Crudités

Crudités

A celery and carrot crudité platter
Course	Hors d'oeuvre
Place of origin	France
Main ingredients	Raw vegetables, vinaigrette or dipping sauce

Crudités are traditional French appetizers consisting of sliced or whole raw vegetables which are sometimes dipped in a vinaigrette or other dipping sauce. Crudités often include celery sticks, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, bell pepper strips, broccoli, cauliflower, fennel, and asparagus spears; sometimes olives, depending on local custom.

Crudités are generally quite high in healthy nutrients and dietary fiber, and low in calories, fats, sodium, sugars, and cholesterol. However, the accompanying dip can be high in sodium, sugar, and possibly fats, although in the case of a vinaigrette, salsa or hummus typically not in saturated or trans fats. Other dips, such as cheese sauces or dips based on cream, sour cream, or mayonnaise, may have high saturated fat content.

Note that crudités alone do not make for a complete meal, since they may not have enough nutrients.

Since they are uncooked, crudités must be washed carefully to remove any bacterial contamination. Refrigeration is recommended.