subject: A Vegetarian Crock Pot Could Lead To A Healthier You! [print this page] A Vegetarian Crock Pot Could Lead To A Healthier You!
You don't have to look very far to find a number of vegan and vegetarian crock pot dishes. This is because more and more people are switching to meat-free lifestyles, which are considered to be healthier. But, choosing not to eat meat anymore does not mean you have to pack away the slow cooker. There is a wide range of vegetarian recipes that are specially suited to your crock pot. There are some special things you should know about slow cookers and vegetarian cooking. Cooking vegetables is very different from cooking meats. With conventional cooking, meat dishes generally take longer to prepare than vegetable meals. In a slow cooker, where the cooking is done slowly in an atmosphere of moist heat, the exact opposite is true. Meat generally takes less time to cook than vegetarian crock pot recipes.
With a vegetarian crock pot, vegetables not only take more time to cook, they cook a lot differently as well. The slowest to cook are fresh root vegetables, like potatoes, beets, and carrots. These should be placed on the bottom of the slow cooker where they will not only cook faster, but they will also have a chance to soak in the juices as they cook. This will give them a richer, more full-bodied flavor. Tender vegetables, like tomatoes or zucchinis, will cook a lot quicker, and it's usually best to add them in the final 45 minutes of cooking. It's also important to remember that liquid does not evaporate away when you use a slow cooker. You should adjust the liquid levels accordingly, especially if you're cooking vegetables that give off water during cooking.
Why It's Healthier
Vegetarian crock pot dishes are healthier than most conventional meals for a number of different reasons. For one thing, the method of slow cooking in itself is healthy. Unlike methods like deep frying, which can be very unhealthy, slow cooker dishes are cooked in moist heat, and the ingredients basically cook in their own juices. This is why even relatively light, vegetarian dishes taste very rich and hearty. This is good news for people who would like to eat healthy, vegetarian dishes but don't find dishes like salads to be very satisfying. This is a healthy cooking option that provides rich taste without the risks that are often associated with methods like deep frying.
A vegetarian crock pot also encourages you to get your creative juices flowing as well. There are a number of nonvegetarian preparations that can easily be cooked vegetarian style in a crock pot. Apart from that, you can experiment with different vegetables and spices to create delicious recipes of your own. This can also be a much more economical cooking alternative, especially if you have your own vegetable garden.
