Shamrock Veggie Skewers
~ These easy Shamrock Veggie Skewers are a perfect St. Patrick’s Day appetizer for parties, and a fun, healthy after-school snack! Plus, if you happen to catch a leprechaun (lucky you!), you’ll know just what to feed him! ~
This Recipe Is: • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Make Ahead • Vegan (and Vegetarian) • Gluten Free •
Ever build a leprechaun trap? One of those crazy contraptions all kids love dreaming up?
We built leprechaun traps back in the day, when Amy and I were little. We “engineered” them as school projects and spent hours together making them at home, just for fun.
And let me tell you, I was convinced of the existence of leprechauns based on two things:
1. Amy’s kindergarten teacher claimed that they’d caught a leprechaun in their trap … but it got away before the kids got there. So close!
2. A leprechaun got “caught” in one of our traps at home. We knew we’d caught one, because he’d made a shamrock-shaped exit hole to escape our devious snares (which could not possibly have been something my dad would do while we were sleeping).
But what was the plan there? What would we have done with a leprechaun if we had actually snared one? What would we have fed him?!?
I’ve heard that those little green goblins practically run on the color green. So, naturally, we would’ve needed something green to feed our little captive.
These all-green St. Paddy’s day skewers would have been perfect! Plus, they’re 100% healthy, too! (Just because of these skewers, I’m considering going back to building some traps.)
If you ever catch your own leprechaun, you can keep your little friend happy all day! (Where do they go after the day is over anyway? Who knows? The end of the rainbow? If you catch one, let me know.)
Oh, and if you don’t happen to catch a leprechaun (how unlucky!), you can enjoy these healthy veggie skewers yourself! And share some with yours kids, too, of course! You could surprise them with a St. Patrick’s Day after-school snack!
They’re great for St. Patrick’s Day parties, too! Fun to make, fun to eat!
And you know we’ve got tips to help you!
Tips for Perfect Shamrock Veggie Skewers
Get creative with lots of different green veggies! Try green peppers, broccoli florets, zucchini, cucumbers, snow peas or sugar snap peas – whatever looks great at the store.
To make those cute shamrock shapes for the top of each skewer, green peppers work best. There are two ways to make these:
- You can use a small, sharp, shamrock-shaped cookie cutter. (Our smaller one is about 1 3/4″, and we found that size to be perfect, but the larger, 2 1/2″ size worked well, too.) Choose a few large green peppers with nice, broad sides. Slice off the sides and use the cookie cutter to cut out shamrocks, as we did on the left in the photo above.
- You can also buy smaller green peppers, and simply use a knife to slice them crosswise (horizontally) into thin “rings,” as we did on the right in the photo above. Green pepper slices actually look amazingly like shamrocks! When you thread these on the top of each skewer, you can even add a tiny piece of pepper underneath, to look like a stem. (My mom says she noticed this idea on Pinterest, when she saw a picture of how Gina at SkinnyTaste used pepper shamrocks to decorate the top of her Bell Pepper and Potato Frittata.) Easy and really cool – no special cookie cutter needed!
For serving, I definitely recommend a festively green dip. I mean, especially if you’re serving a leprechaun, you have to go with green! Our favorites are our Edamame Hummus and our 5-Minute Avocado Ranch Dip.
Now you’re all ready for whatever St. Patrick’s Day brings – whether it’s a trap filled with leprechauns or just an attack of the munchies! Because these healthy skewers aren’t just good fuel for mythical green dudes – they can keep you going strong all day, too. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
More of Our Fun and Healthy St. Patrick’s Day Recipes …
- Healthier Shamrock Shakes
- Naturally Sweetened Pot o’ Gold Applesauce
- Healthier Reuben Dip
- Fruit Rainbow with a Pot of Gold (Fun Kids’ Breakfast)
- Rainbow Ribbon Jell-O
Shamrock Veggie Skewers
These easy Shamrock Veggie Skewers are a perfect St. Patrick's Day appetizer for parties – and a fun, healthy after-school snack!
• Ready in 30 Minutes or Less • Make Ahead • Vegan (and Vegetarian) • Gluten Free •
Ingredients
- assorted green vegetables, cut into bite-sized pieces (such as broccoli, zucchini, cucumber, sugar snap peas, snow peas, green peppers)
- green peppers (for making shamrocks)
- optional green dip, for serving (see suggestions in step 4 below)
Instructions
- Thread assorted green veggies onto wooden skewers, leaving enough room at the top to finish each with a shamrock-shaped pepper.
- To make the shamrock peppers for the top of each skewer, you have two options, as shown in the photos in our post: (1) Cut your green peppers into large planks and use a sharp (preferably metal) shamrock-shaped cookie cutter to cut shamrocks out of the green peppers. The cutter we used was about 1 3/4". (2) Or, use small green peppers, and cut them with a sharp knife horizontally into "rings." The shape of the pepper rings should look a bit like a shamrock. If you'd like, as you thread these on your skewers, you can add thin slices of green pepper underneath them as "stems."
- Thread one shamrock pepper onto the top of each vegetable skewer to finish.
- Serve with optional hummus or reduced-fat vegetable dip. (For a perfectly green dip, we recommend our Edamame Hummus or our 5-Minute Avocado Ranch Dip with Greek Yogurt.)
Notes
Make-ahead tips: You can pre-wash and cut your veggies a few hours or up to a day or two in advance, storing them in separate containers in the refrigerator. You can also completely assemble your veggie kabobs a few hours in advance, laying them on a platter and wrapping or covering them and then refrigerating until serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: varies Serving Size: 1 skewerAmount Per Serving: Calories: 20Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 9mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 1g
Nutrition information can vary depending on the vegetables and amounts you use, and it does not include dip. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
This recipe for Shamrock Veggie Skewers with Green Hummus is the perfect way to celebrate St Patrick’s Day! Not only does it look amazing, but it’s filled with healthy ingredients that are sure to make your taste buds dance! The combination of fresh veggies and creamy hummus provides a flavor sensation like no other. Plus, the presentation is sure to impress any guests you might have over for dinner. All in all, this is a tasty dish that can provide a delightful touch of Irish culture for your celebrations!
Wow, Mary Joy – what a wonderful comment to receive! I’m just thrilled you’re enjoying this fun little St. Patrick’s Day recipe idea so much. Mmmmmm … that green Edamame Hummus seriously is awesome (and the perfect green color) – really happy you love it, too. Thanks bunches, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day (a little bit early lol)! 😀 ~Shelley
Wow! That’s an amazing idea. I love it!
Thanks so much, Vincent! Just a little fun for St. Patrick’s Day! (Psssst … and healthy, too! 😉 )