Learn to make easy vegetable recipes to help you save time and save money.
How to Make Easy Vegetable Recipes
I tease my husband all the time and say that I am going to become a minimalist. I like my life simple and I like to find the path of least resistance. So even with cooking – if it is too complicated and requires a laundry list of ingredients – I am not going to do it!! I mean I LOVE to cook and I love good, healthy food but I don’t want to be a slave to the kitchen day in and day out to get food on the table.
I focus on ways to cook vegetables that are easy, versatile and ….. Minimalistic!!
To me easy vegetable recipes include:
- realistic ingredients
- less than 5 ingredients if possible and definetely not more than 10 ingedients
- They are interchangeable and versatile – meaning I can use a simple recipe a number of different ways to change it up
- It doesn’t cost much
- And it takes me little time to make. I don’t want to be cooking for an hour. No WAY!!!
One of the things I notice many people do not know how to make are vegetables and they are always searching for easy vegetable recipes and ways to cook vegetables so they don’t get bored with the same thing all the time. I mean steamed broccoli, cauliflower and carrots can get pretty old fast!!!
But many people also do not realize how VERSATILE vegetables are and how one little simple dish of sauteed greens can be used in SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS that will not only cut down your cooking time but you will add a TON of much needed nutrients to your diet and your body which in turn – helps you to lose weight.
We’ve heard it before….most people who struggle with weight are over-fed and under-nourished. We eat foods with tons of calories (Kentucky Fried Chicken) but little nutrients (spinach, kale, brussel sprouts). But when people are faced with having to make these types of foods – especially the veggies – it can get very overwhelming to think of making vegetable dishes every day.
I mean all that chopping, dicing, slicing, pureeing, mincing. UGH!!!
But don’t despair…..there is a way that is easier. Promise.
One of the KEY TRICKS to being able to whip up easy vegetable recipes is to learn the basics of cooking each vegetable.
Learning ways to cook vegetables without a recipe using FLAVOR COMBOS makes whipping up veggie dishes a SNAP.
Then…..learn how to CHANGE IT UP with what you have on hand in your pantry.
What is a Flavor Combo?
What is a Flavor Combo? Well, a flavor combo basically is a type of food that goes well and makes the flavor of each food taste even better. For instance raw apples happen to go really well with sauteed cabbage as do carrots, fennel seeds, coconut milk and raisins. So with this knowledge you can take a basic recipe of sauteed cabbage and CHANGE IT UP by using these different flavor combos. It is SOOOOO simple and makes cooking SUPER EASY and FUN. No need to always buy ingredients for a recipe.
Now I know what you are thinking…..WITHOUT A RECIPE? You must be out of your mind? But it’s simpler than you think……and THIS IS THE TRICK TO EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET.
STOP RELYING ON RECIPES and YOU WILL SAVE MONEY.
LEARN WAYS TO COOK VEGETABLES and YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT
STOCK YOUR PANTRY!!
Learn what to have on hand in your pantry and fridge at all times then use the FLAVOR COMBOS to mix and match different ingredients for a NO FAIL EASY VEGETABLE RECIPE approach.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Garlic and Onions
- Chicken, Veggie Broth
- Canned tomatoes or tomato sauce (unseasoned)
- Beans – dried or canned
- Rice – brown preferably and try using Jasmine or Basmati if it is available.
- Grains – such as quinoa, millet, buckwheat
- A whole wheat pasta that you like
- Peanut Butter or Almond Butter (be sure the ONLY ingredients are Peanuts or Almonds)
- Spices (salt, pepper, Adobo seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, etc.)
- Almond Milk, Coconut Milk or Rice Milk – regular milk can be used too if you aren’t concerned about Eating Clean but stick to low fat milk.
- Nuts – almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.
- Honey – raw if possible but if it’s too pricey store brand will do.
- Maple Syrup – some people use sugar fee (I do) but I make sure it is sweetened with xylitol or stevia and not aspartame – STAY AWAY FROM ASPARATAME!!!!
- Stevia (plant based sweetener)
- Vinegars – red wine, balsamic and/or rice vinegar
OPTIONAL:
- Oat bran
- Flaxseed Meal
- Wheat Germ
- Nutritional Yeast
- Carrots and Celery
Now don’t worry – you don’t need ALL of this to get started but it will help to have many of them to make the most easy vegetable recipes and you will then see the many ways to cook vegetables without a recipe is easier than you think.
And people…..don’t be a snob when it comes to using store brand foods. I use store brand for my canned/dried beans, rice, vinegars, grains, peanut butters, spices, etc. In fact, most people who come to my house for dinner never say “It tastes like you used STORE BRAND!!” Nope….they say “This was delicious – how did you make it?”
Easy Vegetable Recipes List:
In the beginning we will use basic recipes but we will use the Flavor Combos to CHANGE IT UP so life doesn’t get too boring and then you are heading down the road to the local Wendy’s for some comfort food.
When you click on a vegetable it will bring you to a page with:
- Flavor Combos for that vegetable
- Easy vegetable recipes
- Ways to cook vegetables
- Ways to CHANGE IT UP!!
**These links are still under construction – Thank You for your patience!
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Rabe or Rapini
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Swiss Chard
- Collard Greens
- Dandelion
- Eggplant
- Green Beans (string or snap peas)
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mustard Greens
- Okra
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Squashes (zucchini, summer, acorn, spaghetti, etc.)
- Turnips/Parsnips