10 Unexpected Vegetable Crudité Platter Ideas
Updated: Oct. 18, 2019Mix up your baby carrot-and-dip appetizer plate by swapping in any of these 10 different, fresh vegetables.
Fingerling potatoes
Look for long, skinny potatoes, and cook in boiling water until insides are tender. Chill, then split in two-bite pieces if necessary. Serve with your favorite cheesy dip.
Jicama
Consider crunchy jicama to be a sweeter alternative to celery. Peel, then cut into strips or matchsticks; if you like, you can top with a squeeze of lemon.
Endive
Slightly bitter, try endive leaves as natural scoops for cheesy dips, even strong flavored ones like blue cheese. You can also enjoy them with bean- or legume-based dips—and some swear they pair well with mild salsa.
Kohlrabi
A summer farmer’s market staple, young kohlrabi can be eaten raw and tastes faintly like broccoli stems. Pare away the outer skin, then cut into matchsticks or very thin rounds for your crudite platter. Serve with a creamy or cheesy dip.
Fennel
The crisp anise flavor of fennel cuts through creamy dips, and pairs exceptionally well with roasted red pepper dip, hummus, or tapenade.
Radishes
Slice peppery radishes into thirds the long way, and they become a delicious (and colorful) counterpoint to buttery dips.
Tiny purple carrots
If you can find them at a farmer’s market, carrots come in various colors like purple, gold, or pale yellow. To keep as much of the color as possible, scrub the carrots to remove all soil and don’t peel them. If the carrots are too tough, you can quickly blanch them and then chill until ready to serve.
Asparagus
Thin asparagus might not need to be cooked, but thicker stalks could probably use a light grilling or fast blanching. Serve with lemon-based dips.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: “Jicama Salad Recipe.”
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: “Different Kinds of Lettuces and Greens.”
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: “Sun-Dried Tomato-Olive Hummus Recipe.”