How to Create a Crudité Plate That Will Balance Your Chakras

It’s summertime and the crudité platters are aplenty. The large dishes filled with grape tomatoes, crunchy cauliflower, carrots, and celery sticks with ranch dip will be omnipresent at summertime gatherings outdoors. Why? Because they’re easy, they’re healthy, and they can make a table spread look beautifully bright. But what if one of these appetizer smorgasbords were actually good for your soul? According to Deena Chanowitz, a healing, farm-to-table–focused chef, they totally can be. She’s the expert on how to compile a chakra-friendly starter dish to share, one that balances energy and creates a sense of inner fulfillment. Here, Chanowitz gives her choice ingredients and tips for curating your own gorgeous platter for a season of delicious peace and serenity.

Chef Deena’s Chakra Platter

Rosemary Marcona almonds
Italian black olives
Fennel-shallot slaw made with chives, mint, and tarragon
Basil chimichurri
Grilled asparagus with garlic
Raw haricots verts
Fresh sprouts
Clustered heirloom tomatoes
Medjool dates
Figs
Strawberries
Red-pepper harissa made with charred sweet red peppers, red chili peppers, garlic, and ground cumin
French Brie cheese
Goat cheese
Herbed crostini
Raw za’atar and sunflower seed crackers

Consider the event and choose color accordingly.
“I always start off by thinking about the purpose of the platter and the theme of or reason for the celebration. In the warmer months for outdoor entertaining, I often choose to incorporate red vegetables—the color of the first chakra, the grounding color, and the lowest energy frequency of the visible light spectrum. This energy balances the blue energy of the super-flighty, high-energy summer days and helps increase relaxation and gives the guests a feeling of presence.”
 
Choose your red fruits wisely.
“Strawberries replenish blood supply and promote vitality and healthy tissues and organs. Using red as the color scheme for a summer platter adds a grounding, present energy to spend with loved ones. It also ignites passion and fire for a romantic alfresco meal or a summer fling.”

Balance with greens.
“I always add a lot of greens to balance the colors, textures, and flavors. Green is the color of nature’s abundance and also the color of the fourth chakra, the heart. It is the color of healing, tranquility, and serenity. I typically use the greens as a base, on a wooden platter, to include various elements of nature in the wholesome food display.”

 

 

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