You didn’t want to eat them as a kid, and some of you still don’t want to eat them now. Let’s face it: a lot of people think vegetables kind of suck. Nevertheless, they’re an important part of a healthy diet.
Veggies are rich in fiber and nutrients like magnesium, vitamin K, potassium and B vitamins. If you’re looking to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, we’ve got just the recipes to help you do so. From cauliflower tortillas to roasted beet hummus, these dishes will turn vegetables into your favorite part of any meal.
And before you ask ― yes, we know that some of the “vegetables” on this list are technically fruits. But hey, if the Supreme Court considers something a vegetable, then who are we to judge?
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As soon as the world figured out that cauliflower can make a fairly adequate replacement for gluten-laden pizza dough, all hell broke loose. Cauliflower is enjoying a renaissance these days. And pizza isn’t the only thing cauliflower can stand in for. Rice, tater tots and even cheese are all getting a veggie-loaded makeover with cauliflower. Since cauliflower is one of the great vegetables out there, we think it’s time everyone got on board. We’ve got the recipes to help you do just that.
Zucchini is a versatile veggie. It can be turned into taco shells, you can use it as a healthy alternative to pizza crust, and perhaps best of all, you can easily spiralize this green summertime squash and turn it into a plate of zucchini noodles, also known as zoodles. Zoodles are one of the easiest ways to get a hearty serving of veggies on your plate. Plus, they’re naturally gluten-free.
If you’ve only ever eaten them boiled, steamed or microwaved, it’s quite possible you hate Brussels sprouts for their bitter flavor and limp texture. Those methods of cooking don’t take advantage of the natural sugars that are found in sprouts. To ensure that Brussels sprouts are tasty, you want to get them nice and browned ― caramelization is everything ― and extra crispy. Here’s what you need to know to make Brussels sprouts live up to their full potential.
These roots are a nutritional powerhouse. They’re high in betaine, which helps fight inflammation. They’re rich in nitrates, which could help lower blood pressure. And they’re a great source of folates, which is vital in disease risk reduction. Not bad, huh? And the best part is, we have some truly amazing beet recipes that’ll make it easy to take in all that good nutrition. So, go eat some beets.
After a couple months of eating root veggies, it starts to get tired. To make sure that doesn’t happen to you this cold-weather season, we found recipes that’ll keep this produce interesting — from new ways to make sweet potatoes to recipes that’ll entice you to finally try sunchokes.
Cauliflower is not just about being healthy, it can also just be straight-up delicious. And those are the kind of cauliflower recipes we have for you right here. We have the recipes that’ll make you think of cauliflower when you want something comforting, something umami-filled and yes, even something a little healthy.
When spring arrives there’s one thing you should be sure to do ― and we’re not talking about cleaning. You should make sure to eat asparagus, whether it’s the traditional green kind of the vampire-like white variety. This quintessential springtime veggie might be available at your store most of the year, but it’s only during the spring season that this vegetable is as flavorful and tender as it should be.
Nothing tastes more like summer than fresh corn. Sweet and satisfying, it’s the perfect accompaniment to any meal served during the sun-filled days of our very favorite season.
Other cultures around the world incorporate vegetables as a regular part of their morning meal. Turkey regularly eats cucumbers, tomatoes and olives in the morning. And Israel has a chopped vegetable salad at the breakfast table. There’s no reason America shouldn’t do the same.
There’s no denying the many health benefits of kale. This leafy green is full of vitamins, omega-3s and antioxidants. But that’s not the only reason to love kale. It’s hearty enough to last a while in the fridge, which is always a plus. And, it’s amazingly versatile.
People often think of following diets as being restrictive. And in some ways, that mode of thinking is accurate. But when it comes to the paleo diet ― which cuts out anything processed, as well as grains, legumes and raw dairy ― the restrictions are offset by the plethora of great recipes to choose from.
Here’s the thing with broccoli. We know it’s good for us. We know adding it to our meals is a good idea. We actually really like it, too. Roasted, covered with cheese, pureed into soups, it holds its own. But even with all those ways to cook broccoli, we easily get tired of this nutritious vegetable. That’s why when we find a completely new way to cook this veggie, we stand at attention.
Even though the weather makes you want to stick your face in a big bowl of mac and cheese, hold back. Fight those comfort food cravings with these healthy fall salads, inspired by the most beautiful seasonal produce.
It’s time everyone gave broccoli one more chance. Not just because it pairs extremely well with cheese, but because it’s a nutritional powerhouse. Broccoli has special cholesterol-lowering benefits, is loaded with Vitamins A and D, and has unique anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains a significant amount of protein ― one cup has about 2.5 grams, ― and is full of fiber.
To all you lettuce haters out there, we’ve got great news: Just because you’re not a fan of leafy greens doesn’t mean you can’t partake in — and love — a good salad. There are many great salad recipes out there that don’t need those leafy greens, and we have 15 of them for you here.
Carrots aren’t the most exciting veggie out there. For many of us, they were one of our first foods, fed to us as a pureed mush before we could even talk. After a lifetime of eating this root vegetable it’s no wonder that few people get excited about cooking with them. But here’s the thing: carrots are wonderfully sweet, very affordable and oh-so-good for you. You just have to cook them in a new way. We have those recipes for you.
Sweet potatoes are a very special kind of spud. They offer all the comfort and starchy goodness of a regular potato, but they’re loaded with sweetness, too.
Bell peppers are one of the least exciting options in the produce aisle, but this is a wholly undeserved reputation. Sure, peppers hardly ever take center stage in a recipe — unless of course they’re stuffed — but they are the reason so many of our favorite recipes are so great.
All-around delicious.
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