My first job ever was at a catering company in Greenwich called Watson's on Pemberwick. Everyday, after school, I'd ride my bike down to the store, where I worked as a dishwasher, scrubbing floors and taking out the garbage. It wasn't long, though, before I worked my way up cooking, doing window displays, styling tables and (my favorite!) creating that all-important holiday hors d'oeuvre, the Crudité. I've always loved how pretty they can be, especially when you pair crisp, colorful vegetables with a beautiful antique vessel. Hollowing out a cabbage is my favorite way to do a crudité. Just remember, the larger the leaves, the better. That way, you'll have more to work with when you're doing the arrangement.
First, peel back the large outer leaves of the cabbage. Then cut out a circle from the top and use a melon baller to hollow it out.
Making a crudité is like doing a flower arrangement. Think groupings. Celery with celery. Carrots with carrots. For the container, I used one of my favorite French porcelain baskets. The dip is a classic 1950s recipe my grandmother Dottie taught me. It's complex, so get your pen out. Ready? Sour cream, together with Lipton Onion Soup Mix. How easy is that? Sure, you could spend hours doing a dip from scratch, and when I was in culinary school, believe me, I did. But sometimes, you just can't beat the convenience (and taste!) of Lipton's. With a beautiful presentation, who'd know the difference? Check out the final result!
How simple (and stunning!) is that? Sure to be the hit of any holiday party, especially yours! And for even more of a shortcut, buy a pre-cut platter from the grocery store, then ditch the plastic!
Have a great weekend, everyone, and happy crudité!
I like the cabbage dip bowl, it’s a cute idea.
Yum indeed! (I love Lipton’s dip!) I am going to use this idea for my Xmas Eve party. So pretty. 😉
Now that is just wonderful! Food and an arrangement! I do not think the cabbage,we have in Mississippi, looks as pretty as yours! I think we would have to find a farmer that grows cabbage!!
Eddie, you make everything look delicious AND gorgeous! Merry Christmas from AL!
Love It!!
It is, all in the presentation! Wonderful Eddie!
I’m totally doing this! It’s easy and has a HUGE wow factor.
Another truly beautiful presentation! Wow!
Wow…..who knew???? Fantastic idea!!!
Oh my, that look positively lovely! What a wonderful use for a cabbage. I love fresh vegetable trays and whatnot because they keep me out of all the sweets. I agree that Lipton onion soup mix is brilliant. We use it in a potato dish where we make sliced potatoes in foil over the BBQ and people go nuts about it. You just put chunks of butter on the potatoes and sprinkle in the onion soup mix. So easy. I was raised (not formally trained – lucky you!!!) to make things from scratch, but there are many more things I’d rather do with my time.
Great post. Love your blog! I have a lot of catching up to do here!
xo Terri in Canada
Hi Eddie, this is beautiful. I am beginning to plan my christmas eve dinner,I am going to give this a try.
Eddie, I almost fell off my chair at your mention of the Lipton’s dip! I had never had it until 7 or 8 years ago, at a party at my mother-in-law’s house. I couldn’t stop eating it and when I asked for the recipe she almost died laughing. I know it’s got to be pure MSG but you’re right, no one ever gobbles down a dip as fast as that one.
Are you putting together a book of these ideas yet?? I’m definitely starting my own notebook of Eddie’s Genius.
It’s an endless new idea place, your site! So colourful, love it.
The cabbage dip bowl is a fantastic idea ! I love your arrangment , it looks like a dutch painting
Just beautiful (and yummy!). I’m SO doing this for my Christmas Eve dinner.
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment on my humble, little blog the other day!
I’ve been creating crudites baskets with cabbage “containers” for 25 years. I feel like such an idiot! I’ve always used a grapefruit knife to hollow out the cabbage! A melon baller! Thanks for the tip!
Eddie, now I know I could do this BUT I need the french basket.Now that I have seen this nothing else will do.Darn looks like another treasure hunt,hehe!Kathysue
love the colors! What eye candy with a nutritional twist!
lamaisonfou
My caterer did cabbage bowls in the buffet at my wedding reception. Such a cute idea!
Gorgeous display How could you NOT want to eat those beautiful veggies. The French porcelain basket is one of my favorite things. My mother-in-law once gave me one, and in a fit of anger with her I threw it down the garbage chute. Even before it hit the bottom I wanted to follow it. It might have been Sevres!
Mahala
This is beautiful and I love how simple it is to prepare! Thank you, Eddie!
Great presentation! I might have to try your grandmother’s recipe for a holiday party.
Simplicity is key during the holidays, so thank you for such a great-and colorful-suggestion!
P.S.- I absolutely love your last photo. The colors are so vivid. Wouldn’t it make a great painting?
Yes, it is and I will be borrowing this idea for my Chanukah gathering! Thanks Eddie for another wonderfully creative idea, you are my design Guru! Lucien
This is so simple yet sure to impress, I love it…and perfect for the dieter. Another great idea…Mary
Eddie,
What a great idea! I also love the height that the porcelain basket gives the arrangement; when it a crudite looks like that it is worth elevating!
Cheers to you and Jaithan-
I’m going to try this for Christmas, AND a flower arrangement per your instruction video! Thanks!
So beautiful!!
beautiful presentation.
for us overseas that don’t have the onion soup mix can you suggest an alternative?
thanks a lot
Antonella
Eddie
I just discovered your blog today and I feel like the Universe just gave me a HUGE gift!
Thank you for sharing this crudite idea. So fun to make!
Thank you!
Debbie
That looks so delicious!
Oh, that looks yummy. And I agree, you can’t beat Lipton’s Onion Soup dip. It’s like the Crack of dips… can’t stop eating it.
Can I just tell you how excited I was to see your comment on my blog!? Seriously, thank you- it’s a rare occurance when the author of a popular blog comments back, so it meant a lot!
I must say, I’m envious of your incredible talents and taste, and I can’t wait to see what else you come up with!
Shan
Design Gal & Her Handyman
What a beautiful and festive presentation! I am in charge of bringing the veggies and dip for my In-law’s Christmas Eve party and I will totally be using your fabulous idea! You’re the best Eddie! ~Marlene
Love the presentation cabbage makes. Don’t you just love all the northern arrangements of cabbage or kale on the streets this time of year?
The wonderfulness. It’s completely overwhelming.
xoxoxo
Awesome idea! Love your site.
Hi Eddie! I adore your blog! I have gone back and read ALL of your entries and can’t wait for more to come. You are so innovative and make everything look so beautiful. Thanks for all the inspiration.
You did not even see me double dip, did you?
No one in my family like cabbage but it never occurred to me to use it as a container (pause for a “duh”). I am definitely going to do this! And might even make the “Dottie dip” to go in it.
I have used “bread bowls” (bread rounds with center cut out) for soups and dips and various melons for dips and bowls…. but hadn’t thought of cabbage!
Thanks!
Susan
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/
Oh great! My Hubbie is home because we have had 13inches of snow today!!! Anyway he just looked over and saw the picture of the veggies and said Hey! I like that! Lets make that for the Party tonight! Sure Honey… as soon as we can dig ourselves out! Ha ha… We will see how that goes!!!
( a snow flake party for all our “flakey” friends! )
~Hee hee…. Vanessa
beautiful!! We did something similar at my sister’s wedding reception only we used a bread bowl to hold the dip and it looks really pretty. Will definitely have to try the cabbage next time!
Very clever – It’s all about the packaging!
I’d never seen a crudite before (I think)–but what a beautiful way to arrange vegetables! Who wouldn’t want to eat from soemthing like that?
And I hope I can handle that dip recipe. 😉
Eddie,
I used to make crudite arrangement a few years ago when I catered weddings and events. I usually used a large pepper or two hollowed out for my dips. I never would have thought to use cabbage.
I love the green color, it reminds me of a great floral arrangement. And that porcelain basket, where do I get something like that?
Thanks for the tip!
Emily
What a great idea. I’ve used fruit as bowls for fruit bowls so why didn’t I think if using a veggie bowl? I guess I was waiting for you!! Good dip by the way!
Endive & Lipton dip…a total favorite!
Eddie,
you have great simple ideas. I love how everything you do anyone can do! Hopefully looking forward to meeting you if and when you do an Alameda Flea market field trip…
Julie
Simply beautiful my friend! I’m inviting you the next time to my party!!!
xoxo
Seriously, Eddie, is there anything you can’t do well? I love this!
You always have the BEST ideas. Thanks! And Happy Holidays.
Eddie,
C’est tres belle! j’aime la présentation. vous êtes impressionnant!
Peace,
Angelica
that dip used to be my go to drug whenever I broke up with anyone in college! All stores would have lipton’s onion soup mix and sour cream and potato chips (has to be the one with ridges). You have elevated it into an art form!
If you want fewer calories, substitute plain yogurt for the sour cream. The onion and herbs in the mix hides the tartness of the yogurt. Wonderful culinary childhood memories of the giant size package of Ruffles potato chips and a huge bowl of the sour cream and onion soup mix on my lap while watching TV with my brother. Parents not too concerned with our health.
I like you even more when you let us in on the shortcuts!
those are the most gorgeous vegetables
I have ever seen.
Hi. Just popped over from Jerusalem’s post. You have such a lovely blog! Merry Christmas!
Impressive! I now have a new blog obsession. Have a terrific holiday Eddie.
Hello Eddie,
I just came over from Ronda’s post on you and I don’t know how I’ve missed your blog until now! It’s terrific and I love your work with this cabbage….great idea. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Simple, inexpensive, and beautiful. I love that your ideas are so accessible. Thanks for helping us normal folks live life a little more lovely.
My other fave veggie dip “recipe” is sour cream and Good Seasonings Italian dressing mix. Give it a try!
um, that’s amazing.
I have just discovered your blog and I love it, and the cabbage dip bowl is awesome!
Awsome looking. Great idea. We do veggie trays all the time. This will be so different and nice to present at our next family gathering
Love it
Great looking, and looks fantastic. Going to try this for sure.
You have a wonderful site here. Love it all
Love this beautiful veggie arrangement. what a great idea.
It is a beautiful presentation