Garden Vegetable Spread (Print version)
Creamy, fresh spread packed with garden vegetables, herbs, and a bright lemon kick. Ready in minutes.
# What goes in:
→ Base
01 - 8 oz 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 chopped
05 - 1/2 cucumber, seeded and finely chopped
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 clove garlic, minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
13 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
# Cooking steps:
01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and Greek yogurt. Stir vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth and free of lumps.
02 - Add the grated carrot, chopped bell pepper, cucumber, spring onions, parsley, chives, and minced garlic to the bowl.
03 - Sprinkle in the salt, black pepper, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Fold all ingredients together until evenly distributed throughout the spread.
04 - Taste the spread and add additional salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed to balance the flavors.
05 - Transfer the spread to a serving dish, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
06 - Serve chilled alongside crackers, crusty bread, toasted baguette slices, or use as a spread for sandwiches and wraps.
# Tips from flavorandfeast:
01 -
- It takes 15 minutes flat and uses nothing cooked, so your kitchen stays cool even on the hottest summer day.
- The cream cheese and yogurt base is rich enough to feel indulgent but light enough that you will want to eat the whole bowl.
02 -
- If you skip the chilling step, the spread will taste flat because the flavors genuinely need time to marry and develop.
- Patting the grated carrot and chopped cucumber dry with a paper towel prevents the spread from weeping liquid after a day in the fridge.
03 -
- Soften the cream cheese fully before mixing or you will chase lumps around the bowl forever and never get that silky texture.
- A microplane grater for the carrot and lemon zest gives you the finest texture, which makes every bite perfectly balanced.