Lemon Butter Dipped Baby Vegetable Crudites Food

LEMON BUTTER-DIPPED BABY-VEGETABLE CRUDITES

Steps:

• Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; season generously with kosher salt. Working in batches, cook green vegetables until just tender and bright green, 2 minutes for asparagus, 3 minutes for Romanesco and peas, and 1 minute for fiddleheads. Transfer to ice-water bath. Drain; pat thoroughly dry.
• Heat 6 tablespoons butter in a small bowl set over a pot of barely simmering water until almost melted but not quite translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in remaining 6 tablespoons butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture is opaque. Whisk in lemon zest.
• Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment. Dip half of each cooked and raw vegetable in butter, letting excess drip off; transfer to baking sheets. Sprinkle with pink salt. (If butter becomes too thick, place over simmering water to gently reheat.) Refrigerate until butter hardens, at least 20 minutes or, loosely covered, up to 2 hours; serve cold.

CRUDITE DIP

Steps:

• Combine the first 9 ingredients; mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. If desired, sprinkle with additional parsley. Serve with vegetables.

BAKED ARTICHOKE DIP WITH WINTER CRUDITES

Steps:

• Remove leaves from 1 artichoke heart; pat dry, and reserve. Thinly slice remaining artichokes; pat dry.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk, and bring to a boil. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne, and simmer until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cheeses.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and cook 3 minutes. Add thyme, garlic, and sliced artichokes, and cook for 3 minutes. Add to cheese mixture along with zest. Transfer to an 8-cup baking dish. Top with reserved artichoke leaves. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
• Bake until golden and bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly. Garnish with thyme leaves. Serve with crudites.

MINTY PEA DIP

Steps:

• Cook peas in salted boiling water until tender, 1 minute. Transfer to an ice-water bath; drain.
• Pulse peas in a food processor with mint, lemon zest and juice, garlic, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and tahini.
• Season with salt and pepper; drizzle with oil.

HERBY FETA & LEMON DIP WITH CRUDITéS

Steps:

• Place the feta in a food processor or blender. Add the lemon juice and half of the olive oil. Purée until smooth, then add the remaining olive oil. Stir in the dill and mint. Pour into a small container with a fitted lid and refrigerate until needed. Pack the veg in a low-level container and serve them from it.

LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, cornstarch, and lemon zest. Stir in water and lemon juice, and continue stirring. After the mixture thickens and bubbles, continue to heat and stir for another two minutes.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the butter. Serve warm.