LEARN TO LOVE YOUR VEGETABLES!
We all know vegetables are good for us, but sometimes we focus so much on thinking we're on a diet full of broccoli and beans, that we sometimes forget veggies don't have to be boring!
Want to make your veggies taste delicious? Here are 5 tips to LOVING YOUR VEGGIES!
1. VARY YOUR COOKING METHOD
You can take one vegetable, like cauliflower, and cook it in a variety of ways. Methods include boiling, steaming, simmering, roasting, grilling, sautéing, stir-frying, braising, stewing, and even pickling. Whatever method you choose will lead to different flavours and textures. You may find that while you are not crazy about it steamed, you absolutely love cauliflower when it’s roasted.
2. TRY SOMETHING NEW
Go to your local farmers’ market and ask a farmer to suggest something new for you to try and how to best prepare it. Maybe pick up some artichokes to make a Spinach Artichoke Dip or some broccoli rabe for Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Red Chili Flakes. Set a goal to serve at least one new vegetable dish a week. If there are already vegetables that you love, make your goal to prepare them in a few different ways either by using a different flavour profile or a different cooking method. Try mixing various veggies together to make new flavour and colour combinations. Make your dishes look pretty; after all, we eat with our eyes. You may find that you like more veggies than you ever thought possible.
3. DIFFERENT AROMATICS AND SEASONINGS
Start with aromatics like shallots, onions and garlic. Heat a bit of your favourite oil in the pan and saute thinly sliced shallots and minced garlic until they are lightly browned and the smell permeates the air, telling everyone you are cooking something delicious. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or finely chopped chiles for a bit of heat. Or grate some fresh ginger for an Asian flavour. When you add the vegetables, toss them so they get coated in the seasoned oil. These aromatics set the foundation for an amazingly flavourful dish. You could just add salt and pepper, but why not experiment with different herbs and spices? Use fresh or dried herbs and spices. Thyme, oregano and parsley are also among my favourite herbs while cumin, coriander and paprika are my favourite spices.
4. EAT THEM RAW
Sometimes the best way to enjoy vegetables is to not cook them at all. Even when I am prepping veggies for cooking, I always munch on a few pieces raw. That’s the way you really taste the vegetable in its natural state and keep all those nutrients. Capsicum, carrots, celery, cucumber, mushrooms, just to name a few.
5. STUFF THEM
Stuffing vegetables is a fun way to eat something different that also looks pretty impressive. There are a bunch of veggies that can be stuffed such as artichokes, capsicums, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini and squash. You can fill them with mince, rice (post workout), quinoa (post workout), mushrooms, spinach, or any of your favourite ingredients.
