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There is room for something fresh between the cookies and the cocoa. A vegetable tree makes the ordinary platter feel playful, and it is easy to take apart when someone reaches for the biggest cucumber branch.
An original assembly plan for roughly six adults as part of a larger spread. Quantities and preparation time—about 20 minutes—are estimates, not a tested serving guarantee.
Start with these quantities
- About 3 cups small broccoli florets
- 1 medium cucumber, sliced into half-moons
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper, with a broad flat piece reserved for the star
- 12 cherry tomatoes, or the same amount cut to suit your guests
- 1 carrot, cut into short sticks for the trunk
- About 1 cup prepared hummus
- Optional: a small separate bowl of crackers
Wash produce under running water and use clean tools. Choose pieces and textures suitable for your guests. Raw firm vegetables, whole cherry tomatoes and some crackers are unsuitable for young children or people who need modified textures. Hummus often contains sesame; check its label and the crackers’ ingredients.
Build the shape
- Choose a clean platter large enough for a broad triangle. Put the hummus in a separate small bowl, so it does not soak the vegetables.
- Arrange the broccoli in a loose triangle, narrow at the top and broad at the bottom. Tuck cucumber half-moons into the rows as branches.
- Lay red pepper strips in short diagonal lines across the tree. Add the tomatoes as ornaments, spacing them where they will not roll off.
- Cut a simple star from the reserved yellow pepper with a clean knife or suitable food cutter. It can be wonky. Put it at the top and use the carrot sticks as a trunk.
- Place the remaining yellow pepper pieces beside the tree or offer them in another bowl. Set out serving tongs and a spoon for the hummus.
Pretty does not need to be wasteful
Keep pepper offcuts for another meal under appropriate storage conditions. Use the broad triangle as a suggestion rather than trimming every vegetable to a matching size. A platter with different shades of green is part of the charm.
Prepare ahead without building too early
You can wash, dry and prepare suitable vegetables ahead, then keep them covered and refrigerated. Build the platter near serving time so the cucumber stays appealing. Keep the hummus chilled according to its package, and put out a modest portion rather than the whole container at once.
Follow FDA guidance for cold perishables: hold at 40°F or below, or track time at room temperature. Discard perishables after more than two hours without temperature control, or one hour above 90°F. Replace serving dishes with fresh chilled portions instead of topping up an old dish.
Pair it with one warm thing
Try Christmas pizza muffins for lunch or cranberry-brie bites for a party. An ordinary platter and serving tongs are enough; the vegetables are doing the decorating.