Mixed Bean Crudite With Cucumber Ranch Dressing Food

SUMMER CHOPPED SALAD WITH RANCH DRESSING

Steps:

• For the ranch dressing: Smash the garlic clove, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and, with the side of a large knife, mash and smear the mixture to a coarse paste. Scrape the paste into a small bowl. Add the mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, chives, parsley and scallions and whisk well to make a creamy dressing. Use immediately or refrigerate in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days. (Makes about 1 1/3 cups.)
• For the salad: Put the potatoes in a small saucepan with enough cold water to cover and season with salt. Bring to a boil and then simmer, uncovered, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain and put in a large bowl.
• Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil and salt it generously. Fill a medium bowl with ice water and salt it as well. Add the corn, beans and broccoli to the boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or strainer to scoop out the vegetables and plunge them immediately into the ice water. Drain the vegetables, pat them dry and add to the bowl of potatoes along with the tomatoes and cucumber. Toss the salad with 1/2 cup of the dressing. Taste, and add more salt and pepper if desired. (The salad may be prepared up to this point 2 hours ahead and refrigerated.)
• When ready to serve, toss the salad with the greens and the sprouts if desired, and with a bit more dressing if you like your salad on the well-dressed side. Pass the remaining dressing at the table.

MIXED-BEAN CRUDITE WITH CUCUMBER RANCH DRESSING

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil. Add about a teaspoon of salt.
• Snap off the ends of all the beans, leaving the tail on if desired
• Cook beans and peas in separate batches, starting with the snow peas and ending with the haricots verts, just until color is brightened and they are crisp-tender. They should bend without snapping but not be at all limp, 30 to 60 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge into an ice-water bath.
• Once beans have cooled completely, drain in a colander, shaking to remove as much excess water as possible. Spread them on a clean kitchen towel and gently pat away remaining moisture. Loosely wrap vegetables in the towel and chill for up to 2 hours.
• To make dressing: Grate cucumber on the large holes of a box grater.
• In medium bowl, mix together cucumber shallot, sour cream, buttermilk, and mayonnaise. Add fresh lemon juice, salt, parsley, chives, and cayenne pepper. Season with more salt and cayenne, if desired.
• Arrange vegetables on a platter and serve with dressing for dipping.

CUCUMBER RANCH DRESSING

Steps:

• Stir together cucumber, shallot, sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, cayenne, parsley, and chives in a medium bowl. Season with additional salt and cayenne, if desired.

SPRING PESTO DIP

Steps:

• Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, and pesto in a small bowl; season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Serve with blanched green beans, sugar snap peas, and other crisp crudites, such as thinly sliced raw fennel, cucumbers, and radishes. Dip can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 3 days.

RANCH DRESSING

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk, sour cream, and vinegar; stir in garlic and scallion. Season with salt and pepper.

WHITE BEAN SPREAD WITH CRUDITE

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the olive oil, garlic and rosemary. Steep the flavors over medium heat until the garlic begins to darken. About 8 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the beans, unstrained infused olive oil, salt and pepper and process until smooth. Taste for seasoning and adjust. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve with crudite.

MARINATED MIXED BEANS

Steps:

• Combine shallot and vinegar in a small bowl and let sit 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix herbs and oil in a large bowl to coat herbs. Add beans and red pepper and toss to combine. Season generously with salt.
• Add shallot mixture to bean mixture and toss gently to combine.
• Do Ahead
• Beans can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.

WINTER CRUDITES WITH BUTTERMILK DIP

Steps:

• Combine buttermilk, creme fraiche, dill, lemon zest and juice, and cayenne in a bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day. Stir until smooth before serving.
• Arrange crudites in glasses (or on a platter), and serve, with dip.