Different ways of cooking veg?

[Deleted User]

I must admit I bought a steamer from Argos a few weeks ago and its definitely love at first sight veg taste so much nicer steamed than boiled to bejesus.Keep their colour and flavour as well I think It cost me around £12.00 and worth every penny .
Swede I always part cook in the microwave then it takes less time to cook as its a very hard veg

WantToBeSE

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Please keep them coming!

Should have mentioned that i dont have a microwave or any other gadgets, just my cooker.

I tend to buy a lot of frozen veg because its cheaper and we waste less that way. I would really like to buy more fresh, as i think i can do more with it that way, but we'd never get through a whole broccoli/cauli/cabbage as it's just myself and my 2 children.

Little_Vics

never underestimate what you can do with leftovers! Our current favourite is to mash them all together, and mold into balls, wrap in bacon and bake in the oven for 30 mins.

-taff

frozen veg is horrible steamed, so don't do it
You can keep it in the fridge, it'll last for about 10 days in the bottom, it'll be a bit wobbly after 10 ish daysthough but I've got peppers that I put somehwere in a fridge that have been there for a month and they're ok.
Why don't you try being a bit more adventurous with your veg instead of just cauli/broccoli?

Parsnips mashed into potato is nice, as well as carrot and swede mash [sweet so the kids will like it]. Have a look in the library for a vegetarian cookbook, it'll give you veggie ideas that aren't just boiled

meritaten

I haven't got a 'steamer' either! but I do have sieves and colanders! if I want to steam veg I just put them in the sieve/colander and place them over the veg I am boiling (potatoes usually) and pop a pan lid over them. voila! steamed veg!
very mse as I am re-using the fuel!
I also try to roast veg for a dinner if I am cooking chops etc in the oven. Sprouts are delish done this way! so are most root veg. drizzle of oil, salt and pepper and perhaps a couple of cloves of garlic.

kittendothroar

I can't remember the last time I boiled veg other than new potatoes last week! Was raised on boiled overcooked veg and can't tolerate it now!

I mainly stir fry a lot of veggies, roast or turn veg into sauces. Last week I made a tomato sauce for pasta, and toasted sliced cauliflower in the pan in a little veg oil first before cooking the rest of the veg (peppers, onions and a tin of cherry tomatoes). Was honestly so good I dreamt about it! You can add nice seasonings - I am addicted to smoked paprika, goes on everything!

Moving on to frozen veg - I saw Jamie cook frozen green beans the other night in a frying pan, with garlic http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/secret-steak-chips-garlicky-green-beans looked tasty!

Also have baked spinach with feta cubes and olives, using thawed out frozen spinach. Only needs about 10 mins in the oven

meg72

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Please keep them coming!

Should have mentioned that i dont have a microwave or any other gadgets, just my cooker.

I tend to buy a lot of frozen veg because its cheaper and we waste less that way. I would really like to buy more fresh, as i think i can do more with it that way, but we'd never get through a whole broccoli/cauli/cabbage as it's just myself and my 2 children.

I find cabbage and cauli very cheap on our local market at the moment around 50p each and keep very well in a cool dark place.
I can use up a whole cauli very quickly as I love cauli cheese with bacon bits. My cabbage I keep in an outside meter cupboard and just take off leaves as I want them, roll them up together and slice. can keep for about a month like this. Also don't forget you can freeze them for later.

gayleygoo

I often boil veggies in ham or chicken stock. If I'm doing cabbage and bacon, I boil the bacon first (even if it's just rashers) so the veg can be boiled in it afterwards. Carrots often get done in very little water, some butter and honey, although they do need to be watched carefully that they don't dry out and burn. Parsnip "chips" are very good with garamasala and cumin, done in the oven. Add garlic butter, curry spices or sweet chilli sauce to some veggies. I don't have any rules, it just depends what the dinner is!

lostinrates

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I tend to buy a lot of frozen veg because its cheaper and we waste less that way. I would really like to buy more fresh, as i think i can do more with it that way, but we'd never get through a whole broccoli/cauli/cabbage as it's just myself and my 2 children.

How old are the children? .

Its just me often, and I have to admit I can eat half a cabbage. (Steamed and a tiny knob of butter, or sauted in a pan with pancetta, or cumin....mmmm, or red with apple and red wine vinegar and a bit of clip ones and brown sugar...

For me the best plate is a plate mainly veg with a bit of the rest;)


Also, one of my favourite meals is a small steamed head of broccoli with (chinese) oyster sauce . Simple, quick, light but hot and filling.



A half cabbage should keep easily and make coleslaw or be able to be presented in a different way later in the week.

Jacksmummy

I don't own a steamer or a microwave either so what I tend to do is
roast carrots, parsnips, onions and squash
mash swede and parsnip
stir fry, cabbage, carrots, and any other veg I have lingering in the fridge.
also I add half a boiled celeriac to mashed potato with a dollop of cream... yum!