subject: What Is The Secret To Cooking Vegetables? [print this page] Vegetables are essential to the human dietVegetables are essential to the human diet. From vegetables we get a lot of our daily vitamin content. We need to make sure that how we cook them does not drain vitamin contents and benefits of consumption.
How to cook vegetables can be tricky business. If you over cook your vegetables, then they'll become soggy and bland. Boiling not only rob us of vitamin content, it is the main culprit in turning vegetables to a lifeless, tasteless form.
If we cannot boil, how do we proceed?
One of the best choices you can do is steaming your vegetables. This way, your vegetables will be full of life. They will be crisp and colorful. It will also not deplete the vegetables of their vitamin content.
Steaming the vegetables for a few minutes is the general rule of thumb.
If you don't have vegetable steamers, you can fashion one using a pot, pot lid, and metal colander. Place a small amount of water in the bottom of a given pot. Next, try to fit the metal colander into the pot. Start to boil the water. You'll notice the steam beginning to rise. After you've placed your vegetables into the metal colander, the pot lid can then be placed over the pot and metal colander. You don't need a fancy store bought steamer if you have a collection of this kitchen items because they will allow you to steam your vegetables.
Cooking your vegetables in a wok is another good option. The secret to the wok is that it cooks quickly at a very high temperature. The vegetables will only have a small amount of nutrient loss and they will retain their texture, colors, and flavors.
As for my favorite wok recipe, I like to cook certain vegetables like carrots and broccoli in a very light garlic sauce. The vegetables remain crisp and the garlic adds just the right amount of flavoring. This combination can be served with any cut of meat.
Hopefully, you'll realize that the secret to cooking vegetables is not to over cook them. Vegetables need to remain crisp, full of color. As you learn different tricks to bringing your vegetables to life, these will become the most requested dishes on your dinner table.
