I was planning to serve just a little snack of middle eastern nibbles. But after browsing through the pages of my talented friend Frances Largeman-Roth’s awesome new book, Everyday Snack Tray, I was inspired to transform it into a snack board. And since it’s nearly Christmas, I let my favorite holiday do the rest of the inspo. This holiday tree snack board is so much more joyful than simply eating sliced cucumbers w/dip, right?!
What’s On the Board?
Tree: cucumber slices, fresh rosemary & mint leaves
While there is no precise way to make this holiday tree snack board, here’s what I did: Make the tree by layering the cucumbers onto a bamboo cutting board or large serving platter to form a Christmas tree (think Fraser fir tree!). Insert the fresh rosemary like they are branches, then add the mint leaves throughout. Arrange the carrot shreds on top as garland. Place halved falafel at the bottom of the tree to form a trunk. Sprinkle with the pomegranate arils as ornaments. Top with the lemon slices like a star tree topper. Arrange pita and dips of choice on the side. My picks: baba ghanoush, moussaka and roasted beet hummus.
Personalize It!
There are no rules, other than just have fun while making it. You can make this to serve 1 to 100. Do go “off recipe” and use other favorite ingredients, such as serving focaccia-style skillet chickpea flatbread instead of pita, and pairing with other middle eastern dips, like ful medames (fava bean dip), zhug (green herb hot sauce), muhammara (roasted pepper-walnut spread), toum (garlic sauce), easy roasted beet dip, or lemony red lentil hummus.
Or give it a Mexican-inspired twist, such as swapping cilantro in place of rosemary and mint; serving with tortilla chips instead of pita; and paring with guacamole or avocado anything dip, pico de gallo, and black bean dip instead of middle eastern dips.
I was planning to serve just a little snack of middle eastern nibbles. But after browsing through the pages of my talented friend Frances Largeman-Roth’s awesome new book, Everyday Snack Tray, I was inspired to transform it into a snack board. And since it’s nearly Christmas, I let my favorite holiday do the rest of the inspo. This holiday tree snack board is so much more joyful than simply eating sliced cucumbers w/dip, right?!
Ingredients
cucumber slices
fresh rosemary
fresh mint leaves
carrot shreds
falafel halves
pomegranate arils
lemon slices
pita wedges
dips of choice (baba ghanoush, moussaka & roasted beet hummus)
Instructions
TREE: Make the tree by layering the cucumbers onto a bamboo cutting board or large serving platter to form a Christmas tree (think Fraser fir tree!). Insert the fresh rosemary like they are branches, then add the mint leaves throughout.
GARLAND: Arrange the carrot shreds on top as garland.
TREE TRUNK: Place halved falafel at the bottom of the tree to form a trunk.
ORNAMENTS: Sprinkle with the pomegranate arils as ornaments.
TREE TOPPER: Top with the lemon slices like a star tree topper.
ON THE SIDE: Arrange pita and dips of choice on the side. My picks: baba ghanoush, moussaka and roasted beet hummus.
I was planning to serve just a little snack of middle eastern nibbles. But after browsing through the pages of my talented friend 
