Vibrant Garden Medley
A delightful and colorful ensemble of marinated vegetables, perfect for enhancing any occasion, from festive family gatherings to casual potlucks. Served in an elegant dish, this vibrant medley becomes a centerpiece that delights both the eyes and the palate. The blend of fresh crunch and savory marination ensures there won't be a single bite left.
25
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
cauliflower
1 (head, broken into florets)
broccoli
1 (bunch, including stems, cut into pieces)
celery
3 stalks (sliced)
carrots
6 (medium, cut into strips)
cherry tomatoes
1.5 cups (or basket, halved)
green onions
5 (chopped)
whole mushrooms
10 oz (canned, drained)
pitted black olives
14 oz (canned, drained)
miniature corn cobs
14 oz (canned, drained)
water chestnuts
8 oz (canned, drained)
green pepper
1 (cut into bite-sized pieces)
Italian dressing
8 oz (bottle, such as Kraft)
Instructions
1
Clean and prepare all vegetables: break the cauliflower into florets, cut broccoli into similar-sized pieces including stems, slice celery and carrots into strips, halve cherry tomatoes, and chop green onions and green pepper into bite-sized pieces.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine all prepared vegetables along with drained mushrooms, drained olives, drained miniature corn cobs, and drained water chestnuts.
3
Pour the bottle of Italian dressing over the vegetables, ensuring an even coating.
4
Toss the vegetables gently to ensure they are fully covered in the dressing.
5
Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld.
6
Throughout the marination period, stir the mixture occasionally to redistribute the dressing and ensure all vegetables absorb the flavors equally.
7
Before serving, give the mixture one final toss and transfer to a serving dish of your choice.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vibrant Garden Medley?
It is a colorful and delightful ensemble of marinated vegetables, served as a cold appetizer or side dish.
How many people does this recipe serve?
This recipe is designed to provide approximately 25 servings.
What are the primary fresh vegetables in this medley?
The fresh vegetables include cauliflower, broccoli, celery, carrots, cherry tomatoes, green onions, and green pepper.
Which canned ingredients are required?
The recipe calls for canned whole mushrooms, pitted black olives, miniature corn cobs, and water chestnuts.
What kind of dressing is used for marination?
An 8 oz bottle of Italian dressing, such as Kraft, is used to coat the vegetables.
Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this dish is categorized as vegetarian.
How long should the vegetables marinate before serving?
The mixture should be refrigerated overnight to allow the flavors to meld properly.
Do any of the vegetables need to be cooked?
No, this is a no-cook recipe where the vegetables are served raw or marinated from a can.
Should the canned vegetables be drained?
Yes, the mushrooms, olives, corn cobs, and water chestnuts must all be drained before mixing.
How should the broccoli be prepared?
The broccoli should be cut into pieces including the stems, ensuring they are similar in size.
How should the cauliflower be prepped?
The cauliflower should be cleaned and broken into small florets.
What is the recommended cut for the carrots?
Six medium carrots should be sliced into strips.
Should the cherry tomatoes be left whole?
No, the cherry tomatoes should be halved.
How many celery stalks are needed?
The recipe requires 3 stalks of celery, which should be sliced.
What is the preparation for green onions?
Five green onions should be chopped for the medley.
How should the green pepper be cut?
The green pepper should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
Is it necessary to stir the mixture while it refrigerates?
Yes, you should stir the mixture occasionally to redistribute the dressing and ensure even marination.
Is this a good make-ahead recipe?
Absolutely, it is designed to be made a day in advance to improve the flavor.
Is this dish considered healthy?
Yes, it is tagged as a healthy recipe due to its high vegetable content.
What events is this dish best for?
It is ideal for potlucks, festive family gatherings, and parties.
What kind of olives are used?
The recipe specifies a 14 oz can of pitted black olives.
How many mushrooms are included?
The recipe uses one 10 oz can of whole mushrooms.
What amount of miniature corn cobs is needed?
You will need one 14 oz can of miniature corn cobs.
What is the weight of water chestnuts required?
The recipe calls for an 8 oz can of water chestnuts.
What should be done just before serving?
Give the vegetables one final toss and transfer them to an elegant serving dish.
How complex is the preparation for this recipe?
It is considered an easy recipe, primarily involving cleaning, cutting, and tossing ingredients.
Does the recipe provide nutritional data like calories or fat?
No, the nutritional information for calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates is not specified.
How many total ingredients are in this medley?
There are 12 ingredients in total.
What makes the dish visually appealing?
The variety of colorful vegetables like orange carrots, red tomatoes, and green broccoli creates a vibrant look.
Can I use a different dressing?
The recipe specifically recommends Italian dressing for the intended flavor profile.