QUICK! You need an appetizer to take to the party. But what can you make that will be fast to fix, yet healthy, beautiful, and tasty? Here’s where this Mediterranean Dip comes in. Garlic hummus is spread on a plate, then sprinkled with all your favorite Mediterranean toppings. Add some grilled pita wedges, sliced cucumbers, or the fastest option of all- a bag of pita chips, and you’re all ready to go! You’ll be the hit of the party!
HERE’S HOW YOU MAKE IT:
STEP ONE:
Divide a carton of garlic hummus evenly between two salad plates. Spread hummus almost to the edges of the plates using the back of a spoon.
STEP TWO:
Dice the toppings.
(Use a combination of red pepper, green pepper, english cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, fresh tomato or oil-free sun-dried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, fresh parsley and a large basil leaf for garnish.)
STEP THREE:
Sprinkle the toppings evenly over the two plates of hummus. Set a large basil leaf (or a parsley floret) in the center of each plate for garnish.
Place each salad plate on top of a larger dinner plate (The larger plate will hold the chips, cucumber slices, or pita wedges.)
STEP FOUR:
Select flatbread or pita chips, or cucumber slices (sliced on the diagonal.) or make one plate of each. (Flatbread has less fat. Pita CHIPS have the most fat, but are the quicker option if you are short on time) Or choose a FAT FREE and GLUTEN FREE OPTION by using SLICED CUCUMBERS as the “chips.” Brilliant!
STEP FIVE:
If using FLATBREAD, cut it into wedges using a pizza cutter. (OPTIONAL: If desired, grill each flatbread round in a hot panini press for 1 minute prior to cutting, to create attractive GRILL MARKS. Grilling the flatbread will crisp it slightly, but it will still be soft and flexible.)
If using Pita CHIPS, simply lay the chips all around the edges of the outer plate. (Now how quick and easy is THAT?)
For the cucumber option, slice English cucumbers on the diagonal and arrange the slices on the outer plate surrounding the dip plate.
STEP SIX:
Your Mediterranean Dip is now ready to serve! Just use the chips, flatbread wedges, or cucumber slices to scoop the dip from the plate, and into your mouth! YUM!!!
Mediterranean Dip
Ingredients
- 1 7 oz. carton of garlic hummus (or use 1 cup of your own oil-free homemade recipe.)
- 1/4 green pepper, diced
- 1 red tomato, seeded and diced (or 1/4 cup oil-free sun-dried tomatoes, diced.)
- 1/4 english cucumber, seeded and diced
- 1/4 purple onion, diced
- 10 pitted Kalamata purple olives, quartered lengthwise into slivers.
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
- basil leaves for garnish or use parsley florets
- Your choice of various chips for scooping: Choose from pita chips, plain or grilled flatbread wedges, cucumber slices, or a combination of all of them.
Directions
- Divide the carton of garlic hummus between two salad plates, and spread it out in an even layer with the back of a spoon, until it is within 1/4 inch of the edge of the plates.
- Dice the green pepper, seeded tomato or sun-dried tomato, red onion, English cucumber, fresh parsley and Kalamata olives. Dry toast the pine nuts in a skillet on medium heat, stirring constantly, until just lightly browned. (if not already toasted)
- Divide toppings evenly over the two hummus spread salad plates, sprinkling evenly. Set a large basil leaf (or a parsley floret) in the center of each plate for garnish.
- Select flatbread or pita chips, or make one plate of each. (Flatbread has less fat. Pita CHIPS have the most fat, but are a quick option if you are short on time.)
Or choose a FAT FREE and GLUTEN FREE OPTION by using SLICED CUCUMBERS as the “chips.” Brilliant! - If using FLATBREAD, cut it into wedges using a pizza cutter. (OPTIONAL: If desired, grill each flatbread round in a hot panini press for 1 minute prior to cutting, to create attractive GRILL MARKS.) If using Pita CHIPS, simply lay the chips all around the edges of the outer plate. If using cucumber slices as chips, slice English cucumbers on the diagonal into 1/4 inch thick slices, then arrange slices attractively around the outer edges of the large dinner plate.
- Your Mediterranean Dip is now ready to serve! Just use the chips, flatbread wedges, or cucumber slices to scoop the dip from the plate, and into your mouth! YUM!!!
- If not serving right away, cover the smaller hummus plates with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve. (up to 1 day ahead) When ready to serve, place smaller salad plate on top of larger dinner plate, and place your choice of chips, wedges, or cucumber slices around the outer edges of the large dinner plate. Cover and refrigerate leftovers.
Find this recipe and more great plant-based recipes at http://www.LittleBluePlates.com
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