How to flavor some steamed veggies

Planning on having some steamed veg with dinner tonight (carrots, broccoli, cauliflower), but don't know what to put on them for a little flavor.

Please don't tell me to eat them plain, that just isn't going to fly in my family. We're taking babysteps.

I would usually have put butter and salt

Any yummy, non-fatty suggestions?

Well, a bit of low fat hummous is GORGEOUS with broccoli. a heaped teaspoon of low fat hummous not too high in cals and it goes a long way on a few broccoli florets.

Lemon juice is good but for a change of pace also try lime juice or orange juice. You can punch it up more by grating some of the zest of the fruit on as well. Finish it up with salt and pepper or Mrs Dash and you are good to go.

Another great one -- GARLIC!

Flavored vinegars are also great. I have a very light taragon flavored vinegar that I use all the time on veggies. For an asian flare try some sesame oil. It has a ton of flavor so you only need a few drops.

And don't forget that a teaspoon of olive oil or butter only has 40 calories so if is a meal for four and you can stick to that portion it is just 10 calories per person.

Mashed Potatoes!!! as in mixed completely into the taters hahaha that's actually how I used to eat them when I was not caring about health and smothered them so I couldnt taste or see them haha I had to say that when I saw the post title. There are some low fat/calorie cheese (cheddar or mozzarella) you can melt on it or of course the plain old olive oil or butter. There's some creamy sauces too like maybe a low calorie creamy italian dressing or non creamy italian dressing for like 25 calories if you go that way. A creamy low calorie parmesion dressing might be tasty too.

I like Molly McButter.

Great ideas! I've been trying to find a way to make veggies more enticing. I wonder what Applebees and Olive Garden do to their veggies that makes them so yummy. Anyone know?

These may have been mentioned already, but I use a lot of the "spice blends" from McCormick. You may have to watch sodium on some of them. I sprinkle them on before I steam the veggies. Seems to really get the flavor in them that way.

Seasoned Pepper Blend (black and bell peppers)
Salad Supreme
Parmesan Herb

Also, I can't remember the brand, but there are powdered "shake" cheeses - White Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar that we sprinkle on after steaming.

Good luck!!

I looked up the answer to your question in my favorite cooking guide, which I won't name
since I'm not promoting the guide, just using it.

Cauliflower doesn't "steam" well because it tends to overcook and get soggy. It also loses much of its flavor
along with many of its nutrients, including minerals, water soluble vitamins (such as C and B-complex vitamins) and health promoting phytonutrients. Chop it up (quarter the florets) and eat it raw if you don't have time to saute it in some chicken
broth for 5 minutes. Al dente cooking is the best alternative for cauliflower.

Additional flavoring might be: curry powder, tumeric (which is milder), capers, garlic, minced anchovies, parmesan cheese, minced parsley or even cilantro. Tamari sauce (soy) should be used sparingly for its sodium content is high. We often make a melted cheddar cheese sauce (low fat) to enhance both cauliflower and broccoli as a main dish.

Carrots steam just fine in only 5 minutes if you cut them into 1/4" slices. If you need some flavoring, render some orange juice
into a sauce to pour over the carrots.

Broccoli steams fine too, in only 5 minutes if you break down the florets to smaller sizes. If its undercooked it will still taste good. Buy it fresh and serve it hot.

If it's brown or overcooked, I wouldn't eat it if it was covered with swiss chocolate.

What's wrong with butter, salt, and pepper? It doesn't take much butter to make your veggies taste better, and fat isn't bad for you. As long as it fits into your calorie budget, and it's real food, eat what you want.

I agree. I use butter and salt.

Okay. Here is what I would do. Under steam the vegetables just a touch. Drain them and toss them with balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp of olive oil, cracked black pepper and minced fresh garlic. Put the veggies on a baking sheet and broil them for about 3 minutes. So delicious!

Soy sauce!

Might as well use salt lol Both soooo good lol.

I uses the same seasonings I used to grill my meat, 0 calories

Garlic and a teensy bit of olive oil go a long way. I usually also add sea salt and crushed red pepper. Mmmmm...

This is what I typically do and it is super tasty!

I spray Butter flavored Pam on the vegetables and then steam them....you can spray ALL you want....cause NO CALORIES!!!!.... and GREAT flavor!!....Hope this helps....

I marinade them in Italian Salad Dressing then steam.

I slice a lemon really thin and layer it on the bottom of my steamer before I put the veggies in. Also a little lemon juice on steamed broccoli is my favorite snack