Vegetable Sticks Recipes

BASIC VEGETABLE STOCK

Steps:

• Chop scrubbed vegetables into 1-inch chunks. Remember, the greater the surface area, the more quickly vegetables will yield their flavor.
• Heat oil in a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, scallions, garlic, parsley, thyme, and bay leaves. Cook over high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add salt and water and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Strain. Discard vegetables.
• Other ingredients to consider: mushrooms, eggplant, asparagus (butt ends), corn cobs, fennel (stalks and trimmings), bell peppers, pea pods, chard (stems and leaves), celery root parings, marjoram (stems and leaves), basil, potato parings . . . Get the idea?

VEGETABLE SPIRAL STICKS

Steps:

• Cut carrots lengthwise into quarters. In a large skillet, bring 2 in. of water to a boil. Add carrots; cook for 3 minutes. Add asparagus; cook 2-3 minutes longer. Drain and rinse with cold water; pat dry., Cut each piece of breadstick dough in half. Roll each piece into a 7-in. rope. Wrap one rope in a spiral around each vegetable. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray; tuck ends of dough under vegetables to secure. , Brush with egg white. Combine cheese and oregano; sprinkle over sticks. Bake at 375° for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

GRILLED VEGGIE SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak skewers in water for 10 to 20 minutes.
• Preheat grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate. Alternately thread zucchini slices, yellow squash slices, mushrooms, onion, tomatoes, pineapple, and bell pepper onto the skewers.
• Whisk olive oil, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; brush mixture over vegetables.
• Cook skewers on preheated grill until vegetables are tender, turning and basting vegetables with olive oil mixture occasionally, 10 to 15 minutes.

BAKED VEGETABLE STICKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.
• Cut the vegetables in half lengthwise and then cut each section in half crosswise.
• Cut the quaters into long strips 1/4 inch thick.
• Toss the vegetables with the olive oil.
• Mix all ofthe dry ingredients in a large bowl.
• Add a handfull of vegetables to the breadcumbs and coat with crumbs.
• Lightly shake off any excess crumbs and place the vegetables in a single layer on the cookie sheet.
• Repeat until all of the vegetables are done.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Turn the vegetables over and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes.
• Coating should be crisp and vegetables tender.

VEGGIE STICKS AND PESTO DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut and arrange veggie sticks on platter. If you want to cut down on chopping, many veggies can be store bought already cleaned and cut for dipping.
• In a food processor, combine basil, parsley, garlic, lemon zest and juice and grind into a paste. Add nuts and cheese and grind again to combine them into the paste. Pulse in the olive oil until it is combined. Transfer to a small dish and season the sauce with salt and pepper, to your taste. Set dipping bowl on veggie platter and serve.

VEGETABLE QUICK STICKS

Steps:

• To make any of these flavored quick sticks, add the juice and listed amount of water in place of the 1/2 to 3/4 cup of water in step 1 of Classic Quick Breadsticks and proceed with the recipe.
• Combine carrot juice with 1/4 cup cold water.
• Dissolve tomato paste in 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water.
• Combine beet juice with 1/2 cup cold water.