vegetable ideas?

hey everyone! sorry to say i don't have much to share, i'm actually asking for YOUR favorite ways to cook vegetables? I'm really trying to broaden my diet here and fit as many vegetables as possible. but let's be real, a few veggies just don't taste too good, especially alone. (i can eat just about anything if i can eat it with a bite of something else haha)

so feel free to share your ideas!! :)

Replies

  • bingwald
    bingwald Posts: 12 Member
    During the warm months I love grilled anything. A little EVOO, sea salt, and pepper and I'll eat about anything.
    I also like to use zucchini to make pizza boats. (I'm a pizza junkie)
    Mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. (My husband prefers this to potatoes. He adds garlic and parmisan and dresses it up)
    I'll also throw frozen veggies into whatever I'm making. I tend to use the stir-fry frozen veggies more than the peas and carrots mix. We make a lot of brown rice and curry dishes with chicken to keep in the fridge, so that works great.
  • BekkahS1552
    BekkahS1552 Posts: 34
    @bingwald ~ I like your idea of adding Parmesan & Garlic to mashed cauliflower... thanks for the tip! :smile:
  • iwannabinnarnia
    iwannabinnarnia Posts: 179 Member
    I make pasta salads with veggies. Pretty much any veggie works.. cook some pasta (any kind), throw in your veggies (I typically use carrots, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes) then a fat free dressing ( ranch and italian are my two favorite to use).. to make it a meal you can add diced chicken breast....
  • I love mushrooms! Especially Portobello... they have the reminiscent of "meat". So what I did last night for a Memorial Day "upgrade" was:

    Ingredients:
    Balsamic Vinegar
    Portobello Mushroom (4)
    Sweet Potato (1 large)
    Cauliflower Floret (1 large)
    Mozzarella
    Cilantro
    Tri-color peppers
    Garlic
    Sea salt

    Spray or brush the Portobello's with Balsamic Vinegar and place in pre-heating oven at 350 degrees (it takes 9 mins for my oven to reach 350.

    While the timer is going. I have 9 mins to get the other veggies ready.

    Using the Microwave:
    Boil and mash cauliflower (1 large floret)
    Microwave then mash sweet potatoes (1 large)

    Sliced sweet tri-colored peppers

    Sliced Mozzarella cheese

    Cilantro (fresh)
    Garlic
    Sea salt


    Preparation:

    Season to taste and mix cauliflower, sweet potato, and sliced mozz together
    Now dried balsamic Portobello caps, I fill them with a mix of the mash above
    Add tri-color peppers and cilantro with more Mozz (if you like)

    Place in now Heated Oven for about 4-6 mins and VOILA its done in less than 20 mins.

    It was a hit. My family loved them. This recipe makes about 4 servings
  • ACCTGQUEEN
    ACCTGQUEEN Posts: 30 Member
    I saute a zucchini (sliced) with a sweet onion in a little olive oil. Season with garlic powder and black pepper.
  • b3kah5
    b3kah5 Posts: 280 Member
    I was watching a rerun of EWL and the nutritionist recommended adding a little marinara sauce and a little Parmesan.
  • IndecisiveGirl2013
    IndecisiveGirl2013 Posts: 67 Member
    I like to stir fry veggies in chilli and garlic. I sometimes roast veggies after sprinkling over spices or seasonings (Cajun, curry powder etc). Or just squeeze over some fresh lemon or lime juice. Yummy
  • fifty6ford
    fifty6ford Posts: 59 Member
    Romaine lettuce .......cooked! I know it sounds weird but I absolutely love it. The original recipe is grilled, but I prefer to put it in the oven.

    Grilled- cut romaine in half longwise. Brush outer side and cut side with EVOO, sprinkle both sides lightly with Montreal steak seasoning grill both sides just until the lightly char.

    In the oven - after cutting longwise, cut across in strips about an inch and a half wide, put in a roasting pan, spray with cooking spray and sprinkle lightly with Montreal seasoning. If i have something else in the oven I just put it in and check it after a labour 8-10 mins. If I'm just cooking it, I use the broiler and check it after a few minutes, toss and put it back in. My husband also loves not only as a side but also on burgers and sandwiches.
  • iKapuniai
    iKapuniai Posts: 594 Member
    I absolutely love green beans. But not frozen, nor canned... must be fresh, and should still have a bite when cooked! I'm doing low sugar/carb so I like to fry it up with some coconut oil or butter, with onions and crispy bacon. Mmmmmmf!
  • 2BeHappy2
    2BeHappy2 Posts: 811 Member
    My husband & I made a deal that if we swapped out pasta for spaghetti squash that we could keep his "meat sauce"
    Ive heard some people say use the squash (adding a little butter, salt& pepper) like a side noodle but we haven't tried it that way.
    My husband is willing to go along w/ me on certain things but I don't think he'd go on that!
    Ive heard people talk about mock lasagna using slices of zucchini to replace the pasta.
    I believe someone on here suggested zucchini boats.
    Blend up a bunch of veggies and add it to your meatloaf.
    Theres a new veggie item that forms noodles from veggies (vegetti?)
    Ive heard of people using that and having zucchini noodles and making stir-fry
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    I saute a zucchini (sliced) with a sweet onion in a little olive oil. Season with garlic powder and black pepper.

    i've been dong a lot of zucchini recently from back yard. sauted misted olive oil, with handfuls of fresh sage, basil, parsley and dill. my mother would roll in her grave if she knew. i've been throwing the herbs in salad too... a nice kick
  • PaytraB
    PaytraB Posts: 2,360 Member
    Fresh beans (as mentioned), either green or waxed or a combo, cooked with garlic and salt. Any leftovers can be made into a bean salad by adding finely diced onion, some fresh dill and tossed with a light vinaigrette.

    I enjoy subbing spaghetti squash for pasta and using a regular pasta sauce, either with or without meat.

    fifty6ford, I once worked with a lady who made lettuce soup. It was delicious, so I'm not surprised that grilled or cooked romaine is good. I am going to try that. Thanks for the new idea!

    Edamame bean salad with red peppers, onion and sometimes corn is very tasty, too.

    In general, adding garlic or sometimes a touch of hot sauce to the water adds flavor and spice to veggies.

    Cauliflower mash is really good. I enjoy this a lot and will remember to add some parmesan and garlic next time. That sounds delicious.
  • fifty6ford
    fifty6ford Posts: 59 Member
    PaytraB, I first had cooked lettuce on a pizza when we relocated here from Ohio 7 years ago. It seemed a little weird to me but it was actually very good. I had heard of grilling it, but never tried it until this year.

    I've been really trying to make vegetables more flavorful and interesting. It seems to be working because when we go to the store, my husband will say, "let's go see what veggies look good!"
  • Lelah77
    Lelah77 Posts: 177 Member
    I roast veggies in the oven a LOT and I also like to grill them. I use a spritz of oil, and a sprinkle of seasonings (whatever you are in the mood for -- Since I've started losing weight, my spice cabinet has become VERY extensive!!!) and pop it in the oven.

    I like to sub burgers for a Portobello (brushed in balsamic, like a PP mentioned) but I grill it.

    I shred carrots, zucchini, onions, and anything else that will stand up to a good shredding and add it to meatloaf, turkey burgers, meatballs, and any other ground meat concoction you can think of. You can easily double a recipe this way while minimizing the caloric increase. Plus, the extra fiber fills you up faster (and my family rarely ever notices the additions even though they all scoff at veggies in general.)

    I enjoy steamed veggies with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese or a sprinkle of "Veggie Supreme" seasoning (made by McCormick, I think). Soooo good, and again, minimal calories added.
  • annadjanssen
    annadjanssen Posts: 29 Member
    The easiest tasty vegetables I think is a bag of frozen mixed vegetables ( I like the blend with squash in it or Normandy blend) on a cookie sheet, sprinkle on some lemon pepper and throw in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or so. They stay firm, taste fresh, and have no added fat or calories.
  • You can sneak in squash and mushrooms into a lot of dishes without really noticing. Also I love to use onions, different types of peppers, and sometimes celery when making soups, chili, spaghetti, or whatever for some extra flavor and to get more vegetables into my diet. I really struggle with getting enough vegetables every day. I have started putting spinach or kale into my protein shakes for one easy full serving of greens without a lot of effort. So now I really only have two worry about making sure I eat servings with lunch and dinner.
  • victoria_b482
    victoria_b482 Posts: 35 Member
    I love to cook bell peppers and onions in a non stick pan with worchestershire sauce. I made my husband and kids meat balls out of ground turkey with spices and gravy with corn and potatoes which they loved. I only ate the corn with my onion and bell peppers thrown in on top of some spinach leaves and it was delicious and filling. Portebello mushrooms and zucchini would have been a great addition.
  • victoria_b482
    victoria_b482 Posts: 35 Member
    I know what you mean. I put spinach and kale in my fruit smoothies I make and sneak veggies into the food I cook a lot. I do not eat a lot of veggies but when I do I usually sneak it in to get the benefits without making my taste buds suffer.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    I saute a zucchini (sliced) with a sweet onion in a little olive oil. Season with garlic powder and black pepper.

    i've been dong a lot of zucchini recently from back yard. sauted misted olive oil, with handfuls of fresh sage, basil, parsley and dill. my mother would roll in her grave if she knew. i've been throwing the herbs in salad too... a nice kick
    and I was recently introduced to adobo all purpose seasoning. I'm loving it.
  • aprice_12
    aprice_12 Posts: 3 Member
    Bok Choy is one of our favorites right now. I like to stir fry it with shredded carrots, onions, and garlic with some fresh grated ginger in a little olive oil. I have served baked chicken with it, stir fried chicken in it, and served ginger glazed salmon over it. Even my kiddos like it.

    I add bok choy to salads and other stir fry ingredients as well. I like its mild flavor and satisfying crunch.
  • typaymommie
    typaymommie Posts: 23 Member
    I love stuffed peppers, and they are also my 12 year old's favorite meal. Use colorful peppers for a pretty meal.

    4 bell peppers-hollowed out. Save the tops.
    1C cooked brown rice
    1/2lb cooked ground chicken breast
    1can low salt tomato sauce
    1T Worcestershire sauce
    1t each dried basil, dried mustard, garlic

    Mix together all of the ingredients except for the peppers-until warmed thru. To get the peppers to stand upright, you might need to slice a very small part off the bottom. Stuff the peppers with the ingredients. Place in a pan. Pour in the bottom of the pan water so it's just covering the bottom of the pan. Cover pan with foil. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until peppers are soft.
    You can liven up the spices with red pepper flakes, cumin, chili powder, whatever you like. My kids just like these spices.
  • typaymommie
    typaymommie Posts: 23 Member
    I've never cooked with bok choy. Do you use just the green part or the white bulb as well?
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,607 Member
    I saute a zucchini (sliced) with a sweet onion in a little olive oil. Season with garlic powder and black pepper.

    i've been dong a lot of zucchini recently from back yard. sauted misted olive oil, with handfuls of fresh sage, basil, parsley and dill. my mother would roll in her grave if she knew. i've been throwing the herbs in salad too... a nice kick

    my sage bush is going to flower. what a pretty plant
  • struggeling53
    struggeling53 Posts: 36 Member
    I like to cut my veggies thin, put salt, pepper, whatever spices i like on them , then put them in the dehydrator, makes yummy chips......I also put veggies in my smoothies...
  • shannonlynne67
    shannonlynne67 Posts: 62 Member
    This is my new favorite salad:
    Shred carrots and beets, add chopped apple, a few walnuts and dried cherries (or cranberries), then add a little lemon. This stores well in glass jars in the fridge. When it is time to eat I place the shredded veggies on a bed of green lettuce, or kale, or spinach; add feta and homemade honey dijon vinaigrette. YUM!
  • emt4u
    emt4u Posts: 4 Member
    Try cooking or steaming a head of cauliflower and mash it like mashed potatoes. It is healthier and you can put onion, bacon bits and low fat cheese and it is like a loaded baked potato but without all the carbs! I also try to steam or grill all my veggies.
  • Gidzmo
    Gidzmo Posts: 906 Member
    hey everyone! sorry to say i don't have much to share, i'm actually asking for YOUR favorite ways to cook vegetables? I'm really trying to broaden my diet here and fit as many vegetables as possible. but let's be real, a few veggies just don't taste too good, especially alone. (i can eat just about anything if i can eat it with a bite of something else haha) so feel free to share your ideas!! :)

    If you like a good variety of veggies and you like cheese....

    Take some of several different veggies (for example: potatoes, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and caulflower). Trim and/or cut as necessary. Steam each in separate pots until fork-tender.
    Place some of each veggie on a microwave-safe plate. Dot with some butter and top with cheese slices (we used Velveeta). Microwave on high power until the cheese is melted (be careful, plate will be hot). Enjoy immediately.