The Ultimate Summer Garden Vegetable Hummus Board: A Fresh & Healthy Appetizer
A Summer Garden Vegetable Hummus Board is the best way to highlight those abundant summer garden vegetables before the crisp fall air arrives! This thoughtful combination of raw and roasted vegetables provides a delightful variation in both flavor and texture. It’s truly the best healthy summer snack or a vibrant appetizer for any occasion.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Sabra! As always, all opinions and the recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Cake ‘n Knife!
Even as September approaches, signaling the gentle transition towards autumn, summer’s vibrant spirit is far from over. With sun-drenched days and pleasantly warm evenings, many gardens are still flourishing, overflowing with a magnificent array of colorful vegetables. The season’s bounty is truly a sight to behold, offering endless culinary inspiration.
While I’d love to boast about my own thriving garden, our initial attempts this year faced a few challenges. However, the good news is that local farmers’ markets are brimming with the freshest, most delicious summer produce. These markets are a fantastic resource for sourcing peak-season ingredients, ensuring your dishes are bursting with flavor, even if your green thumb needs a little more practice.
Why a Summer Garden Vegetable Hummus Board is a Must-Try
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Regardless of where your delicious vegetables come from – be it your backyard garden, a bustling farmer’s market, or even your favorite local grocery store – it’s crucial to savor these lingering days of summer in the most delicious way possible. And what better way to do that than with a vibrant homage to summer’s incredible produce?
We’re all familiar with classic charcuterie boards featuring meats and cheeses, or elegant fruit and cheese platters. But for a healthy, refreshing, and incredibly satisfying way to graze during the warmer months, a vegetable hummus board truly steals the spotlight. Just take a moment to admire that explosion of color – it’s absolutely gorgeous!
If you’ve been searching for an effortless and wholesome snacking solution, this “set-it-and-forget-it” style board is an absolute game-changer. It’s perfect for casual entertaining, a light lunch, or simply to have a nutritious option readily available throughout the day. The beauty of a hummus board lies in its simplicity and versatility, making it a go-to for healthy eating.
Curating Your Summer Vegetable Selection
Instead of opting for a pre-made veggie tray from the grocery store, take the opportunity to truly explore your garden or the local farmers’ market. Seek out the freshest, most vibrant summer vegetables available. The key to an outstanding hummus board is maximizing their inherent flavors by serving a strategic mix of both raw and roasted options. This dual approach offers a captivating interplay of tastes and textures that will keep everyone coming back for more.
The Magic of Roasted Vegetables
Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and deepens their flavors, transforming them into tender, caramelized delights. For this particular hummus board, I chose to roast zucchini, yellow squash, and grape tomatoes. The roasting process makes the squash and zucchini wonderfully tender, while the grape tomatoes become concentrated bursts of sweet flavor. These roasted gems are incredibly easy to dip into hummus, providing a warm, savory contrast to the fresh, crisp elements of the board.
To roast these vegetables, simply toss them with a touch of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread them evenly on a baking sheet and roast until they are tender and slightly caramelized. This simple step elevates humble vegetables into something truly special, adding a layer of sophisticated flavor to your board.
The Crispness of Raw Vegetables
Balancing the richness of roasted vegetables with the refreshing crunch of raw ones is essential for a dynamic hummus board. For my board, I included crisp bell peppers (green and orange for a pop of color), cool cucumbers sliced into rounds, and sweet cherry tomatoes. These raw additions provide not only a fantastic flavor contrast but also a crucial textural difference, making each bite an interesting experience. The vibrant colors of raw vegetables also contribute significantly to the visual appeal of the board, making it an inviting centerpiece.
The Perfect Hummus Pairings
To crown this glorious spread of summer vegetables, I opted for two of my absolute favorite Sabra hummus flavors, which provide a rich and creamy base for all the fresh produce. The Roasted Pine Nut Hummus offers a delightful nutty and herbaceous profile. Its subtle richness beautifully complements the crispness of bell peppers and the refreshing coolness of cucumber, creating a harmonious flavor combination.
Meanwhile, the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is incredibly versatile and, in my opinion, pairs perfectly with every single item on this expansive summer board. Its smoky, sweet, and tangy notes enhance both the raw and roasted vegetables, making it a crowd-pleasing choice. Sabra’s wide range of flavors allows for endless experimentation, so feel free to choose varieties that tantalize your taste buds!
Assembling Your Ultimate Summer Hummus Board
Creating a visually stunning and delicious hummus board is simpler than you might think. Start with your chosen board – a large cutting board or platter works perfectly. Place your hummus in small bowls strategically around the board. Then, begin arranging your roasted and raw vegetables, ensuring a good mix of colors and textures in each section. Don’t be afraid to overlap slightly or create small piles for a more abundant look. Add your pita wedges, or other dippers like crackers or crusty bread, to fill in any gaps. A final drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over the hummus, a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro, or even a dash of paprika can elevate the presentation and add extra flavor.
So, go ahead and gather up as much of those incredible summer vegetables as you can. This healthy, vibrant, and utterly delicious Summer Garden Vegetable Hummus Board is the ideal way to celebrate the season’s peak. Before you know it, the weather will be cooling off, and you’ll be saying “so long, farewell” to all your summer favorites until next year. Make the most of these sunny days with this irresistible spread!
If you’re planning other summer gatherings and need more board inspiration, be sure to check out this fantastic summer charcuterie board!
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Essential Tools for Your Hummus Board
This Recipe’s Must Haves
To make the preparation for this vibrant hummus board as smooth as possible, a few key kitchen tools will come in handy. A simple yet sturdy Large Canadian Maple Cutting Board will provide ample space for all your chopping and arrangement needs. Pairing it with one of my favorite knives, the Shun Kanso 7-Inch Hollow-Ground Santoku Knife, will make all the slicing and dicing required for this board incredibly easy and efficient.
For roasting your vegetables to perfection, the Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet Set is an excellent choice. These baking sheets are durable and provide even heat distribution, ensuring your tomatoes, zucchini, and squash roast beautifully every time.
Speaking of roasting, I always, ALWAYS use my Silpat Premium Silicone Baking Mats – even for savory roasting! They are truly indispensable. They work beautifully to prevent sticking, last indefinitely, and help you reduce waste by eliminating the need for parchment paper or aluminum foil. This means you can protect your baking sheets and enjoy easy cleanup without throwing anything away.
Summer Garden Vegetable Hummus Board Recipe
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 medium zucchini cut into sticks (approx. 1/2-inch wide x 2 to 3 inches long)
- 1 medium yellow squash cut into sticks (approx. 1/2-inch wide x 2 to 3 inches long)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 green bell pepper sliced into strips
- 1 orange bell pepper sliced into strips
- 1/2 cup raw cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber cut into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 container Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus
- 1 container Sabra Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- Your favorite pita bread or crackers cut into wedges or served alongside
- Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)
Instructions
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1. Prepare Roasted Vegetables: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
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2. Season Vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the grape tomatoes, zucchini sticks, and yellow squash sticks. Drizzle with olive oil and toss gently to ensure all vegetables are evenly coated.
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3. Roast: Spread the seasoned vegetables in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper (or aluminum foil for easier cleanup). Season generously with salt and pepper to taste.
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4. Bake: Bake for 20 minutes, or until the squash and zucchini are tender when pierced with a fork, and the grape tomatoes are slightly wrinkled but not burst. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
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5. Assemble the Board: On a large cutting board or platter, arrange the cooled roasted vegetables, the fresh raw vegetables (bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices), pita wedges, and the two hummus flavors. You can place the hummus directly on the board or in small serving bowls. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Appetizer, Healthy Snack, Vegetarian