Garden Vegetable Spread (Printable)

A fresh, creamy spread loaded with garden vegetables and herbs, ready in just 15 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Base

01 - 8 oz (1 cup) cream cheese, softened to room temperature
02 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

→ Vegetables & Herbs

03 - 1 small carrot, finely grated
04 - 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
05 - 1/2 cucumber, seeded and finely diced
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
07 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped

→ Seasonings

09 - 1 clove garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 tsp lemon zest
13 - 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

# Directions:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese and Greek yogurt together until smooth and creamy, using a spatula or spoon.
02 - Add the grated carrot, diced red bell pepper, diced cucumber, sliced spring onions, chopped parsley, chopped chives, and minced garlic to the bowl.
03 - Sprinkle in the salt, black pepper, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
04 - Taste the spread and adjust the salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to suit your preference.
05 - Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and develop.
06 - Transfer to a serving dish and serve chilled with crackers, toasted bread, crisp raw vegetables, or use as a sandwich spread.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • This spread tastes like summer even when your vegetables come from the grocery store in February.
  • Zero cooking means you can throw it together while your guests are literally walking through the door.
  • The lemon zest does something sneaky and bright that makes people ask what your secret is.
02 -
  • Wet vegetables are the enemy of a good spread, so pat the cucumber dry with a paper towel after seeding it.
  • This tastes noticeably better on the second day, making it a perfect make ahead option for parties.
  • If the spread feels too stiff after refrigerating, stir in another spoonful of yogurt to loosen it.
03 -
  • Use the large holes of a box grater for the carrot, then give it a rough chop so no one gets long stringy pieces in their bite.
  • Bringing the cream cheese to full room temperature is the single most important step, everything else is flexible but this is not.

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