Making healthy veggie cream cheese at home is actually quite simple. Just use this recipe to create a delicious spread for bagels, crackers or even a delicious dip!
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Homemade Vegetable Cream Cheese
Homemade Vegetable Cream CheeseThe idea of making vegetable cream cheese with real vegetables just seems so delicious. Unlike the cream cheese that you see in supermarkets that contain no vegetables at all, our recipe is full of a variety of veggies. You are going to taste the difference in just one bite.
Luckily, this recipe is quite easy to make. You just customize and store it in the fridge so that you have a tasty spread on hand, anytime you want it!
Ingredients
The name of this recipe essentially speaks for itself as the ingredients are mainly cream cheese and vegetables. To get a little more specific, our recipe has:
- cream cheese
- fresh vegetables
- fresh, salty capers
- herbs
As you can see, not only are the vegetables used in the recipe all fresh, but there is also a great mix of vegetables. All the different veggies that we packed into this spread all add their own unique flavor. Of course, you can choose to mix up your veggie choices a little bit, customizing the recipe to be full of your personal favorite vegetables.
Vegetable Options for Cream Cheese Recipes
While we love this recipe as it is written, you may not be a huge fan of red bell pepper or perhaps you just don’t have any carrots in your kitchen. Try using any of these vegetables instead, substituting the same quantities as you replace a vegetable (for example, if you choose to skip the carrot, replace it with a similar-sized vegetable to keep the veggie to cream cheese ratio the same).
- Use green bell pepper instead of red
- Add fresh onion or a clove of garlic
- Use dill, basil, cilantro, thyme or your favorite fresh herb blend as the herbs in the recipe
- Add red radishes
- Use chives in the mix
When thinking of veggies to use in the cream cheese, try to pick ones that do not contain too much juice and also are tasty when eaten raw. For example, while tomatoes may sound like a good option, they will add too much liquid to the cream cheese, making it watery and possibly cause the mix to separate.
How to Make Veggie Cream Cheese
Making fresh, homemade cream cheese with vegetables could not be any easier. All you need are your ingredients, a food processor and about 5 minutes of prep time.
- Place all the fresh veggies in a food processor and pulse until very finely chopped, almost pureed.
- Add the remaining ingredients (cream cheese, herbs and salt and pepper) and pulse to blend together well
- Serve cold
If you are wondering how long it will last, the answer is simple. Once you have made the cream cheese, store it in an airtight container for about 3-4 days.
While the cream cheese actually keeps for about a week, the fresh veggies may start to brown, causing the spread to be an unappetizing color. We recommend eating it fresh within a day or two!
What’s Good with Cream Cheese?
Well, it compliments so many different types of food which is another reason why I love this recipe- it’s pure versatility. So to begin with, it is perfect on any kind of bagel.
This is actually how I use most of my spread, by toasting a bagel in a long slot toaster every morning, layering it with the cream cheese and eating it in the car on my way to work. Its a great way to get some nutrition into my morning routine with little effort and pairs wonderfully with my morning cup of Kona coffee.
You can simply spread the cream cheese on sliced bread or toast. You can also use it in place of mayo on a sandwich or put a dollop on a cracker as a snack.
This recipe is also perfect to use as a veggie dip. You can slice up a few extra carrots, celery sticks and bell peppers while you are making the cream cheese and then serve them along side the dip. It’s great for a nice, easy, beautiful passed hors d’voures.
Keep all of these options in mind when you have some extra cream cheese on hand and are wondering how to use it up.
Delicious Cream Cheese Recipes
I love any recipe that takes less than 5 minutes of prep time and is also extremely versatile. If you love the cream cheese that you find in gourmet delis, then you have to give this simple recipe a try right away.
Get out your vegetables, grab your food processor or mixer, and get ready to enjoy and share a delicious new spread.
Perfect for a sandwich, ideal as a dip and a beautiful option for a brunch buffet along with some sliced vegetables, the uses for this recipe are endless! We hope you enjoy it.
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Cream Cheese with Veggies
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Description
A perfect topping for any bread, bagel or muffin. You will love this simple, fresh spread!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cream cheese
- 1 large carrot, peeled
- 1 stick celery
- 1/2 red pepper
- 1 tbs capers
- 2 tbs herbs (I use parsley and chives)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place all the veggies in the food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add the cream cheese, herbs, and salt and pepper and blend until smooth.
Notes
- If you make the cream cheese in advance, place it back in a stand mixer and beat on high before serving it. This will make the cream cheese fluffy and soft again.
- Make sure the veggies are very finely chopped before adding the remaining ingredients to the food processor. Large pieces of vegetables make the mix harder to spread on a sandwich or cracker later on.
- Opt for a low fat cream cheese to make this recipe even more healthy. It will still be just as flavorful and creamy!
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