A fresh and elegant spring crudités basket made with seasonal vegetables, leafy greens, and creamy dips served in hollowed cabbage bowls. Perfect for Easter, brunch, or spring entertaining.
2small pepperscut into strips or left whole if small
1small head cauliflowerbroken into florets
1bunch radisheshalved
2Hollowed-out head of cabbagefor holding the dip
Get Recipe Ingredients
Instructions
Spinach Dip
Mix together the spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, green onions, garlic, and lemon juice until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined. Chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
Prepare Cabbage
Hollow out two cabbage heads. Use a sharp knife to trim the bottom so that the cabbage sits flat. Slice off the top of the cabbage. With a sharp knife, cut a circle into the middle, leaving a sturdy border around the edges. Then, use a spoon to loosen and scrape out the center until you have a bowl shape.
Blanche Asparagus
Bring a skillet or pot of water to a boil and prepare a large bowl of ice water. Blanch the asparagus just until bright green and crisp-tender. Thin asparagus may need only a few seconds. Transfer the asparagus immediately to the ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain well and pat dry.
Assemble the Basket
Line the basket with kale, frisée, or watercress. Nestle in the hollowed cabbage bowls, fill them with dip, and arrange the vegetables around them until the basket looks full and abundant.
Notes
Make ahead: Prep the vegetables and dips up to 1 day in advance. Store separately and assemble just before serving for the freshest presentation.
Blanching tip: Quickly blanching asparagus enhances its color and keeps it crisp-tender, but you can also serve it raw if preferred.
Vegetable swaps: Use what’s in season—snap peas, cucumbers, broccoli, endive, or small peppers all work beautifully.
Serving idea: For a larger gathering, place the basket on a tray and surround it with additional vegetables.
Leftover cabbage: Use the extra cabbage in coleslaw, soups, or stir-fries.