Same old boring steamed vegetables

Tonight I sauteed a zuchinni with a little no cal butter spray, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder. It was delicious! I normally eat just steamed frozen veggies and that gets soooooo boring. I'm looking for suggestions on how to cook fresh vegetables. I'm open to try anything at least once. I'm not a very fancy cook, so the recipes should be fairly easy (and quick). Please help change up my frozen veggie dinner routine!!
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Replies

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,237 Member
    Most veggies are really tasty baked, even caulli and broc. Spray with some olive oil, sprinkle with some seasoning and pop them in the oven.
  • bdcmoran
    bdcmoran Posts: 22 Member
    I have found that I love asparagus - canned, frozen, doesn't matter - pop in microwave - add a little butter and/or garlic salt - really good.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    olive oil, garlic, onion, green beans (1 cup) and pero peppers (2 servings) sometimes I mix in some brown rice or quinoa for nice little stir fry ..sooo good
  • Inshape13
    Inshape13 Posts: 680 Member
    Grilled aspargus is awesome and sauteed cabbage is great too just put a touch of olive oil and salt and pepper and you are good to go. Not sure if you eat sweet potato(not really a veg) but it is great with cajun seasoning to switch things up a bit.
  • imstrong4me
    imstrong4me Posts: 119
    aspergus, brussel sprouts and brocolii cabbage is what I do im gonna try artichoke
  • bhawkins0711
    bhawkins0711 Posts: 92 Member
    olive oil, garlic, onion, green beans (1 cup) and pero peppers (2 servings) sometimes I mix in some brown rice or quinoa for nice little stir fry ..sooo good


    I've never heard of pero peppers
  • bhawkins0711
    bhawkins0711 Posts: 92 Member
    Grilled aspargus is awesome and sauteed cabbage is great too just put a touch of olive oil and salt and pepper and you are good to go. Not sure if you eat sweet potato(not really a veg) but it is great with cajun seasoning to switch things up a bit.

    I would have never put sweet potato and cajun seasoning together. Definitely will have to try that!
  • Spinach lightly sauteed with garlic....use Canola oil!
  • etoiles_argentees
    etoiles_argentees Posts: 2,827 Member
    I throw a good cheese on the boring ones. Protein! Calcium!
  • _Lori_Lynn_
    _Lori_Lynn_ Posts: 460
    This is not for everybody but I put spicy Dijon mustard on them. Especially broccoli. It is addicting. Low cal, low fat, low sugar. Yummo!
  • joleenl
    joleenl Posts: 739 Member
    Make homemade dressings. Just be caused they are boiled or steamed doesn't mean the cant be dressed up. And oil/vinegar combo with fresh herbs... Yummy. You choose the oil and the vinegar... Or in place of vinegar use a fresh squeezed citrus fruit, like lemon lime or orange. For herbs.... Anything from minced peppers, garlic, or onion... To rosemary, hot peppers, oregano or chives.

    Some of my favourites:

    On mixed veggies
    Minced garlic
    4 tbsp olive oil
    Juice from one lemon
    Cut up fresh oregano (or dried)
    Salt and pepper to taste

    On steamed kale
    Juice from half a lemon
    A drizzle of olive
    Minced garlic

    On Boiled & strained Swiss chard
    Balsamic vinegar to olive oil 4:1 tbsp
    Minced garlic

    Roasted veggies:
    Brushed with olive oil & Italian seasoning with cut up fresh onion

    Roasted potatoes:
    Brushed with olive oil and rosemary and salt and pepper
  • mohanj
    mohanj Posts: 381 Member
    I tried making baked Kale chips today and it was good as a side dish. Super easy to make. I found the recipe on the internet.
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Try A1 sauce lightly sprinkled on steamed broccoli or cauliflower.
    Garlic powder and olive oil on Brussels sprouts. Or I make them with boiled white onions and a mix of white vinegar and A1.
    Carrots with a little butter brown sugar and almond slices.
    Garbanzo beans broiled with garlic powder and olive oil.
    Cauliflower with pine nuts, bacon and red pepper flakes.
    Grilled zucchini, summer squash and egg plant. Just olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning.
    Roasted or grilled asparagus with lemon and garlic.
  • lachesissss
    lachesissss Posts: 1,298 Member
    Roast them, puree them, grill them, sautee them, smoothie them, pickle them, dip them, salad them, slaw them, omelet them, frittata them... mmm veggies.
  • malena126
    malena126 Posts: 18 Member
    Herbs, not just spices. some garlic with rosemary (crush it up so you arent eating needles!). i like rubbed sage on veggies too, the container says to use it for meat, but i think it tastes good with some pepper on veggies too. Just a couple suggestions. if you have it, use a mortar and pestle to grind up the rosemary, if not just breaking them up helps. it relieves tension too, the rosemary sent) great in potato soup as a worthwhile mention too.
    Happy eating!
  • miracle4me
    miracle4me Posts: 522 Member
    Thanks for the recipes I also get bored with steamed veggies done the same way. :flowerforyou:
  • jenniferswooten
    jenniferswooten Posts: 137 Member
    Spinach lightly sauteed with garlic....use Canola oil!

    sooo good
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,136 Member
    olive oil, garlic, onion, green beans (1 cup) and pero peppers (2 servings) sometimes I mix in some brown rice or quinoa for nice little stir fry ..sooo good


    I've never heard of pero peppers

    they come in a bag..it is basically combination of yellow, organ, and red peppers..or you can just buy yellow and red peppers and dice them up ...
  • Rynatat
    Rynatat Posts: 807 Member
    olive oil, garlic, onion, green beans (1 cup) and pero peppers (2 servings) sometimes I mix in some brown rice or quinoa for nice little stir fry ..sooo good

    ^^ I do this frequently!! I love the pero peppers!!
    Also - make your own veggie coleslaw. steam the veggies so they're firm, chop them into strips/chunks and instead of mixing with mayo, mix with a spicy mustard. SOOO good, refreshing, filling & low cal.

    Feel free to look at my diary to see what I eat on a reg basis as I live on veggies!!
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    Boiled artichokes. Cook until a fork will easily pierce the heart (bottom)
    Dip leaves in butter and A1.
  • BeachGingerOnTheRocks
    BeachGingerOnTheRocks Posts: 3,927 Member
    Roast them, puree them, grill them, sautee them, smoothie them, pickle them, dip them, salad them, slaw them, omelet them, frittata them... mmm veggies.

    This. I love them in all their ways.
  • I have been roasting alot of my vegetables. A little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, pop in 400 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes and VOILA! Super tasty and healthy. My favorite has become brussel sprouts :)
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566
    I just experiment with different seasonings and combinations. Sometimes you can really surprise yourself when you make a combination that seems crazy, but tastes sooooo good!
  • I agree with you in making them into a smoothie. I drink my veggies in the morning and my family thinks I am gross. I didn't even go out and purchase an expensive juicer...I use my old Hamilton Beach blender and throw everything in there I can think of-makes for a great "fast" food option and super nutritious.
  • rebelate
    rebelate Posts: 218 Member
    I steam them then throw them in a pan with oil/spray oil, and some seasoning or some balsamic vinaigrette. I prefer "squishy" veggies so steaming gets them the consistency I want, then I fancy them up in a pan! My partner loooooves when I steam asparagus then throw it in a pan with kraft parm, black pepper, salt, and chili flakes or steamed zucchini, and bell pepper then cooked in a pan with balsamic vinaigrette!

    I also like to make cauliflower mash, and roasted broccoli.
  • Katmary71
    Katmary71 Posts: 7,087 Member
    Baked, or roasted, veggies are awesome! Basically, cut up the veggies, toss in olive oil and whatever seasonings you may likee (garlic and sea salt or something like Trader Joes 21 seasoning blend is great with most veggies and eggs). Spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and put in the oven around 400 degrees. I'm sure if you google it, you can find the time limits, or you can watch them carefully. I've found broccoli gets an almost buttery flavor. Zuchinni and summer squash taste amazing (especially if addiing freshly chopped basil on once they're done), but don't last the best for leftovers. Same goes with them grilled. Green beans and asparagus also are good ones to roast. Same goes with winter veggies like root vegetables, just make sure to cut them in similar slices so they finish around the same. I tried this for Thanksgiving after getting some new to me veggies in my CSA box and made a medley of Chinese Sweet Potato, Carrots, Parsnips, and Delicata Squash tossed with olive oil to cook, then added some white balsamic vinegar when they came out. Yum!

    I also second grilling as well. A great way to have artichokes is to cut them in half and get all the fuzzy stuff out, then brush with olive oil and add garlic. Let them sit for a bit, then grill them until ready. They're insanely delicious! We usually have them as appetizers when grilling. I have 3 artichokes from my CSA box and now I'm craving them grilled vs. steamed in a pot, though I love chokes any way, grilled is just the best I've tried yet. In general, I've stopped steaming vegetables and at least cook them with a little olive oil in a pan as the flavor comes out better that way, though I do like steamed as long as they don't get mushy.

    Two sites I can think of off-hand with good veggie recipes are Eating Well and A Veggie Venture. The latter's a blog and she has two food blogs, and I'm pretty sure it's the one with recipes organized by type and you can click on for ideas.
  • Zumaria1
    Zumaria1 Posts: 225 Member
    I love veggies, two favorites that I like to make are:

    1) Southern/Soul Food style Collard or Kale Greens: with turkey bacon,and onions. I saute the bacon until crisp, then add onions, then I add 2 cups water and season with a little balsamic vinegar, garlic powder salt and pepper. Then I add the greens and cook about 45 min. It makes a big pot and the greens just taste better the next day!

    2) Cabbage and Leeks: I take a whole head of green cabbage and chop finely. I first saute cleaned and chopped leeks in olive oil. Then add the cabbage. I season with Mrs. Dash or whatever you like. Add a little water and cook about 20 min. This too makes a big pot and tastes delicious!
  • aikasm
    aikasm Posts: 63
    try this creamy mashed cauliflower recipe, it's delicious and low cal!
    http://www.sproutandpea.com/2010/12/creamy-mashed-cauliflower/
  • ajcrain
    ajcrain Posts: 25 Member
    Roast them! Broccoli , cauliflower, Brussels sprouts , anything! I even roasted cabbage the other night and it was delicious!
  • dirtmagnets
    dirtmagnets Posts: 116 Member
    We love roasted veggies. I chop up whatever we have on hand (last time was carrot, broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, red onion, red and green pepper, and jicama), toss them in a tiny bit of olive oil, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper, spread them out on a baking sheet, and then throw them in a 425 degree oven for a few minutes, until the edges are starting to brown. I usually make at least one full baking sheet, sometimes two, because they'll store in the refrigerator/warm back up nicely for several days.