When it comes to meals, are vegetables just an afterthought or something you avoid? What if they could be the highlight of your dish?
"Eat more vegetables," is the advice we often hear from doctors and dietitians. But for many people, it's hard to get excited about veggies or even enjoy them. Caroline Chambers, author of the cookbook *What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking*, notes that many people have negative experiences with vegetables because they were often served steamed. While steaming works for some vegetables, it doesn’t bring out the best flavors for all of them.
Chambers suggests that learning to appreciate vegetables starts with exploring different cooking techniques. For fall and winter, roasting is one of the best methods to make vegetables taste delicious. When roasted at a high temperature (around 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit), vegetables like brussels sprouts and butternut squash caramelize beautifully, eliminating any bitterness and enhancing their natural sweetness.
Caroline Chambers' Harissa Roasted Veggies demonstrates how you can add some flavor to your dishes once you have cooked your veggies right. Eva Kolenko
Achieving the perfect texture is key. The outside should be crispy while the inside remains tender. This combination makes the vegetables melt in your mouth. Once they’re cooked to perfection, you can easily elevate the flavor by adding simple ingredients like olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Or, you can use store-bought sauces like pesto or harissa paste for added convenience and taste.
The trick to making vegetables enjoyable is in how they’re prepared. With the right technique, they can become the star of any meal.
