Game Day Recipe: Veggie Ranch Dip
LISA GRENTZ, MS, RDN, CD/LDN, FAND
Whether enjoying an action-packed football game under the stadium lights surrounded by the crisp chill of fall or cozied up inside at a watch party with friends and family, snacks are an essential part of any game day. Finding the perfect snacks to satisfy everyone can be a challenge, so this month we present some favorite football food ideas that are sure to please any crowd.
No game day is complete without a veggie platter. Try serving this with a homemade veggie ranch dip made with better-for-you ingredients. The Greek yogurt offers a bit of protein while the broccoli, carrot, and spinach offer a boost of fiber and essential nutrients. Incorporating this veggie and dip combo as part of your football feast offers a fresh and crunchy way to balance out all of the other game day snacks.
Not only is this dip great for veggies, but can also be used on salads, as a topping for baked potato, or a dip for chicken wings or pizza crust. This caloric dip is also a nice option for little ones that prefer to lick the dip off their favorite bread, cracker, or veggie, without actually eating the food as each lick offers a bit of nutrition.
Instead of serving a traditional veggie platter with a bowl of dip, a fun alternative is to portion a few tablespoons of dip into 4-ounce clear plastic cups then fill the cups with carrot, celery, cucumber, and bell pepper strips. This allows your guests to take a cup of veggies and dip and reduces potential for double dipping and overall food handling.
Veggie Ranch Dip
Makes: 2+ cups
½ cup broccoli, diced
1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
1 handful fresh spinach
½ cup sour cream
1 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
½ tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried dill
1 tsp. dried chives
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. fine sea salt
¼ tsp. black pepper
Instructions
Add broccoli, carrot, spinach, and sour cream to the blender. Blend for 1-2 minutes, stopping once to scrape down the canister walls. Remove mixture from the blender and scoop into a medium bowl. Add Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and seasonings to the bowl, and whisk to combine.
Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors develop.
Extra dip will stay good in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Simply give a stir before using it.