Pot Luck Veggie Tray

[Iggy aka IG]

Am attending a pot luck for about 30 (there will be a few kids present) tomorrow evening, and signed up to bring a veggie tray and dip.  It's what I usually bring, or make for our at home parties, because it's carb friendly.  I'm burned out on what veggies to include.  What are your favorite veggie tray offerings and why?

[Deleted]

crudites only or can they be cooked veggies?

[Iggy aka IG]

Crudites only.  The tray needs to travel.

[chiver78]

snap peas, button mushrooms, bell pepper strips - more than one color if possible, cherry or grape tomatoes

instead of a basic ranch/yogurt/sour cream/whatever dip, what about a cold spinach and artichoke dip or a chunky guacamole in the middle?

[Wisconsin Beth]

Cuke, zuchinni, cherry/grape tomatoes, broccoli trees (I don't eat them but I know others do), grapes, pepper slices, mushrooms (again, I don't eat them but others do)

[Iggy aka IG]

Thanks, guys.  Chive, good idea re: the dip.

WI Beth, which color grape do you find the most compatible w/ the veggies?

[Tiny]

When I make a veggie tray for my 'adventurous' food friends I found that the 'baby' multi colored sweet peppers are a big hit, along with fresh cauliflower (very white!), designer "small" tomatos - they are yellow, orange, purple and red.

If it's off season (or the fancy veggies are outrageously priced) I'll put cut up white button mushrooms, decoratively sliced cuke (use the seedless kind) - decorative means I've made 'stripes' with the skin or I've run a fork down the cuke before cutting to give it some texture. I might also cut up some zuchinni/yellow summer squash into 'sticks' with this as well.

Snap peas are a nice change.

I've also used Jicama and Kohlrabi and white salad turnips and radishes on veggie trays.


I usually make a dip using low fat mayo and usually regular sour cream - or if I've been to TJ's or Whole Foods a thick tart 0% fat plain greek yogurt (The common brand name Greek yogurt is starting to go down hill - as it's getting 'thinner' and sweeter. ) For the dip, I've usually got a premade 'mix' in the pantry that I've purchased at a Craft Fair or something like that. I rarely make the seasonings from scratch these days.

For the less adventurous food friends/relatives I've given up and usually just buy a premade tray - they like the blandness/familiarity of carrots, broccoli, celery, snap peas (or tomatos) and that watery bland dressing that it comes with.

Meant to add you can make a Dill Dip or Cukecumber Dip pretty easily - there are recipes on-line. 

I usually have a Knorr "spinach dip" packet in the cupboard as well... it requires some planning and time to make but it's a great dip for veggies (or in a bread bowl or served with 'cocktail rye' and crackers).

[Iggy aka IG]

Speck, thank you!  I love the "adventurous" ideas! 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I like color so if I've got a lot of green veggies, I want red or purple grapes. 

[Iggy aka IG]

Sept 17, 2013 10:36:51 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

I like color so if I've got a lot of green veggies, I want red or purple grapes. 

Cool.  Got it. Thanks again!

[Wisconsin Beth]

And youj've reminded me - I need to cut up a watermelon tonight. 

Edited to add - the rugrats ate all the grapes in the house and need more precut fruit in the fridge.  

[naturallyfrugal]

I love veggie trays and really like yellow/red/orange bell peppers, but they can be pricey.  I've never done mushrooms because I don't like them, but brighter, white ones would look nice.  What about hummus or baba ghanoush, instead of dip?  Depending on the party-goers that may be a little too out there. 

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Baby carrots, celery, cauliflower and broccoli florets, mushrooms, sliced radishes, cherry tomatoes ...


For dip, I usually use a creamy Ranch dressing for veggie trays.

[swamp]

I just wander around the produce dept and get whatever looks good. And I agree on the guacamole or hummus instead of the regular ranch dip. 

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Since it's a veggie tray, a Spinach Dip would really go well with it too.

[cronewitch]

I use a whole bell pepper as the dip holder, cut off top remove seeds from one flat on the bottom so I don't need a dip bowl.

I use more of the veggies like cucumber I know people like and less of things like radishes that are only for color. Last one two 3 year olds filled plates with almost nothing but grape tomatoes then went back and ate pickles. Small children also love carrot sticks with dip. Nobody I know likes baby carrots only use them for convenience.

If you are like me you will make way too much so try to have leftovers that you can use for soup or freeze like cauliflower and carrots.

When making a veggie tray I try to make soup at the same time so things that are good but not decorator can go in the soup pot. You can make a salad at the same time too.

Cutting pretty shapes makes it look better so consider rings of bell peppers or purple onion. I like to keep colors separated every third veggie should be white like mushrooms, jicama or cauliflower, then a green then a red/orange/purple etc.

I always overdo it because it is fun to make but buy too many so have to make soup and salad too.

[kittensaver]

If you want the kids to eat it, give them ranch dip

You can always do a more "adventuresome" dip for the adults.

[The Captain]

I second the bell pepper strips, sugar snap peas, persian cucumbers, jicama (try it sprinkled with lime and chili powder!).

I make a roasted pepper dipping sauce by roasting and skinning red and yellow bell peppers.  Peel off char and scoop out seeds.  Puree in a blender with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and fresh basil (do each color separately so you can have a nice presentation).  Yummy!  This goes especially well with cauliflower and zuchinni but works with all veggies.

Jicama is one that a lot of folks haven't seen or tried but are usually surprised at how much they like it.  It's crunchy and tasts like a cross between an apple and a potato. 

[thyme4change]

Something different is this dip with sliced yellow squash and zucchini.  Also good with pita triangles - which aren't carb friendly, but at least you can eat the zucchini.  

www.foodandwine.com/recipes/zaatar-spiced-beet-dip-with-goat-cheese-and-hazelnuts

It ends up being a super weird bright pink color, but is good on all the regular veges.  You could also do a second bowl of more traditional dip, so people won't think you are high.

[marvholly]

basically when I do a veggie tray it is whatever is on sale:
zuchinni or cuke
brocolli or ? something green
mushrooms or cauliflower
bell pepper strips dependent on color needed/price

It ALWAYS has baby carrots
It usually has grape or cherry tomatoes

Dip is usually humos, veg dip or spinach dip-depends on my mood and amt of time.

[Shooby]

There are lots of things on Pinterest to make veggies look adorable like creatures or something if you are up for that.

[Iggy aka IG]

Shoob, interesting you say that.  When I googled veggie trays yesterday, I found a bunch of Halloween veggie tray pictures.  They were cute, but very baby carrot, pumpkin face oriented.  If the tray didn't have to travel, I'd design the veggies into a graveyard design or something similar.

Okay, so I thought about you gals while perusing the produce section last night. 

For $23.44 (includes tax):

baby dills
broc
rainbow sweet peppers (my first time).  These are so pretty and perfect they look plastic!
orange and red bell peppers
mushrooms (1st time)
cherry tomatoes (the grape tomatoes were $2 higher)
baby carrots
celery
a small tri-colored (purple, red, green) grape tray (1st time).
snow peas (1st time)
English cucumber

We already have radishes and black olives @ home.

I had already purchased last week ingredients for my mom's dip recipe:  Sour cream, cream cheese, mayo, bacon bits, onion powder.

I'll let you know if there is any feedback at tonight's party.  Thanks again, gals!

[Iggy aka IG]

Checking back in.  I had wayyyyy too much of everything to begin with so I didn't include the radishes, olives or baby dills.

There's about half of each thing left, except the grapes.  They were the most popular. 

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

What kind of dip did you use to go with them

[Ombud]

5 colors to cover all the minerals:
(Red) cherry tomatoes
(Blue) purple bell peppers
(Green) asparagus
(Yellow) marinated baby corn
(Orange) carrots
(White) cauliflower

2 dips:
(1) hummus
(2) ranch

[Iggy aka IG]

SL, thanks for asking about the dip.  As mentioned in my post above, I had already purchased ingredients the week prior for my mom's dip recipe: Sour cream, cream cheese, mayo, bacon bits, onion powder.  It was okay.  I need to remember to make bacon bits out of real bacon, instead of using the bacon bits.  The imitation color becomes apparent the next day.