Simple Piped Crudites Recipes

CRUDITE DIP

Steps:

• Combine the first 9 ingredients; mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. If desired, sprinkle with additional parsley. Serve with vegetables.

SIMPLE PIPED CRUDITES

Steps:

• Separate celery stalks, and wash thoroughly. Using a vegetable peeler, peel away any tough, stringy fibers from the outside of each stalk. Cut each stalk into 4-inch-long pieces; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt. Snip the tips off each pea pod, and place in boiling water. Blanch for 15 seconds. Drain, and immediately rinse under cold water.
• Slice radishes into 1/8-inch-thick rounds; set aside. Working with a channel knife, cut about 6 parallel, evenly spaced grooves down the length of the cucumber. Slice cucumber crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds; set aside. Using the channel knife, slice about 8 parallel evenly spaced grooves down length of daikon. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and set aside.
• Slice the carrots in half lengthwise and set aside. Just before piping, separate endive, and trim ends.
• Arrange vegetables on large platters. Spoon the cream cheese into a pastry bag fitted with a pastry tip or a freezer bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe cream cheese onto each vegetable. Garnish with chives and mint leaves.

BLANCHED CRUDITES

Steps:

• Prepare a large pot of boiling salted water, and fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Remove the tough bottoms of the asparagus stalks. If they are thick, peel the stems half-way up the stalk.
• Add the carrots to the pot of boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Immediately remove the carrots with a slotted spoon and plunge them in the bowl of ice water. Drain the carrots when fully cooled.
• Add the asparagus to the boiling water and blanch for 1 minute. Immediately remove the asparagus with a slotted spoon and plunge them into the reserved bowl of ice water. Drain the asparagus when fully cooled.
• Slice the radicchio into wedges.
• Arrange the carrots, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and radicchio on a platter and serve with the Herb Dip.
• Place the cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions, parsley, dill, salt, and pepper in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and blend. Serve at room temperature.

CRUDITES WITH BALSAMIC DIP

Steps:

• Puree all balsamic dip ingredients in a blender for 30 seconds. Serve in a bowl alongside veggies.

FLAVORED CREAM CHEESES

Steps:

• Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl, and mix until thoroughly incorporated. The cream cheeses will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
• For the Carrot Cardamom Cream Cheese: Place carrot juice and cardamom in a small saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the juice and discard the cardamom pods. Let juice cool. Add half of the carrot juice to the cream cheese (reserve the rest for another use) and mix well. Add salt to taste.

SCOTT PEACOCK'S QUICK-PICKLED CRUDITES

Steps:

• In a nonreactive bowl, stir together vinegar, 1/2 cup hot water, sugar, and 2 teaspoons salt until salt and sugar have dissolved. Pack vegetables into a nonreactive container, such as a canning jar.
• Pour vinegar mixture over vegetables. Let cool completely, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 week. Drain and serve.