Hanging Gardens Fresh Medley (Printable)

A colorful mix of fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and dips elegantly arranged on tiered stands.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fresh Vegetables

01 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
02 - 1 cup baby carrots, trimmed
03 - 1 cup cucumber slices
04 - 1 cup radishes, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup snap peas
06 - 1 cup endive leaves

→ Fruits

07 - 1 cup seedless grapes
08 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved

→ Cheeses

09 - 5.3 oz goat cheese, shaped into small balls
10 - 3.5 oz feta, cubed

→ Dips & Spreads

11 - 1/2 cup hummus
12 - 1/2 cup tzatziki
13 - 1/2 cup pesto

→ Garnishes & Extras

14 - 1/4 cup toasted pistachios, chopped
15 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
16 - 2 tbsp edible flowers (optional)
17 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
18 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
19 - Sea salt, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Wash all vegetables and fruits thoroughly, trim where necessary, and slice as specified.
02 - Shape the goat cheese into small balls and cube the feta cheese.
03 - Arrange mini-stands and serving bowls at varying heights on a large platter or board.
04 - Distribute the prepared vegetables, fruits, and cheeses across the stands and bowls, allowing for a lush, overflowing presentation.
05 - Place hummus, tzatziki, and pesto in small bowls and position them among the arranged ingredients.
06 - Sprinkle toasted pistachios, fresh basil leaves, and edible flowers evenly over the display.
07 - Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the arrangement and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
08 - Present immediately, allowing guests to pick and dip according to their preference.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks impossibly fancy but takes just 25 minutes and requires zero cooking skills.
  • Your guests will talk about the presentation long after the last grape is gone.
  • You can swap in whatever's fresh at the market, so it's never boring.
02 -
  • Prep your vegetables several hours ahead, but assemble the final display no more than 30 minutes before serving—otherwise lettuce wilts and cheese sweats.
  • Use real mini-stands, tiered trays, or even small glasses and bowls turned upside down under a cloth; height variation is what makes this look intentional rather than thrown together.
  • Everything tastes better when it's been handled gently and arranged like it's worth the effort—because it is.
03 -
  • Assemble this on the day of, but keep everything in the fridge until 10 minutes before serving—cold vegetables stay crisp longer and taste fresher.
  • Use odd numbers when arranging (three tomatoes instead of four, five endive leaves instead of six) because our brains find asymmetry more interesting than symmetry.
  • If something wilts during your party, quietly remove it and replace it—nobody notices, and your board stays gorgeous.
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