Find vegetables a bit blah? You’ve come to the right place. Alice Zaslavsky, the cooking genius, is here to help you jazz up your veggies and make them the shining stars of your meals.
Can you believe that only 5% of Aussies are eating enough vegetables? Crazy, right?
But we’re on a mission to change that.
Alice Zaslavsky went from being a high school teacher to the veggie queen. Her cookbook sensation; “In Praise of Veg” is a total game-changer. It’s all about putting veggies front and centre on your plate and trust us, your body will thank you for it. And here are some of her top tips on how to make your vegetables taste better.
1. Break the rules
You know what the problem is? People expect veggies to be bland and boring. But veggies can be total rockstars if you give them a chance.
It’s time to ditch all the boring rules and make veggies taste amazing. Instead of sticking to the same old routine of only steaming your veggies, or grating them into your sauce- get playful and try new things. This might include sauteing, grilling, stir-frying (and adding yummy sauces), roasting, air-frying.
Forget feeling obligated to eat your veggies. Make them the highlight of our meals.
2. Trust your gut
Stop following strict recipes and complicated cooking methods. Trust your instincts instead. Whether it’s adding a pinch of this or a dash of oil, let your taste buds be your guide!
Cooking intuitively is all about tuning into yourself and your senses. Instead of trying to meet someone else’s standards, it’s about cooking to please your lovely self.
Pay attention to the colours, smells, and textures as you cook. As an example, if your veggies start changing colour in the pot, don’t wait until they’re overcooked. Trust your gut and take them out when they’re just right. And when you catch a whiff of something that smells like cookies, you know it’s time to take your dish off the heat.
With practice, you’ll develop your own intuition in the kitchen. So don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, cooking is all about having fun and enjoying the process.
3. Treat your veggies like a rib-eye steak
The tools you use can totally level up your cooking game.
For a salad bursting with flavour, start by using a super-sharp knife. Just like a sharp knife enhances the taste of fish, it works wonders for veggies too. So whether you’re slicing tomatoes or chopping tuna, a top-notch chef’s knife is key.
And when it comes to cooking veggies, make sure your pan is hot and ready to go. Just like you would for a juicy steak. Whether you’re stir-frying or grilling your asparagus, brussel sprouts, or broccolini- a sizzling pan is essential to prevent them from getting soggy.
It’s all about giving your veggies the VIP treatment they deserve.
4. Dress em’up
We’ve been told to skip the salad dressing to save on calories and sugar. But adding full-fat salad dressing, extra virgin olive oil or a bit of butter can help your body absorb those nutrient-packed veggies. And it makes them taste so much better, so you actually want to keep them. It’s a win-win!
Here’s a hot tip: Before you pour in the oil, season your vinegar or acid first. Whether it’s lemon juice, red wine vinegar, balsamic, or apple cider vinegar. Then sprinkle in some salt and pepper and give it a good mix. This simple trick amps up the flavour and lets you use less salt overall. Brilliant, huh?
5. Embrace the “whoops” moments
Who says cooking has to be serious business? Channel your inner child and have some fun in the kitchen. Some of the tastiest dishes come from happy accidents. Yep, you heard it right. Sometimes, the little mishaps lead to something amazing and new.
And please, remember this: no matter where you are on your cooking journey, you’re already a better cook than you give yourself credit for. Thinking about food and getting in the kitchen is the first step to honing your skills. So don’t sweat it if you’re not a master chef (yet). It’s all about putting in the time and experimenting.
Even the pros have their share of kitchen blunders. So don’t let the fear of messing up hold you back. Learning to cook your vegetables in fun, new ways should be about joy, not pressure.
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