Posted on December 14 2015
Veggies are one of the healthiest foods you can eat, but let's be honest, they're not as appetizing as a bowl of creamy pasta or a juicy steak. While you could always cover them in cheese or salad dressing -that really defeats the purpose of eating clean. Luckily, there are several other ways you can make veggies taste delicious without sacrificing their nutritional value:
Make an olive oil dip
Olive oil is beneficial for your heart and makes veggies taste less bitter. To make an olive oil dip, you will need:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 smashed garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup green olives
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Real Simple suggests putting the olive oil, red pepper flakes, olives, garlic, thyme and salt in a medium sauce pan and cooking over medium heat for about two minutes. Then, pour the dip into a bowl and eat it with broccoli, radishes and other veggies of your choosing. If you don't finish all the dip, vacuum seal and save for a future snack.
Buy baby vegetables
Because vegetables tend to taste more bitter as they mature, consider buying the baby versions. In addition to having a better flavor, they are more tender and easier to cook with. You can find baby veggies at farmer's markets and specialty grocery stores.
Roast them in the oven
The heat from the oven will caramelize the sugars in vegetables, so try roasting them in a 475 degree oven. After you cut your veggies into even pieces and spread them out on a baking sheet, cook them in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes. When you take them out to eat, they will be bursting with flavor.
Drizzle with citrus
Citrus juice will enhance the flavor of just about any vegetable and is low in calories. If you don't want to use lemons or limes, try grapefruits and oranges - they are equally tasty!
Mix them with fruit
A good way to combine veggies and fruit is in a salad. You can create a delicious salad with the following ingredients:
- 2 cups sliced carrot
- 1/2 cup light balsamic vinaigrette
- 1/2 pound asparagus spears cut into small pieces
- 8 cups mixed salad greens
- 2 cups slice strawberries
Health.com recommends cooking the asparagus and carrot in a pot of boiling water for about two minutes. Then, put the veggies in a bowl of ice water for a minute and drain. Throw the greens, strawberries and veggies in a bowl and add some dressing.
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