Try these 4 Vegetables in a Different Way for Your Next Healthy Meal!
The next time you’re struggling to compromise between eating healthy and actually eating food that tastes good, be sure to try out these five vegetables that you can easily find in your cupboard (or at the nearest market) to give your next meal a delicious twist:
1. Broccoli – Broccoli can cooked in a variety of different ways, whether it’s oven-roasted, pan-fried, of steamed along with a generous pinch of salt and just the slightest drizzle of olive oil.
When steaming broccoli, don’t forget to check after five minutes to see if they’re tender using a fork. Once they are, you can remove them from the heat and proceed to dig in.
(Tip: As much as possible, steam yourvegetables instead of boiling them – this is perhaps the optimal way of cookingthem without taking out their nutritional value.)
2. Cauliflower – Braise the florets (tight white or purple heads – make sure that there are no brown or yellow spots) by placing them in a large skillet, along with half a cup of dry white wine and half a teaspoon of caraway seeds, and letting them simmer.
Once the cauliflower florets start to simmer, reduce the heat and cover the skillet. Cook them for about four minutes until they become tender, after which you can proceed to serve.
(Tip: You can microwave most vegetables ifyou’re not sure whether you’ll like the taste – except for cauliflower. This isto preserve its vitamins and various phytonutrients, which are said to helpfight cancer.)
3. Carrots – Cook these in a skillet along with a tablespoon each of oil and sugar, along with ¼ cup of water. Smaller carrots (or baby carrots, if you prefer) are ideally cooked whole, while larger carrots should be cut into smaller rounds or chunks.
Carrots are also delicious roasted, and are a must-have for any instant hors d’oeuvres you plan on making.
(Tip: When sautéing vegetables, be sure to give them a good stir to prevent them from burning!)
4. Brussel sprouts –Be sure to add just a slight drizzle of soy sauce and olive oil before roasting them in an oven over high heat to bring out their flavors.
One great thing about roasting vegetables is that they take virtually no time at all to prepare before placing them in the oven. With only a small amount of oil and herbs (to add some flavor into the mix), you can place your veggies in a baking dish and leave them to roast.
(Tip: With the right vegetables, roasting can bring out a unique flavor that you otherwise don’t get with other methods such as boiling or steaming. This also slightly caramelizes their internal sugar content, which in turn brings out their natural sweetness.)