranged beautifully on a tray. Colorful vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, celery, tomatoes, etc are other found in a crudité selection. Such veggie platters are great for entertaining and can be served as finger food at parties, potlucks, and gatherings.
What veggies go on a crudite platter
Colorful fresh vegetables are the perfect choice for a crudité platter. Choose crunchy ones like carrots (different colors), cucumber, celery, bell peppers (different colors), snap peas, and rainbow radishes, or softer ones like cherry tomatoes, olives, and broccoli or cauliflower florets – it’s having a variety that matters. These crudites can be served whole or cut into bite-sized pieces or sticks so they are easy to pick up and dip.
What dips go well with veggies?
This mostly depends on your personal preference and what you have access to. Popular options are hummus, tzatziki, baba ganoush, spinach dip, garlic aioli, ranch dressing, or even vinaigrette. You can also make fun, colorful hummus to elevate traditional hummus into a vibrant, party-perfect dip for crudités. For this, you need to blend the regular hummus base with natural colorants like beet for pink, turmeric for yellow, or avocado for green. All of these dipping sauce recipes are quick and easy to make. Plus you can prepare them a day in advance – great when planning for a party.
How to make a beautiful crudite platter
Choose your tray: Make sure you have a large serving platter or tray. The shape and material are up to you—a large wooden board, a round metallic tray, or a glass tray. Depending on the size of your event, go for a bigger or smaller platter. Keep in mind that you need to get enough vegetables to cover it. Add the dips: Then pour your dipping sauces into small bowls or shallow cups and place them in the center or at two opposite ends of the platter. Arrange the vegetables: Arrange your selection of colorful veggies around the dips elegantly. You can arrange them by color, like a rainbow, or by texture, from crunchiest to softest. Just make sure you allow the veggies to shine. Final touches: In addition to the crudites, you can fill the gaps with olives, gherkins, crackers, pita chips, or cheese sticks. You can also sprinkle some fresh herbs or add some toasted nuts. Voila, your veggie platter with dips is ready to enjoy! If you try making a veggie tray at home, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
