Easy Healthy Appetizer + Shrub Sangria Recipes!

Summer is so full of fun celebrations, trips and family time! And just because you want to live a healthy lifestyle, doesn’t mean that you should miss out.

Today I’m sharing a few of my go-to recipes for parties, that are healthy, fun, simple to make, and taste DELICIOUS!!

(find all the recipes below)

Zucchini Garden Rolls with Zesty Almond Butter Dip

These are a a true work of art and look so beautiful! You can use a spiralizer for the veggies to speed up the process and a mandeline slicer if you have one.

Zucchini Rolls

3 zucchinis (look for long and skinny ones)

1 Chioggia beet (these are the pretty pink and white beets – but you can use any type)

2 medium carrots

1 Daikon radish (long white radish – or use any type of radish you can find)

1 package of pea shoots

Zesty Almond Butter Dip

2 Tbsp almond butter

3 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp lime juice

2 garlic cloves

1/2 tsp fresh ginger root

1 Tbsp tamari

1 tsp maple syrup

Pinch cayenne pepper

Garnish

Black sesame seeds (optional)

Toothpicks (to hold the rolls together)

How to make:

Slice your zucchini, lengthwise, using a vegetable peeler or mandolin slicer. Discard the first few top and bottom slices. (you can use those as part of the filler)
Cut your vegetables using either a spiralizer or slicing them into thin strips julienne style.
Place 2-3 slices of zucchini on your cutting board and add 2-3 strips of each veggie and a few sprigs of pea shoots on your zucchini. Roll them up and put a toothpick through the middle to keep them together.
To make the sauce, combine all ingredients into a small blender and blend until smooth. Depending on the thickness of your almond butter, you may have to add a little bit more water.

This recipe makes roughly 10-12 rolls.

Pear, Beet + Goat Cheese Appetizer

These beauties usually disappear the fastest. And they are so simple to put together! If you can’t tolerate dairy, you can substitute a cashew cheese or dip for the goat cheese.

2 large pears (Firm Bartlett pears work best)

2-3 beets (peeled and cooked – you can find these in the fridge section of a grocery store)

1 small package of goat cheese (you can use plain or cranberry flavour)

Garnish:

Chopped walnuts and unsulfured cranberries

How to make:

Slice pear lengthwise and remove seeds
Add a dollop of goat cheese on each slice
Cut beet lengthwise into similar shape as pears and place a slice on each pear
Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and cranberries

Makes roughly 20-22 pieces.

Careful with this one, it tastes a little too good! If you haven’t heard of shrub before, it’s an apple cider drink concentrate. I used the Cherry Cardamom flavour from Route 18.