Vegetables: How do you make them exciting?

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Replies

  • ejbronte
    ejbronte Posts: 867 Member
    I like to do a nice, simple gazpacho in the summertime: throw some tomato, cucumber, onion, sweet bell pepper (any color) and a garlic clove into a blender and let it rip along with some olive oil, some vinegar or lemon juice, a tiny bit of salt and black pepper. Let it cool down and assimilate in the refrigerator for a while and serve it up. Variations of this include salmorejo and porra.

    Also from the south of Spain is a sort of bruschetta: again, tomato, cucumber, onion and bell pepper (no garlic in this one). Cut them all teeny-tiny, and add olive oil and red wine vinegar. Let it sit for a while, then serve up. The very best part is when you get to soak up the dressing with some nice bread.
  • debrakgoogins
    debrakgoogins Posts: 2,033 Member
    First, I don't boil them because that seems to make them tasteless. I roast a lot of vegetables with seasonings. Broccoli, cauliflower, squash, asparagus, and brussel sprouts are are great tossed with a little olive oil and herbs then roast them on a cookie sheet. I also like to add vegetables where they aren't usually used. I make a vegetable smoothy of carrots, celery, onion, peppers, and spinach then add that to ground turkey with some homemade whole wheat bread crumbs - it's a tasty meatloaf. Just find a few you like and google recipes. When you're ready, try one or two more vegetables. You might find there are some you thought you hated that you now love.
  • elsie6hickman
    elsie6hickman Posts: 3,864 Member
    Some things I do - add fresh herbs, or even dried herbs to kick up the flavor. Try cooking them in another way - steam them (only until they are tender crisp). Roast them in the oven. Mix them into salads - last night I had some baby bok choy and I put it into a salad. Put them in eggs - in a frittata, omelet. This time of year, sliced tomatoes are great - top with a tiny amount of Italian dressing or put chopped basil on them. Slice cucumbers and douse them with some white wine vinegar and a little chopped dill. I have found recipes for stuffed zucchini, stuffed eggplant. Make vegetable soup. There are tons of recipes out there. Google!
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    Cut up the veggies you prefer (I like eggplant, zucchini, butternut and red bell peppers) and roast them until soft. Mix together and sprinkle with everything but the bagel seasoning. I promise, that will make you love vegetables. And it’s really pretty.
  • DoubleUbea
    DoubleUbea Posts: 1,115 Member
    pinuplove wrote: »
    Like this? :lol:
    bt8dpzaup5lk.jpg

    YES! That was the Three Amigos play the cucumber, broccoli and tomato did, fun and exciting.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Don’t boil them or over cook them.
  • DarianJP
    DarianJP Posts: 95 Member
    I put Braggs Liquid aminos on my vegetables with some garlic powder, chili flakes and then bake at 400 degrees F for like 35-40 minutes.
  • cjrmack2014
    cjrmack2014 Posts: 10 Member
    I bought an air fryer and now I roast them. Califlower and Brussel Sprouts are my faves. The Califlower I roast and then put buffalo sauce on them. Brussel Sprouts I put some salt and a little Balsamic Vinegar. Delicious.
  • Stockholm_Andy
    Stockholm_Andy Posts: 803 Member
    Well I had this ex-girlfriend who was super adventurous and.....oh sorry it's not that sort of thread.

    Yesterday I used up half a head of cauliflour by roughly chopping it and stir frying it with some green beans, peas and spinach from the freezer.

    I added garlic, ginger, chilli and some curry powder. As a last minute minute change of plan I saw a jar of Lime Pickle in the fridge and added a spoonful of that too.

    It turned out lovely with a spicy lemony depth we really liked.
  • Strongfitmama100412
    Strongfitmama100412 Posts: 90 Member
    I only boil brocolli and corn. I add a little salt to the water

    Mostly i roast the vegatables. A little salt, pepper and drizzle of olive oil

  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    I'm Southern so I'll boil fresh green beans or leafy greens with a ham hock (salt cured ham) till tender. Canned or steamed veggies get a little bit of butter or bacon grease really like a teaspoon will cover 2 cans or half a big bag of broccoli. Asparagus with olive oil and fresh ground salt or corn on the cob packeted with a little bit of butter and some ice cubes are amazing on a grill.
  • IHaveMyActTogether
    IHaveMyActTogether Posts: 945 Member
    Easy, pair it with meat, problem solved.
  • TonyB0588
    TonyB0588 Posts: 9,520 Member
    khronicuk wrote: »
    I'm at a plateau with boiling vegetables. I'm bored!

    I don't not like vegetables but I want to know what more I could do with them.

    Any foodies out there sprinkle some spice into the ratatouille?

    I don't think of food as exciting or not. I just eat it.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited August 2018
    Well I had this ex-girlfriend who was super adventurous and.....oh sorry it's not that sort of thread.

    Yesterday I used up half a head of cauliflour by roughly chopping it and stir frying it with some green beans, peas and spinach from the freezer.

    I added garlic, ginger, chilli and some curry powder. As a last minute minute change of plan I saw a jar of Lime Pickle in the fridge and added a spoonful of that too.

    It turned out lovely with a spicy lemony depth we really liked.

    I've never heard of lime pickle before. Like this?

    https://smile.amazon.com/Pataks-Pickled-Lime-Mild-10/dp/B00531ZCX6/

    91khSXylrpL._SY679_.jpg

    I may have had it at Indian buffets; never noticed it in a jar.
  • HereToLose50
    HereToLose50 Posts: 154 Member
    Mostly roasted or some raw. Spicy with garlic or cayenne or both with salt and pepper.
  • motivatedmartha
    motivatedmartha Posts: 1,108 Member
    I eat them raw, steamed or roasted ( adding tomatoes to roasted veg during cooking gives a sweeter sharper taste). Current favourite is thin carrot batons and asparagus spears cooked on the grill til showing a little bit of black grill marks. After they're cooked I toss them in a mix of cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper and paprika. Sometimes I put that on top of a green salad and add roasted chickpeas and orange segments. Nowt boring there 😁 Roasted butternut squash mmm...Roasted sprouts ..yum. Grilled sweet corn salad :) . Grated cooked beetroot with a dash of vinegar and a little butter lovely with beef.. I guess it's obvious I love my veggies.
  • aokoye
    aokoye Posts: 3,495 Member
    The only time the vegetables that I cook touch boiling water is either in the context of potatoes or if I'm blanching them. In the case of blanching it's, boil water, put in vegetables, cook for a few minutes (depending on what it is), and take the vegetables out of the boiling water and put them in a bowl of ice water. I did this with some green beans that I had picked earlier this week and used in a salad today.

    Most of the time when I cook vegetables I roast them with the only seasoning being salt and pepper. I don't find they need much else, and this is from someone who uses a lot of herbs and spices. The opposite is true, in terms of the amount of seasonings I'll use, if I'm making something like a stir fry or using vegetables in stews.

    At some point, this week I'm also going to make braised cabbage. I've also been on a bit of a mushroom kick this summer - I will sauté them with garlic, herbs and add a bit of white white and then eat them with pasta.
  • feisty_bucket
    feisty_bucket Posts: 1,047 Member
    edited August 2018
    I eat my veggies in a bowl with meat.
    Got four different kinds of frozen veggies (doesn't matter what; that's just a good amount). Put .5 cup each in a bowl while your meat's starting in a pan on the stove. Put the bowl in the microwave, cook for two minutes.
    That's to defrost them. Then you dump the veggies in with the meat to finish cooking.
    Add sauce (siracha, and brown sauce (HP or Heinz 57)) and seasoning (lite salt, MSG, "cajun", whatever).
    At this point I add in a couple eggs and stir it all up. It'll be done in 2-3 minutes after that.

    Put all this mess back in your bowl and eat it. Looks ridiculous, tastes great, mega nutritious. In downtown NYC, they call it a "power bowl" and it costs $15+.
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    Lots of great options already! I don't personally do this, but if you like smoothies you can easily add in some greens and it won't affect the taste too much at all!
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    bacon
  • losergood2011
    losergood2011 Posts: 172 Member
    I really don't like boiled either - I like my veg al dente - roasted really brings out flavor - garlic and basil really change the taste - basil is surprisingly sweet - you can buy a tube at the store and just squirt a bit into your onion/pepper/potato dish for a change of taste.
  • midlomel1971
    midlomel1971 Posts: 1,283 Member
    Boiled veggies?!

    Oh honey, you need a roasting pan, some olive oil, a 425 degree oven, salt and pepper and a little balsamic drizzle. Roasted vegetables = manna of the gods!
  • kmeyer6979
    kmeyer6979 Posts: 17 Member
    khronicuk wrote: »
    I'm at a plateau with boiling vegetables. I'm bored!

    I don't not like vegetables but I want to know what more I could do with them.

    Any foodies out there sprinkle some spice into the ratatouille?

    Raw is good... or I consistently mix them with all my meals. And if you like spice that can really add to the flavor
  • IHaveMyActTogether
    IHaveMyActTogether Posts: 945 Member
    slather it in cheese, problem solved.
  • IHaveMyActTogether
    IHaveMyActTogether Posts: 945 Member
    put hem in brownies, with...herbs. Problem solved.
  • IHaveMyActTogether
    IHaveMyActTogether Posts: 945 Member
    put a salad on top of a rack of ribs. you have to eat the lettuce to get to the ribs. problem solved.
  • IHaveMyActTogether
    IHaveMyActTogether Posts: 945 Member
    put a celery stalk in your ice cream bowl. problem solved.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    i prefer raw or steamed.
    i add a bit of salad dressing or seasoning salt or mrs dash etc
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    So, OP - are you still boiling your vegetables or have you tried some of the recommendations here and if so, were they suitably exciting? Inquiring minds want to know!
  • Mom2ATM
    Mom2ATM Posts: 147 Member
    Roasted with olive oil and salt especially root veggies! I pan cook summer squash with a tiny pat of butter olive oil and salt and pepper, zoodles go great in eggs or Mac and cheese or alone with marinara sauce, spaghetti squash is delicious oven cooked with marinara and ricotta, I don't do lot of broccoli or cauliflower but I like them raw with hummus or blue cheese