My Top 5 Ways to Make Vegetables Taste Great!
Do you like vegetables? To some, they may taste bland, but did you know there are plenty of ways to add flavor and make them taste great! I like to refer to Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. If you haven’t read the book or watched the show on Netflix, I’d highly recommend it. Samin shares the best ways to add flavor to all foods, vegetables included. Read on for my 5 favorite ways to make vegetables taste delicious.
Add garlic, onion, and herbs
What better way to add a punch of flavor than with garlic and onion! You don’t always have to have fresh onion or garlic on hand to get great flavor; try keeping garlic and onion powder in your pantry and you’ll be amazed at how much flavor just a dash of either can provide. If you’re trying to limit sodium intake, be sure to purchase garlic or onion powder instead of garlic or onion salt, which contain sodium.
Herbs are another simple addition. Dried herbs, such as basil, rosemary, thyme, and oregano, are easy to keep in your pantry. Fresh herbs are also a good option if you have them on hand and are easy to grow in a kitchen window.
Cabbage roasted with avocado oil and garlic powder.
Add citrus
Acid, such as fresh lemon, lime, or orange juice is another excellent way to add flavor to vegetables. Raw veggies in a salad can be made more appealing with citrus-based salad dressings or even just a squeeze of lemon juice and olive oil. Samin states that acid balances flavor; for example, if you accidentally add too much salt to your guacamole, add a little extra lime juice.
Add salt
Salt can really bring out the flavor in your veggies. Though too much sodium can be a bad thing if you have high blood pressure, a dash of salt can add the finishing touch to whatever you’re cooking. You can salt your veggies before cooking them or just add a sprinkle just before serving.
Potatoes roasted with avocado oil and dried rosemary.
Add fat
Fat makes food taste good and isn’t something you should be afraid of when cooking. Oil or butter are great options when cooking veggies and makes them taste a lot better than when they are cooked without any fat. Not only does fat add flavor, but it actually helps you absorb more nutrients, therefore, it’s best to skip the fat-free salad dressing. Check out some of my previous blog posts if you’re wondering what fats are best for heart health.
Try tossing sliced zucchini and bell pepper with avocado oil, salt, and pepper and grilling them along with whatever else you’re cooking on the barbeque!
Cook them (but don’t overcook them)
Cooking vegetables actually allows the nutrients they contain to be more available for absorption. My favorite way to cook vegetables is roasting; I prefer to roast veggies in avocado oil because of the high smoke point. Check out one of my previous blog posts if you’d like to learn how to roast veggies. You can even roast frozen broccoli! Similarly, grilling vegetables is another option, and easy to do if you already have meat on the grill.
Steamed veggies are nice and quick, but can sometimes be lacking in flavor. Follow my tips above and add some fat and seasoning of some kind.
Most people don’t like to eat mushy vegetables, so make sure they still have a bit of a crunch. Whether steaming, roasting, or grilling, I like to cook until veggies are fork-tender. One cooking method I recommend avoiding is boiling because this often will lead to mushy veggies. Also, many of the nutrients are lost in the water, so unless you plan on consuming the water (like in a soup), I’d steer clear of boiled veggies.
There are so many ways to make vegetables more exciting and taste delicious. Just remember salt, fat, acid, and heat! Also keep in mind that these tips can apply to anything you are cooking, not just vegetables. What are your favorite ways to eat vegetables?
