Healthy Pairing Platter
Servings : 4
Ingredients
Platter
- 1 lb grapes red, green, black, or a variety
- 1 cup 100% whole grain crackers such as Back To Nature Harvest Whole Wheat Crackers
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 1 cup sugar snap pea pods fresh; frozen won't work here
- 8 oz pepper jack cheese cubed (or any firm cheese)
- 8 oz cheese curds
- 1/2 each english cucumber sliced
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup grape tomatoes
- 8 each fresh mozzarella snack size
Whipped Feta Dip
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp bottled minced garlic
- 8 oz feta cheese cow's milk variety
- 2 tbsp plain yogurt
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
- 1 Tbsp fresh basil
- 1 Tbsp pine nuts optional, for garnish
Easy Hummus Recipe
- 1/4 cup tahini paste
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp bottled minced garlic
- 1 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
Platter
- Arrange all ingredients, plus small containers of both dips, on a large platter or cutting board. Try to make it less "symmetrical," as asymmetric is more pleasing to the eye. Putting contrasting colors next to each other is also striking and appealing. Don't be afraid to make it messy.
Whipped Feta Dip
- Combine lemon juice and garlic. Set aside.
- Rinse and drain feta.
- Add feta, reserved lemon juice mixture, and yogurt to a food processor. Process until grainy, about 20 seconds. With processor running, drizzle 2 T. olive oil into the feta mixture. Continue to process about 2 more minutes, scraping bowl as necessary. Add basil and pulse to combine.
- To serve immediately, drizzle with additional oil and top with pine nuts (if desired). Garnish with additional fresh basil, if desired.
Easy Hummus
- Make sure your tahini is mixed well so that the oil is not separated. It should be smooth and uniform.
- Add the tahini and lemon juice to a food processor or blender and process for at least 1 minute. It should begin to thicken and form a bit of a paste. You may need to stop and scrape the sides with a baking spatula and then continue.
- Add the olive oil, garlic, salt and half the garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained). Process for a full minute or longer.
- Add the rest of the beans and process until smooth.
Notes
Other fruits and veggies that look/work great for pairing platters:
bell peppers (mini and also full sized, sliced, all colors)
fresh apple slices (soak in lemon or lime or pineapple juice before serving, to retard oxidation)
mandarin orange segments
fresh cherries
fresh peach or nectarine wedges
kohl rhabi
jicama Fresh, raw nuts would also be a welcome addition on any pairing platter.
fresh apple slices (soak in lemon or lime or pineapple juice before serving, to retard oxidation)
mandarin orange segments
fresh cherries
fresh peach or nectarine wedges
kohl rhabi
jicama Fresh, raw nuts would also be a welcome addition on any pairing platter.