Garden Vegetable Spread (Printer-Friendly)

Light, flavorful vegetable and cream cheese spread ideal for sandwiches, crackers, or dipping

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
02 - 1/2 cup finely diced cucumber, seeds removed
03 - 1/3 cup finely chopped carrots
04 - 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
05 - 1/4 cup finely chopped celery

→ Dairy

06 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
07 - 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

→ Seasonings & Herbs

08 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
09 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
10 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
11 - 1/4 tsp salt, or to taste
12 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional

13 - 1 tsp lemon juice

# How to Make It:

01 - In a mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese with Greek yogurt or sour cream until smooth and creamy.
02 - Add the red bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, green onions, celery, parsley, and dill. Fold gently until evenly distributed.
03 - Stir in garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice if using. Mix until all seasonings are fully incorporated.
04 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to suit your preference.
05 - Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Serve chilled alongside crackers, fresh bread, crudités, or use as a sandwich spread.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes with zero cooking, which means your kitchen stays cool and you stay happy.
  • The crunch of fresh vegetables against the creamy cheese base is the kind of texture contrast that makes people go back for a third spoonful.
02 -
  • If you rush and use cold cream cheese you will end up with lumps that no amount of stirring can fix, so plan ahead.
  • Salt the cucumber pieces lightly and pat them dry before adding them to prevent the spread from weeping liquid overnight.
03 -
  • Use a potato masher for the cream cheese base if you do not feel like waiting for it to fully soften, because it breaks down cold lumps faster than any spatula.
  • Double the dill if you are serving this alongside smoked fish or anything with salmon, because the pairing is genuinely magical.

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