5 Spring Vegetable Dip Ideas for a Healthy, Flavorful Snack
By Maureen Wise in Healthy Feeling
Springtime is around the corner, and your garden is certainly ready. Do you have a plan for the plethora of produce you’ll be picking?
Be ready with the perfect snack: spring vegetable dip! To keep your snacking healthy this spring, experiment with these five dip recipes for your veggies:
Not So Traditional Ranch
Ranch dressing. It’s so yummy but, unfortunately, not so good for you.
Used in moderation, ranch is amazing as a dressing for your spring salad greens or a dip for your spring carrots, snow peas, and radishes (as well as green peppers and cucumbers later in the season). For some inspiration to eat healthier, and the motivation to do it, check out this yogurt-based ranch recipe. Yogurt keeps the calorie intake so much lower than buttermilk, so you can feel good about drenching your greens in this treat.
Green Hummus
This green hummus recipe is loved by many—and for good reason. Spinach, another spring veggie, gives it the green tint and adds great flavor. This recipe offers suggestions to match the green hummus with green peppers and celery (although not spring vegetables), but you can also try it with asparagus, broccoli, and carrots.
Vegan White Bean Artichoke Dip
Artichokes are a vegetable most people can’t figure out what to do with other than use in a dip. They come up in the spring, so they pair well with your newly-grown carrots, snow pea pods, and other spring vegetables. Go with this white bean and artichoke dip if you’re looking for some tasty gluten-free, vegan fare.
Guacamole
Oh, how delicious guacamole is! Rightfully, it’s a favorite food of many. The best part of guacamole is that vegetables are already in the recipe—and any solid recipe contains only about six ingredients.
While your first instinct might be tortilla chips, guac is also a great dip for veggies. Try it with homemade potato or kale chips, tomatoes, or crunchy cucumbers. Consider this simple recipe that includes hot sauce for an extra kick of flavor. You can also add pine nuts, pomegranate seeds, black beans, or cheese for a twist on this classic.
Moroccan Carrot Dip
A change in seasons is the time to try something different. While you may have never had a vegetable dip made from carrots before, this vegan Moroccan carrot dip sounds fabulous. Not only is it easy to pull together, but it would also be great on a sandwich with your salad greens, or as a dip for your spring-grown snow peas and broccoli.
Remember that not every veggie mentioned here may be in-season in your climate, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying the dips with any vegetable you can get your hands on! What are you growing in your garden, and what will you do with all the produce? What’s your favorite spring vegetable dip? Let us know about the recipes you love—and what you do with your artichokes beyond making dips—on Twitter!
Image sources: Pixabay | Pixabay | Wikimedia Commons
This article was brought to you by Tom’s of Maine. The views and opinions expressed by the author do not reflect the position of Tom’s of Maine.
Why It’s Good
By eating what's in-season, your food is closer to home—cutting down on transportation energy costs and helping you celebrate the season. Including veggies as a snack is a great way to stay healthy, and adding flavorful dips makes boring vegetables more enticing for everyone (especially your children).