Pointillism Dot Matrix Dish (Print Version)

Artful vegetable purees and sauces arranged in colorful dots for a visually striking starter.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetable Purees

01 - 2.8 oz beetroot, cooked and pureed
02 - 2.8 oz carrot, cooked and pureed
03 - 2.8 oz green peas, cooked and pureed
04 - 2.8 oz yellow bell pepper, roasted and pureed

→ Sauces & Creams

05 - 2.1 oz Greek yogurt
06 - 1.4 oz crème fraîche
07 - 1 tbsp basil pesto
08 - 1 tbsp red pepper coulis
09 - 1 tbsp balsamic reduction

→ Garnishes & Accents

10 - 0.7 oz pickled red onions, finely diced
11 - 0.7 oz microgreens
12 - 1 tbsp toasted black sesame seeds
13 - 1 tbsp pomegranate seeds
14 - Edible flower petals (optional)
15 - Sea salt flakes, to taste
16 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Blend each vegetable separately with a pinch of salt and a few drops of olive oil until smooth. Transfer each to its own small piping bag or squeeze bottle.
02 - Place Greek yogurt and crème fraîche into separate piping bags. Transfer basil pesto, red pepper coulis, and balsamic reduction into individual squeeze bottles.
03 - On each serving plate, arrange dots and small mounds of each puree, sauce, and cream in a scattered, non-touching pattern. Vary sizes and colors to achieve a pointillist effect.
04 - Sprinkle diced pickled red onions, microgreens, toasted black sesame seeds, pomegranate seeds, and edible flower petals if using, over and around the dots. Finish with sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
05 - Serve promptly to preserve the vibrant visual presentation and fresh flavors.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It turns cooking into art—your plate becomes a conversation starter that looks like a gallery piece but tastes like comfort
  • Every bite is different because you're mixing your own combinations, so even the second helping feels like a surprise
  • It's a sneaky way to eat more vegetables without feeling like you're being virtuous about it
  • Vegetarian but impressive enough to serve at a dinner party where everyone expects you to have fussed for hours
02 -
  • Cook your vegetables properly. Undercooked beets and carrots will be gritty when pureed, and no amount of blending fixes that. They need to be fork-tender.
  • Don't skip the olive oil in your purees—just a few drops makes them pipe smoothly instead of clumping. Too much and they become greasy.
  • Taste everything. A puree that's bland on its own will be bland on the plate, and seasoning salt at the end doesn't fix that problem.
  • Your piping bags matter. Invest in reusable or sturdy disposable ones. Cheap bags tear, and there's nothing worse than puree on your hands mid-plating.
03 -
  • Invest in quality piping bags. Rolled edges, not tied. They're easier to fill and you can squeeze them completely empty without wasting a drop.
  • Chill your purees slightly before plating—they hold their shape better and the colors stay more vibrant when they're cool.
  • White plates, always. Or a dark slate if you're feeling dramatic, but white is your best friend for letting these colors sing.
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