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Crudités Platter with Roasted Red Pepper Dip

By Andria Dilling, Staff writer | July 26, 2024

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Heading into the opening weekend of the 2024 Summer Olympics, and if we can’t be in Paris, we can snack as if we are!

The simplest, quickest way I can think to make that happen is to serve a pretty platter of crudités. Choose the summer-fresh veggies you like best, cut them into sticks and slices, arrange, and there you have it – a snack plate that will always be eaten. You can buy hummus or ranch dressing to serve alongside, always fan faves. Or if you have a bit more get-up-and-go you can make the Roasted Red Pepper Dip from The Junior League of Houston’s classic Stop and Smell the Rosemary. It’s one of my family’s all-time winners, and it’s a dip that invariably prompts recipe requests. Fresh, creamy, spicy – Roasted Red Pepper Dip is all the yummy things. Perfect for Opening Ceremony viewing Friday night.

Vive la Team USA!

Assemble a pretty platter of crudités with a variety of fresh veggies and dips, such as the Roasted Red Pepper Dip from The Junior League of Houston’s classic Stop and Smell the Rosemary.

Crudité Platter

Assorted vegetables, such as celery, carrots, jicama, radishes, red and yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, haricot vert, and sugar snap peas

Slice the veggies into sticks and rounds – whatever shapes you like. Arrange on a platter and serve with a bowl of Roasted Red Pepper Dip or another dip of your choice.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip
From Stop and Smell the Rosemary

4-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained
4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and patted dry
2 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 to 2 pickled jalapeños, coarsely chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 bunch green onions, white part only, coarsely chopped
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ teaspoon salt

Press the peppers between paper towels to remove the excess liquid. Otherwise, the dip will be too runny.

Process the peppers, tomatoes, garlic, cumin, 1 jalapeño, cilantro, green onions, cream cheese, and salt in a food processor until smooth. Correct seasonings, adding more jalapeño if desired.