Hanging Gardens Fresh Appetizer (Printable)

A colorful display of fresh veggies, fruits, cheeses, and dips artfully arranged on elevated stands for entertaining.

# What You Need:

→ Fresh Vegetables

01 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
02 - 1 cup baby carrots, trimmed
03 - 1 cup cucumber slices
04 - 1 cup radishes, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup snap peas
06 - 1 cup endive leaves

→ Fruits

07 - 1 cup seedless grapes
08 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved

→ Cheeses

09 - 5.3 oz goat cheese, shaped into small balls
10 - 3.5 oz feta, cubed

→ Dips & Spreads

11 - 1/2 cup hummus
12 - 1/2 cup tzatziki
13 - 1/2 cup pesto

→ Garnishes & Extras

14 - 1/4 cup toasted pistachios, chopped
15 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
16 - 2 tbsp edible flowers (optional)
17 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
18 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
19 - Sea salt, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Wash all vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Trim and slice as specified for each ingredient.
02 - Shape the goat cheese into small balls and cut the feta into cubes.
03 - Position mini-stands and bowls at varying heights on a large platter or board to create visual depth.
04 - Artfully place vegetables, fruits, and cheeses on the stands and in bowls, allowing some overflow for a lush effect.
05 - Fill small bowls with hummus, tzatziki, and pesto, then position them among the arranged ingredients.
06 - Sprinkle toasted pistachios, fresh basil leaves, and edible flowers over the arrangement.
07 - Lightly drizzle the display with olive oil and season with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste.
08 - Present immediately, inviting guests to pick ingredients and dip as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every component is already prepared—no cooking means you can set this up while your guests are arriving, and you're actually enjoying the party instead of stuck in the kitchen.
  • The heights and textures create this mesmerizing visual that makes people feel like they're at something special, even though you're just arranging beautiful ingredients.
  • Everyone finds something they love because you've layered so many flavors and textures that it stops being just an appetizer and becomes a conversation starter.
02 -
  • Prep everything the day before if you can—wash and chop the vegetables, shape the cheeses, make your dips—but don't assemble until an hour or two before guests arrive, or things will start to get tired looking.
  • Those high points on your display will dry out first, so save some of the juicier ingredients like tomatoes and grapes for last-minute placement, and refresh the whole thing with a light misting of water if it's been sitting for a while.
  • If something tips or looks sad, just rearrange it—there's no such thing as a mistake on this platter, just happy accidents that make it look more organic.
03 -
  • Use a shallow bowl of ice water to refresh your vegetables about an hour before guests arrive—it perks them up and brings back any crispness they lost during prep.
  • If you're transporting this somewhere, assemble it on a board or platter that you can keep level during transport, and add the most delicate elements like berries and flowers when you arrive.
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