Chicken Run Veggie Tray (Printable Version)

Fresh vegetable sticks served with a smooth ranch hummus dip on a vibrant platter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 cup baby carrots
02 - 1 cup cucumber sticks
03 - 1 cup red bell pepper strips
04 - 1 cup yellow bell pepper strips
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes
06 - 1 cup sugar snap peas
07 - 1/2 cup black olives, pitted

→ Ranch Hummus Dip

08 - 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
09 - 1/4 cup tahini
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
12 - 1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced
13 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
15 - 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
17 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
18 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
19 - 2 to 4 tablespoons cold water

# How to Make It:

01 - Wash all vegetables thoroughly under cold running water. Cut vegetables into sticks or strips and arrange on a large serving platter in decorative patterns resembling chickens or playful shapes. Use black olives to create eyes and additional decorative elements as desired.
02 - Add chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, onion powder, dill, parsley, chives, salt, and black pepper to a food processor. Process until smooth, gradually adding cold water one tablespoon at a time until the mixture reaches a creamy, dippable consistency.
03 - Transfer the prepared hummus to a serving bowl and position it in the center of the vegetable arrangement.
04 - Serve the platter immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Kids actually eat vegetables when they're part of a playful story instead of just sitting on a plate.
  • The ranch hummus tastes herbaceous and creamy, nothing like store-bought dip, and you control exactly how much garlic goes in.
  • It comes together in 25 minutes with zero cooking, so you can pull it together while kids are watching the movie.
  • One bowl feeds a crowd and looks impressive without requiring any fancy technique.
02 -
  • If your hummus breaks or gets grainy, you either added cold water too quickly or your food processor got overheated, so start fresh with a new batch and add water gradually while blending on the lowest speed.
  • The hummus will thicken as it cools and sits, so make it slightly looser than you think it should be and it'll be perfect by serving time.
03 -
  • Pat your prepared vegetables dry and store them in the fridge on paper towels before arranging so they stay crisp through the whole party instead of wilting partway through.
  • Make your hummus slightly thinner than you think it needs to be because it firms up as it chills, and consistency matters more than seasoning for how good it tastes to dip into.
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