Cooking Tips: How to make your steamed vegetables delicious and exciting
In this post I’m sharing 6 ways to add more flavor to steamed vegetables that won’t lead to bloating, gas, or get in the way of your weight loss goals.
If you’re a regular reader on the blog, then you know I’m quite dedicated to making foods and meals cleaner and better for you.
I also love taking the “boring” stuff, and making them delicious and exciting.
And for most people, there is not a side dish more boring than steamed vegetables, which is why today I’m sharing some my favorite ways to spruce them up - without adding any crap that might muck up the nutritional value of your meal, lead to bloating or digestion issues, or get in the way of your weight loss goals.
Blanch, first.
I prefer blanching over steaming, if I’m being honest.
Blanching, which involves briefly immersing vegetables in boiling water (for just a minute or two), followed by an ice bath to rapidly cool off the food, not only helps you retain the nutritional value of your food but it improves the flavor, color and texture of your vegetables, too. All of this immediately makes your vegetables more attractive and drool-worthy.
Marinate in veggie broth.
I love marinating vegetables in a bowl of vegetable broth for 10-15 minutes prior to steaming. It deepens the flavor immensely.
You can do this if you’re blanching your vegetables, too by simply blanching the vegetables in the broth instead of water.
Either way, expect a way better flavor profile.
Toss in fresh herbs.
I use fresh herbs in meals whenever I can - not only do they have their own unique nutritional benefits, but it is a delicious and basically calorie-free way to add lots and lots of flavor to meals. It works great on steamed vegetables, too.
When using fresh herbs, be sure to add them only once you’re done cooking the vegetables. Adding them too early may cause them to lose flavor and effectiveness. I like to roughly chop a handful of 1-2 different herbs, throw them in bowl with the cooked vegetables and toss them until they’re evenly coated. I like to add a bit of salt and pepper, too!
Use citrus.
Citrus, either lemon or orange, is another great way to add flavor to steamed vegetables. For a lighter flavor, a squeeze of juice will do. Or, for an even deeper citrus-y flavor, try adding citrus zest too using a zester or microplane. All of this can be done post-steam, once the vegetables are cooked.
Spice things up.
If you ask me, spices are the MVPs of the kitchen. Not only can they elevate the taste of your dish, but some have incredibly powerful health benefits, too.
Paprika, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes - there are endless possibilities literally sitting in your spice cabinet right now. Even a pinch of salt and pepper can do wonders for creating more flavorful steamed vegetables.
Try garlic.
For some, garlic can cause a lot of digestive distress - like bloating, gas, heartburn, etc. If you can tolerate it though, it’s a delicious add-on to just about any and every steamed vegetable or vegetable combination. And if you also want to reap the health benefits of the garlic (there are MANY), be sure to chop or mince and let the garlic sit for 10-15 minutes before adding it to your vegetables.
Eating more vegetables is essential for good health, and one of the best weight loss tools you have available to you .
Unfortunately, so many recipes out there call for excessive oils, sauces and salt, all of which can lead to digestive distress and weight gain.
If you want to clean up your diet, steamed (or blanched!) vegetables are the way to go.
Let this post serve as a great reminder that even steamed vegetables can be dynamic and flavorful if you want them to be.
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