I love a good crudité platter. I feel like they get a bad rap because the grocery store versions with the sad celery, raw cauliflower, and grubby carrots are never the most exciting appetizer at a party, but this board fixes that by being bright, fun, and delicious! It’s a yummy mix of fresh things, salty/savory bites, and even a sweet element from the delectable Tart Cherry Thyme Compound Butter. Each little recipe is made up of super simple combinations of creative ingredients that, together, make a really unique crudité platter! I brought this board to my family’s Father’s Day gathering a few weeks ago, and it got gobbled up in minutes.
This recipe comes from the gorgeous book Platters and Boards by Shelly Westerhausen of the blog Vegetarian Ventures. It’s filled with recipes to create fun, beautiful, yet very doable spreads for any occasion. There’s everything from a Beach Board, to a Holiday Hosting Spread, to a Lazy Sunday Brunch Board. What I love most is the part where Shelly talks about how a board can be blank canvas for your creativity… or your leftovers. “It’s a great way to use up whatever vegetables, cheeses, jams, or meats you have hanging around your refrigerator, or use it as an opportunity to try new foods. Take a trip to that new cheese shop you’ve been meaning to visit or spend some time in the bulk section of your grocery store.”
How to Make the Best Crudité Platter
The best crudité boards include a mix of these components:
Lots of fresh veggies – I use tomatoes, blanched snap peas, Persian cucumbers, and carrots. A creamy dip – This one is a luscious lemony white bean dip that whizzes up easily in the food processor. Something salty – Marinated Feta with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Thyme, and Garlic plays this role here. It’s tangy, briny, and so fresh with the addition of the thyme leaves. It added a wonderful pop of flavor to this veggie platter. Something sweet – Tart Cherry Thyme Butter is the perfect addition to this mix. It’s SO easy to make, and it was a delicious sweet, creamy topping for soft baguette slices.
I served my board with baguette, but any carb, like good crackers or pita chips, or a mix of crackers and bread, is the perfect finishing touch.
Crudité Platter Variations
While I’m obsessed with this veggie crudité, you can easily change out the components in each category. Here are some suggestions:
Fresh veggies – Use whatever’s in season! Broccoli, cauliflower, celery, red peppers, green beans, or radishes would all be good choices. A creamy dip – If you’re a fan of dairy-based dips, one would be great here. You could also try this curried red lentil hummus, beet hummus, or vegan pimento cheese dip. Something salty – Cheese is never remiss on a crudité board, so try adding your favorite soft and hard cheeses. I’m a particular fan of aged cheddar and brie. You could also add some savory roasted nuts for crunch or some marinated olives for briny flavor. Something sweet – Good fruit preserves would be an easy substitute for the butter, especially if you’re adding cheese to your platter. Fresh fruit, like apples and grapes, is also good alongside the savory components.
If you love this vegetable crudité platter….
Try one of these favorite appetizer recipes next:
Baked Brie with Pomegranates Hummus Baba Ganoush Pico de Gallo Best Guacamole Mango Salsa Spinach Artichoke Dip Burrata with Heirloom Tomatoes Avocado Summer Rolls
For more appetizer ideas, check out this post with 50 easy appetizers.
