Harvest Platter

Here’s an idea for your next gathering with family and friends, create a harvest board filled with fresh vegetables, nuts and fruit and serve it with a White Bean Dip and Homemade Ranch Dressing.

White Bean Dip

  • 1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper

Directions

  • Place the beans, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and parsley in the bowl of the food processor and pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Transfer puree to a small bowl.

Servings (per recipe): 6 ½ cups
Nutritional (per serving): Total Fat: 11.9 g, Cholesterol: 0.0 mg, Sodium: 353.7 mg, Total Carbs: 12.0 g, Dietary Fiber: 3.7 g, Protein: 4.2 g

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

  • 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon dried chives
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground pepper

Directions

  • In a small bowl, mix all spices together.
  • Measure one and a half teaspoons of mixed spices and whisk into yogurt.
  • Transfer dressing to a small bowl.

Servings (per recipe): 6, (per serving): 1 tablespoon
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 31.7, Total Fat: 0.8 g, Cholesterol: 5.8 mg, Sodium: 120.6 mg, Total Carbs: 2.4 g, Dietary Fiber: 0.1 g, Protein: 3.7 g

Arrange the Harvest Board

  • Start at the center with red grapes.
  • Place the bowls filled with the White Bean Dip and the Homemade Ranch Dressing on the board.
  • Add pickled beets stuffed in a bell pepper.
  • Add pitted olives
  • Add handfuls of:
    • Cauliflower florets
    • Broccoli florets
    • Mini sweet peppers
    • A seeded pomegranate in a half pomegranate
    • Whole radishes
    • Rainbow mini carrots
    • Sliced pears
    • Sliced apples
    • Cherry tomatoes
    • Roasted cashews
    • Walnuts
    • Almonds
    • Pecans
    • Low-fat cheddar cheese slices
    • Very dark chocolate squares
    • Chocolate covered almonds
  • Add a few sprigs of parsley, rosemary or any additional herbs like thyme or oregano to finish.

Find more recipes and healthy eating tips in the Cooking Up Health section of D-H Health and Wellness News.

Dip and dressing recipes provided by Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Culinary Medicine Program.

Harvest platter and video produced by Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Creative Video Productions team.