How to Love Veggies

The secret to loving veggies really boils down to just making them taste good.  Here
are my favorite ways to make veggies so delicious that you can’t help but fall in love
with them.

1) Roast your Veggies

Roasted veggies are a thousand times more delicious than boiled/steamed veggies.
Just sayin’! 

Roasting is pretty much my go-to method for cooking veggies – it’s pretty hands-off,
and it gets them nicely browned and caramelized so that they actually have more
flavor! Think about the difference between eating a plain boiled potato and crispy
roasted potato wedges – the latter definitely sounds more appealing to me, and the
same goes for pretty much any vegetable!

Some of my favorite veggies to roast are broccoli, cauliflower, green beans,

asparagus, and brussels sprouts. Getting a little color and crispiness on these
veggies really amps up their flavor and makes them much more lovable. The method
is simple, too. Just heat the oven to 400 degrees F, toss veggies in a drizzle of oil
and a pinch of salt and pepper (plus whatever other spices you’d like), and roast until
tender! (Hot tip: to easily evenly coat the veggies in oil, put the veggies in a ziplock
bag, pour in some oil, and mix it around in there. Easier than trying to drizzle it on
evenly when already in the pan!) I usually pull softer veggies like green beans and
asparagus after 7-10 minutes, in-between veggies like brussels sprouts, broccoli,
and cauliflower after 15-20 minutes, and harder root veggies like potatoes and
parsnips after 20-25 minutes.

Looking for some flavor inspiration? Check out my Maple Cinnamon Roasted
Veggies and Garlic Herb Roasted Veggies  – both seasonings can be used on any
combination of veggies you’re into! Also, check this post out: how to make brussels
sprouts delicious . I used to make what I think is a common mistake when cooking
brussels!

2) Don’t Shy Away from Seasonings

Like I said before, I’ve worked with so many clients who think that “eating veggies”
means “eating plain, steamed veggies with nothing else on them.” That’s totally not
the case – veggies don’t have to be boring. Bring on the spices!

Adding spices, herbs, and seasonings is the best way to add tons of flavor to
veggies, and a well-stocked spice cabinet can go a long way in making your veggies
taste great. Here are some of my favorite seasoning combinations:
 Ground cumin + chili powder (try this on my Mexican-Style Sweet Potato Fries  or as
a seasoning on just about any roasted veggie)

 Garlic + lemon zest (try this on my Lemon Garlic String Beans  or on roasted or
sauteed veggies – especially asparagus, broccoli, zucchini, and cauliflower!)

 Maple + cinnamon (try this on cozy fall/winter veggies like sweet potatoes, butternut
or acorn squash, parsnips, brussels sprouts, and turnips – reference this post:  Maple
Cinnamon Roasted Veggies ) 

 Garlic + rosemary (this is great on just about any veggie! Perfect for roasted or
sauteed veggies – reference this post: Garlic Herb Roasted Veggies )

 Pesto (try this in my Pesto Baked Salmon & Veggies  or toss any veggie in pesto
after roasting/steaming/sauteing, etc. It adds so much flavor!)

 Ginger + garlic + soy sauce (try adding this to stir-fried/sauteed veggies when they’re
almost done cooking, or even on a sheet pan dinner like my Sheet Pan Asian
Salmon with Veggies )

3) Make Salads Interesting

Just like how veggies with no seasoning aren’t always so lovable, salads with just
lettuce and boring dressing aren’t likely to make you swoon. Here’s how to make
salads more interesting while still keeping them veggie-heavy:

 Combine a variety of veggies. The key to a salad that keeps me interested is a

variety of flavors, textures, and colors. I like to start out with greens and add crunchy
fruits and veggies like peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, snap peas, or apples and
juicy fruits and veggies like berries or tomatoes. The combination of textures and
flavors is so much more interesting than just lettuce on a plate! Try my  Mason Jar
Kale Salad and Strawberry and Fennel Barley Salad  for ideas that are chock full of
different flavors and textures.

 Add crunch. In addition to adding crunchy veggies, I like to add extra crunch to
keep me satisfied. Nuts and seeds like sliced almonds, chopped pecans and
walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and more provide awesome crunch and a boost of healthy
fats and nutty flavor for extra flavor and staying power. I also love crispy chickpeas
on salads! They boost the protein and fiber so you stay full while adding lots of
crunch. Try crispy chickpea “croutons” on my Vegan Kale Caesar Salad !

 Make a flavorful dressing. Some people just need a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar
to get excited about salad, but I think a more flavorful dressing is the way to go! I
always prefer homemade salad dressings, because they taste better, and since
bottled ones can be loaded with sugar and other fillers. Homemade dressings are
 way easier to make than you think – try Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette  (<–
seriously, so easy & yummy!) or Creamy Vegan Salad Dressing.

 Switch up your greens – and treat them right! If spring mix or romaine lettuce
doesn’t excite you, don’t stop there! There are plenty of greens to choose from to mix
up the flavors and textures in your salad. Arugula brings a spicy kick, romaine is nice
and crunchy, spring mix and spinach are more tender, and kale is hearty and sturdy.
Just make sure to treat your greens right – adding dressing to the mix too early will
make lettuce and spinach soggy, but dressing kale in advance and massaging the
dressing into it helps make it tender and delicious! If you’re not a fan of kale salads
because of kale’s chewy texture, try dressing it in advance and I’m sure you’ll love
how tender it gets.

 Add grains + protein for a full meal. My all-time favorite lunch is an easy grain
salad bowl. When your greens and veggies are accented by grains, protein, healthy
fats, and a fun dressing, it’s hard to get bored of them or wish for more flavor. The
best part? The combinations are endless! Check out my post on  Mix & Match Grain
Salad Bowls for lots of ideas.

And if all else fails and you still aren’t feeling the veggies on their own, my last tip is
to just serve some of your meals over microwave-wilted spinach. Just place a huge
handful of fresh baby spinach on a plate, microwave for 45 seconds, and then add
your meal on top. You won’t taste the spinach! Spinach is also great in smoothies –
try my Banana Spinach Smoothie  for a simple base that you can customize.

Source: https://www.fannetasticfood.com/how-to-love-veggies/