Growing up I wasn’t the biggest fan of vegetables. There were a few select veggies I enjoyed (green beans and carrots), but I didn’t like to venture outside of my comfort zone. Once I graduated from college and began regularly preparing my own meals, I started to shift my focus and prioritize my health. With that shift, I began incorporating a lot more vegetables into my diet.
At first I stuck to salads, but there are only so many salads you can stomach before the desire to eat vegetables in a new way surfaces. Throughout the past few years, I have done a lot of experimenting in the kitchen and now have a handful of go-to methods I regularly use when it comes to preparing and enjoying vegetables. Here are a few of my favorite ways to enhance the flavor of vegetables and make them taste a little better!
How To Make Vegetables Taste Delicious
- Roast Them
I know it may sound crazy to some, but I never roasted vegetables until I was in my mid-20s! I clearly never knew what I was missing because now roasting veggies is my go-to method for bringing out their flavor and taking them to another level. I toss them in olive oil and my favorite spices and roast most veggies at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes (flipping halfway through). So good!
A favorite recipe:
Ginger Curry Roasted Cauliflower
- Add Nuts
By adding nuts to a vegetable dish, you add texture, flavor and healthy fats! I love sprinkling Blue Diamond Lightly Salted Almonds on top of green beans or roasted broccoli and Blue Diamond Honey Roasted Almonds are fantastic on top of a sweet potato with a sprinkle of cinnamon!
Some favorite recipes:
Cinnamon Glazed Carrots with Blue Diamond Butter Toffee Almonds
- Experiment with Different Seasonings
At first, whenever I would roast vegetables, I would stick to salt and pepper but once I started experimenting with different spices and seasonings, I realized just now much better vegetables could taste with a little kick of flavor. Some of my favorites include curry, ginger, rosemary, seasoned salt and garlic salt.
- Throw Them Into a Smoothie
Throwing fresh or frozen spinach into a smoothie is a great way to sneak in some greens without the taste of spinach overpowering an otherwise sweet treat!
Some favorite recipes:
- Turn Them Into Healthy Fries
Oh veggie fries, how I love you!! There are a handful of vegetables out there that make great healthy fries and taste fantastic dipped in ketchup!
Some favorite recipes:
- Make Them Part of a Bigger Dish
Adding vegetables to a bigger dish is one of the easiest ways to incorporate them into a meal. Toss extra veggies in a casserole, quiche, crock pot dinner or lasagna and enjoy!
Some favorite recipes:
Butternut Squash and Wheat Berry Mock Risotto
Artichoke and Broccoli Quiche with a Barley Crust
- Throw Them Into Soup or Chili
With colder temperatures on the horizon, homemade soup and hearty chili will surely become dinnertime staples in our house very soon. I like to add tons of vegetables to soups and chili. They add flavor and color and obviously pack a nutritional punch!
Some favorite recipes:
Extra Chunky Homemade Chicken Soup
- Toss Them Into Your Favorite Pasta Dish
Chopped broccoli or cauliflower tastes fantastic in pasta staples like spaghetti and macaroni and cheese! Experiment with different sauces and veggies to find flavors you enjoy together.
Some recipe favorites:
- Dip Them In Something
Choose a healthy dip like hummus or guacamole and dip away! This makes a great snack option for those trying to incorporate vegetables into their diet throughout the day outside of the usual breakfast, lunch and dinnertime meals.
A favorite recipe:
Healthy Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
Question of the Afternoon
- What are some of your favorite ways to make vegetables taste great?
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