vegan | gluten-free | veggie-packed | 30 minutes or less | winter | holiday

Have you been assigned the veggie platter this year for the Christmas party? Lucky you! While it might seem like the boring thing to bring, it really doesn’t have to be. You also don’t need to spend a whole lot - you can feed a crowd on $30-40. And they don’t have to take forever to put together. The veggies here were prepped in less than 30 minutes (including extra veggies to refill the platter). Plus, veggie spreads can be vibrant and appealing, with curated holiday colors and produce picks that are beyond the average. Like a holiday wreath, a veggie platter like this catches the eye and represents the holiday season in a fun way. Adding “rustic” to the name of this spread means it’s not meant to be perfect-looking, it’s meant to look a bit free-flowing, like it was put together by a real person. Charming.

Power Greens Guacamole makes a great veggie platter dip and fits the occasion.

These little rounds are just pieces of chopped fennel stalk. They add a delicious licorice-y flavor and are so sweet sprinkled about or adorning a spread, like the Arugula Pecan Vegan Cheesy Spread.

Simple green olives, pomegranate seeds, and pickled swiss chard make lovely red and green garnishes.

Arugula Pecan Vegan Cheesy Spread tends to be a favorite, and topped with chopped fennel stalk and pomegranate seeds, it’s irresistible! Get creative - you might surprise yourself.

RECIPE FOR AN EASY RUSTIC RED & GREEN CHRISTMAS VEGGIE PLATTER

vegan | gluten-free | veggie-packed | 30 minutes or less | winter | holiday

SHOPPING:

• Browse your veggie source for the best red & green options. It’s that simple. With a plan to only buy red and green veggies, you will easily pull off that ultimate Christmas look. A pleasant surprise for the guests!

• Choose three or four different veggies for each color. That’s it. That way, you will have a nice variety without spending too much time and money, you’ll have more room on your platter, it won’t look too cluttered, and you won’t run out of each vegetable too quickly.

• Choose a couple sure-fire veggies like carrots or cucumbers so that kids will eat them, then look for something a little different, like radicchio or fennel. The platter pictured includes radicchio, butter lettuce, red carrots, napa cabbage, red radishes, and zucchini.

• Dips: Again, it’s nice to have a known crowd-pleaser like hummus in addition to something a little different. Here, I’ve used plain hummus with a little adobo sauce stirred in for color and a flavor kick - just a little so it’s not too spicy for kids. You could serve an additional plain hummus on the side just to make sure everyone’s happy. It’s nice to then have something completely different, like Power Greens Guacamole and a cheesy option, like Arugula Pecan Vegan Cheesy Spread. You can throw in some extras as I did, like olives, pickled chard stems, and chopped fennel stalks, which I decorated the cheesy spread with. A few pomegranate seeds add a touch of red. Feel free to add your favorite spreads and garnishes that would contribute to the curated look. Get creative! That’s the fun part.

PREP:

• Chop each vegetable so that they can easily be eaten in a bite or two. Keep the cuts as uniform as possible for ease of use and a prettier platter. If your chosen veggie can be eaten easily without chopping, like the small butter lettuce leaves pictured, then leave them whole and save yourself the prep. Keep veg groups separated once chopped so you can place them as a unit.

• Choose your serving platter. I’ve simply used a dinner plate. This size is great for up to 20 people. (Keep extra veg handy for refilling if necessary.) If serving more people, I recommend using more plates/platters or a larger serving board.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Start with a base layer to support the spread. These veggies are more for garnish than eating, though if someone wants to they can go for it. I’ve used swiss chard here since the colors are so festive and the leaves are nice and big. Kale or collards would work here, too. Remove the stems and any excess so that room is left in the center for the dip.

2. Once you have your base layer, place your centerpiece dip to enhance the wreath shape. The leaves should tuck under the dip without pushing it upward.

3. Now, choose your first group of chopped veggies and arrange the pieces so they point outward. If you have six types of veggies, fill in about ⅙ of the wreath with the first veggie. If you have eight types, fill in ⅛. Place the second veggie group next to the first, covering ⅙th or ⅛th depending on your veg count. Have it contrast the first in some way, whether it’s color or texture. Continue around the plate until it’s filled.

4. Enjoy. Party. Laugh. Love. Be proud. You did it! Wasn’t that easy?

Happy Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! May your days be merry and bright.

I’d love to see your Rustic Red and Green Christmas Veggie Platter creations! Tag @beautifulingredient on Instagram with #beautifulingredient.

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