Ways to cook vegetables

United States
November 5, 2011 9:13pm CST
I'm trying to think of new ways to cook vegetables that will have my friend asking for more. She's the type that's grown up with vegetables cooked badly or just done over and over (like corn). So now she says she just doesn't like vegetables (especially raw), but I know this isn't true because I can get her to eat certain vegetables done in certain ways. Like spinach, which I do in an Asian way. I blanch it and then add soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. Most of the ways I've done veggies for my friend have been Asian (since she's really into Asian food), but I only know a few different ways for that. So does anyone have any recommendations? I'm determined to show her that vegetables are delicious when they're done correctly.
8 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
6 Nov 11
I like to roast vegetables. Toss broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery or whatever you want, with a little olive oil then sprinkle them with lemon pepper or garlic, salt and pepper and roast until just tender. Most everyone likes them that way.
• United States
6 Nov 11
Hm. I like that idea. I thought about roasting vegetables, but I wasn't sure what to season them with so that she'd like it. But the lemon pepper might work out very well with her. haha And if she ends up not liking it, I'll most definitely enjoy finishing it off for her. :D
@peavey (16936)
• United States
6 Nov 11
Ya can't beat that.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
7 Nov 11
I chop spinach reall tiny and toss it on and say it's parsley so my kids will eat it! I also puree carrots and put that in my speghetti sauce so they get that veggie. they have no idea - they love it and I am happy knowing they are eating veggies. LOL
• United States
24 Nov 11
I've actually got a way to get my friend to eat spinach (and she's even somewhat hooked on them), but I love both those ideas! Especially the carrot one. It's sounds great. :)
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
6 Nov 11
Hello silver and welcome to myLot. I do a cheese stuffed pasta shell that I put cauliflower in. I do cook the cauliflower until soft and then mash it. I then put equal parts Parmesan, mozzarella and cottage cheese with the cauliflower mix good and put in large pasta shells. I put spaghetti sauce on the bottom and top and cover with more Parmesan and mozzarella and bake. My family love it and no left overs. A cup of each cheese and cauliflower will fill 20 shells depending on how much you fill the shells.
• United States
8 Nov 11
That sounds so good! I'm definitely going to have to try it sometime soon. :D
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
6 Nov 11
The best way would be to make meals she likes and add vegetables as side dishes, you seem to be on the right path by making her Asian type foods which she enjoys. You already saute, which is a good way to bring flavour to vegetables. I enjoy grilled zucchini with a little olive oil, garlic and pepper. I also enjoy eggplant Parmesan and roasted eggplant, though this is not the exact recipe I follow - I have changed it over time - it is pretty tasty http://www.traditional-foods.com/recipes/oven-roasted-eggplant/ I add other vegetable to it, but this is the basic idea. Have fun cooking, hope she starts enjoying vegetables.
• United States
6 Nov 11
That looks great. I wonder if it'd work as well if I added sesame seed oil instead of olive oil to give it a more Asian taste to it. Hm. Maybe I'll make a trial batch both ways. Probably the best way of going about it. Thanks so much for the recipe link! :D
@Rosa26 (2618)
• United States
6 Nov 11
I like to eat vegetables mixed with fish, shrimp, chicken,cheese,I add one of these meats or cheese in order the flavor of the vegetables,don't taste the vegatables a lot, and instead it taste to the meat, I like to add soy sauce too is very healthy and taste good, I like to cook the vegetable at vapor in order to keep all the nutrients.
• United States
6 Nov 11
Huh. I actually do that sometimes on my own (mixing with chicken that is). I can't believe I forgot to try that on my friend. I'll definitely try that next time. And the cheese idea may work with her. But what vegetable besides broccoli goes well with cheese?
@safety69 (592)
• Taiwan
6 Nov 11
There are so many ways to cook vegetables, the secret is to leave them on the dent (crunchy) I cook sometimes broccoli,carrots, green beans even potatoes with a little bit of butter I fry some garlic put the vegetables in sticks and add a little bit of chicken seasoning Maggie, I hope you know it. and then just fry them a little bit living them a little crunchy umm they taste so good. Another , thing that You can add is instead of salt or other seasoner is mushrooms sauce, or ostras sauce they give a very good taste to vegetables, I always have all these ingredients at home. Another way is to eat them without cooking like fresh tomatoes, cucumber, carrots in sticks and put some lemon, salt and cumin powder , You can have them as snack. I hope Your friend can understand the benefits of the vegetables for our health.
• United States
8 Nov 11
Maggie? Unfortunately I don't know it, but the frying with a chicken seasoning or mushroom sauce seems pretty intriguing. :)
@jricky1 (6798)
• China
8 Nov 11
Honestly,i like eating vegetables and it's healthy than the food like hamburgers.So i prefer to boil the vegetables with some recepies.It's really a healthy way to have the vitamins in the food.I think this would help us to digest.Have a nice day.
@mariahhh (1328)
• United Arab Emirates
23 Nov 11
I cook vegetables in simple ways. I love eating steamed vegetables, like mushroom, broccoli, zucchini, and carrots. But sometimes it is easier to boil them. I also fry some vegetables, like corn and bell peppers. But most of the time, I just eat vegetables raw. I love vegetables salad, with lettuce, cherry tomatoes, corn, and cucumber.