5 Healthy and Easy Ways to Prepare Vegetables
Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that every body needs. Some of these nutrients, however, can be lost depending on how they're cooked. Cooking them is a challenge too: vegetable recipes can be quite complicated, especially for a beginner chef. There are, however, several ways to cook vegetables that are both healthy and easy. We're going to list 5 of them.
Sauteing your vegetables is one simple way to cook just about any vegetable. The word "saute" comes from the French word for "jump," and refers to the way vegetables jump in a lightly oiled hot pan. This method uses much less oil than frying. It's much easier to saute if the vegetables are cut into bite-sized pieces first.
It's quite easy to boil or simmer vegetables. To retain the crispness of a vegetable like broccoli, let the water come to a full, rolling boil before tossing them in. Cook them quickly. This is actually called "blanching." Simmering vegetables works better for root vegetables that may take a while to cook, like potatoes. This technique works well for beans too. It requires a lower heat (put in vegetables when the pot is simmering rather than at a full boil) and a longer time to get the food cooked thoroughly. However, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C may be lost using this cooking method.
Roasting vegetables only requires that they be put on a baking sheet and drizzled with oil before putting them in a 400-degree oven. This technique preserves nutrients and flavors that can be lost when boiling. Sugars in the vegetables caramelize, giving them a sweet and crunchy flavor.
Steaming vegetables is the best way for the calorie-counting chef to cook vegetables. The vegetables are not submerged in water, which retains the nutrients, and spices can be added to the water. Doing that will give the vegetables subtle flavor.
Vegetables are also tasty--and healthy--grilled. Put them on a skewer and rotate them so they cook evenly. Make it a meal by adding pieces of meat to the skewer and making kebabs.
No single cooking method is best. Because different vitamins are lost depending on cooking method, it's best to eat a variety of vegetables in a variety of ways. Most Americans do not eat enough vegetables, because of taste or some other reasons. These five easy and healthy ways to cook vegetables are delicious enough to have even picky eaters reaching for seconds.
Article by ezCater.com. The easiest, most reliable way to find and order Long Beach Catering.
Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that every body needs. Some of these nutrients, however, can be lost depending on how they're cooked. Cooking them is a challenge too: vegetable recipes can be quite complicated, especially for a beginner chef. There are, however, several ways to cook vegetables that are both healthy and easy. We're going to list 5 of them.
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| cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo shared by jalb |
It's quite easy to boil or simmer vegetables. To retain the crispness of a vegetable like broccoli, let the water come to a full, rolling boil before tossing them in. Cook them quickly. This is actually called "blanching." Simmering vegetables works better for root vegetables that may take a while to cook, like potatoes. This technique works well for beans too. It requires a lower heat (put in vegetables when the pot is simmering rather than at a full boil) and a longer time to get the food cooked thoroughly. However, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C may be lost using this cooking method.
Roasting vegetables only requires that they be put on a baking sheet and drizzled with oil before putting them in a 400-degree oven. This technique preserves nutrients and flavors that can be lost when boiling. Sugars in the vegetables caramelize, giving them a sweet and crunchy flavor.
Steaming vegetables is the best way for the calorie-counting chef to cook vegetables. The vegetables are not submerged in water, which retains the nutrients, and spices can be added to the water. Doing that will give the vegetables subtle flavor.
Vegetables are also tasty--and healthy--grilled. Put them on a skewer and rotate them so they cook evenly. Make it a meal by adding pieces of meat to the skewer and making kebabs.
No single cooking method is best. Because different vitamins are lost depending on cooking method, it's best to eat a variety of vegetables in a variety of ways. Most Americans do not eat enough vegetables, because of taste or some other reasons. These five easy and healthy ways to cook vegetables are delicious enough to have even picky eaters reaching for seconds.
Article by ezCater.com. The easiest, most reliable way to find and order Long Beach Catering.
