Choo choo! All aboard the Veggie Train! This colorful and fun dish is perfect for getting your little ones excited about eating their veggies. Bell peppers are transformed into a cute vegetable train filled with deliciousness.
It’s a breeze to make and makes the perfect veggie appetizer for your party!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Exciting veggie train: A creative way to encourage kids to eat veggies, serving as a healthy snack and fun party food idea.
- Colorful and Nutritious: Packed with a variety of fresh vegetables, this Veggie Train is as nutritious as it is colorful.
- Easy Veggie Train Snack: A great centerpiece for your next gathering, this veggie platter is easy to assemble and serves as a delightful appetizer.
🥘 Ingredients
- Bell Peppers: To create the train cars and engine.
- Cucumber Slices: To create the wheels for the train.
- Baby Carrots: To fill the pepper cars for a vibrant touch.
- Celery: For a refreshing and crunchy addition.
- Plum Tomatoes: For a pop of color and flavor.
- Toothpicks: To assemble the train and attach the cucumber wheels to the peppers.
- Dip – Optional: Serve with your favorite dip on the side for extra flavor.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Sushi on wheels—roll up sushi rice, avocado, cucumber, and smoked salmon into little train cars for a bite-sized sushi adventure.
- Sweet ride—swap veggies for grapes, berries, and melon balls to make a fruity, fun-filled snack train.
- Cheesy express—add cheese cubes, crackers, and mini cheese wheels to turn your train into a rolling charcuterie board!
🔪How To Make A Veggie Train With Bell Peppers
Step One: Choose one bell pepper as the engine. This will be the front of your train. Cut off the top third of the bell pepper horizontally to create a flat top for the engine. For the rest of the bell peppers, cut off the tops and remove the seeds.
Step Two: Use toothpicks to attach the bell peppers together, starting with the engine at the front. Place the other bell peppers behind the engine to form the body of the vegetable train. Attach cucumber slices to the sides of the bell peppers with toothpicks to create wheels.
Step Three: Cut veggies and fill each bell pepper car with baby carrot sticks, celery sticks, and plum or cherry tomatoes.
Step Four: Add ranch dip or any other dip of your choice to one of the bell pepper carriages and place on a platter ready to serve.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Safety First: Make sure to supervise young children when using toothpicks to assemble the train to prevent any accidents.
- Mix and Match: Experiment with different combinations of vegetables to cater to your child's preferences and encourage them to eat vegetables of different varieties.
- Get Creative: Encourage creativity by allowing your kids to design their own veggie train cars using different vegetables.
💭 FAQs
Absolutely! While bell peppers are the star of the recipe, you can easily swap them out for other vegetables like cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, or even carrots. Just make sure they are cut into shapes or sizes that make it easy for kids to enjoy.
Yes, it’s perfect for kids' parties! The vibrant colors of the bell peppers and the creative "train" shape make it a fun and appealing way for kids to enjoy healthy snacks. Plus, it’s customizable based on dietary preferences.
You can prepare the vegetables and assemble the "train" ahead of time. Just store it in the fridge until you're ready to serve. However, it’s best to add any dips or sauces right before serving to keep everything fresh.
A variety of dips can complement the Fun Veggie Train! Try hummus, ranch, or a yogurt-based dip. If you're looking for something a bit different, a tangy balsamic glaze or guacamole also pairs really well with the fresh veggies.
If you have leftovers, dismantle the train, remove the toothpicks, and store the vegetables in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
🧂Serving Suggestions
Here are some of the best sides to serve with Veggie Train:
- Hummus: A great homemade beetroot hummus, such as classic, roasted red pepper, and garlic, provide a creamy and flavorful dip for the fresh vegetables in the veggie train.
- Pita Bread: Soft, warm pita bread offers a perfect vehicle for scooping up the hummus and enjoying with the fresh veggies.
- Deviled Eggs: Classic deviled eggs with a creamy, tangy filling make a tasty and protein-packed side dish.
- Mini Sandwiches: Small sandwiches filled with a variety of ingredients like turkey, cheese, avocado, and sprouts provide a satisfying and versatile addition to the veggie train.
- Fruit Platter: A fresh fruit platter with an assortment of seasonal fruits such as berries, melon, and pineapple offers a sweet and refreshing complement to the savory vegetables.
🍽 Related Recipes
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Veggie Train With Bell Peppers
Ingredients
- 5 Bell Peppers different colors for variety
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 Cup Baby Carrots
- 1 Cup Celery
- 20 Plum Tomatoes
Instructions
- Choose one bell pepper as the engine. This will be the front of your train. Cut off the top third of the bell pepper horizontally to create a flat top for the engine.
- For the rest of the bell peppers, cut off the tops and remove the seeds.
- Use toothpicks to attach the bell peppers together, starting with the engine at the front.
- Place the other bell peppers behind the engine to form the body of the train.
- Attach cucumber slices to the sides of the bell peppers with toothpicks to create wheels.
- Cut veggies and fill each bell pepper car with baby carrot sticks, celery sticks, and plum or cherry tomatoes.
- Place on a serving platter and enjoy your veggie train! Serve with ranch dip or any other dip of your choice on the side, if desired.
