Spring Pea Guacamole With Cucumber Crudites Recipes

TZATZIKI WITH CRUDITES

Steps:

• Line a layer of VIVA® towels inside a fine mesh strainer and place the strainer in a bowl. Pour the yogurt into the strainer, cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight to drain. The yogurt should reduce in volume by half and will have a very thick consistency.
• Place the yogurt, cucumber, mint, garlic, hot sauce, lemon juice and zest in a food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving on a crudites platter.
• When serving the Tzatziki Sauce on a platter with crudites: Fold and dampen a VIVA® towel and place it underneath the bowl you are serving the Tzatziki Sauce on the platter. This will prevent the bowl from sliding around.

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.

GUACAMOLE

Steps:

• Steam spinach until wilted. Remove from heat and squeeze out excess water. Briefly steam peas and rinse under cold water to retain green color.
• In blender container, combine spinach, peas, tofu, lemon juice, seasonings and avocado and process until smooth. Fold in remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Makes 8 servings (2 Tbs. per serving), each containing approximately: 30 calories, 3 gm. carbohydrate, 2 gm. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 1 gm. protein, 131 mg. sodium, 1 gm. fiber

HERBED GOAT CHEESE SAUCE FOR CRUDITES

Steps:

• Put the milk with the rosemary in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, remove the saucepan from the heat, cover and set aside to infuse, until cold. In a bowl, beat the cheese to soften. When the milk is cool, strain it and gradually whisk it into the cheese. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, to taste and pepper. Taste, and add salt, if needed. Serve with beautifully cut raw vegetables for dipping.