Easy (Freeze-y?) Veg

[Convex]

hello

what are your go-to veg for every day, getting more veg in your diet, eating?

although this is the family room, it isn't for my kids, its for me - i don't do the cooking in our house and i want to continue eating what we do at lunch and dinner, but half the portion, replacing the rest with salad and veg. (mission is to up the nutrition value, not about weight loss)

we have peas and sweetcorn and broccoli, and usually peppers and carrots for raw veg. and i buy bagged salad if i have a plan or how i will eat it before it turns.

but what else to you keep to hand thats easy and quick to add without getting in the way of the family chef?

thanks for any advice!

PS did i mention it has to be EASY!!!!!! lol.

[Fjgb]

Try butternut squash 'spaghetti' from Tesco or sainsburys, good alternative to real spaghetti.

[Fjgb]

Also onion is surprisingly nutritious. We have courgette with nearly every meal because my husband loves it (quick story fry but also grate it into any tomatoey sauce). And my favourite veg is aubergine. Today I bought some cauliflower to make cauliflower couscous. Will report back.

[devsdev]

Frozen veg - the ones you've mentioned already are readily available in the frozen aisle, so look there to see what else you can have stashed in the freezer. A quick saut? with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and salt makes most veg quite tasty.

Also you can do quick Indian subzi with most veg (maybe not broccoli) - oil, add cumin seeds and a half tsp of turmeric when oil hot so it quickly sizzles, add veg (I like to parboil potatoes), mix to coat with turmeric, lower heat and cover with pan (add some water if aubergine, potatoes, beans that need water - though if you add frozen veg directly then that usually has enough water), season with salt just before done. Tasty nutritious veg.

Now to practice what I preach...

[wonderwoman]

Potatoes cauliflower brocolli carrots root veg (only in season)aubergines carrots asparagus mushrooms corgettes leaks peppers cabbage tomatoes cucumbers esp miniatures,onions spring onions are easy but for quick add ons in cooking we use frozen mix veg, tinned sweetcorn, frozen beans peas and spinach are staples in our house.

[vch]

We keep frozen spinach on hand for adding into dal, curries, omelette, etc. Tinned chickpeas for adding into roasted vegetables, tinned cannelloni beans for stews, black beans for a Mexcian style salad with corn, tomatoes, coriander and avocados. Oh and avocados, beets, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds for topping salads.

[Azalea]

Cabbage lasts a long time in the fridge. I slice thinly, Love it cooked in no additional water after washing, with a bit of butter and salt with the lid on pan. Shake to prevent sticking, takes only a few minutes. Can put together a quick slaw, with grated carrots, apples and walnuts.

I also keep frozen spinach and peas hand to add to soups, peas added to risotto.

Try baking whole peeled onions with cumin.

[Convex]

thanks everyone,

I'm really after ides for things that either are good raw, or can be lightly steamed. i don't want to get in the way of the cooking of the actual meal.

i think i am stuck with what i already have, or making in advance!

[midivydale]

How about roasting the veg? Takes no time at all to prep, chop, olive oil, salt and pepper and straight in the oven.

[Convex]

ah thats a good idea

problem is I'm not really much of a cook, I'm good at baking but savoury flavours are not my forte. i tried that ella/vegan book but didn't get on with her recipes. have the new nigella book and am thinking of getting an ottolenghi book though have heard they are a bit tricky.

so when its time to up the veg and salad intake without getting in the way of the main family dinners it gets boring quite quickly!

[Inkmaiden]

Tinned baby corn, cooked, vacuum packed beetroot, courgettes sliced onto ribbons with a vegetable peeler with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Green beans, mange tout, sugar snap peas, asparagus- can all be steamed in minutes.

Sauerkraut? They sell the raw probiotic ones at SMBS.

And yes to avocados. Avocados with everything.

[Convex]

thanks hadn't thought of tinned veg!

[devsdev]

Abel & Cole recipes online?

[Undiscovered]

Highly recommend the Riverford recipe boxes, we get the vegetarian ones as I don't eat meat they are FULL of veg, full full full. Also can try a few then you have the recipes to make yourself.

Another great book is by Anna Jones, a modern way to cook. Loads of great recipes in there with lots of veg and beans.

[goldilocks]

Came on to recommend the Anna Jones cookbooks - but see I was beaten to it. I prefer 'A modern way to eat' rather than 'cook' but they are both good.

[Fuschia]

Make a quick coleslaw? Slice red or white cabbage with a mandolin, add onion, Apple, orange segments, walnuts, lemon juice, bit of oil and honey

Carrot slices cooked in a microwave bag with slug of honey and butter

Tenderstem broccoli cooked in microwave bag

Make a tomato sauce with veg and pur?e it

Cos or little gem lettuce keep much longer than bagged salad or grow some rocket etc in a window box

Get a little chopper and make a quick pesto

Tomatoes sliced with basil leaves and mozzarella

[Fuschia]

If you want to keep out of the way of main cooking, then fill a microwave bag or two (or buy ready filled steam fresh bags) and zap them while the rest of the meal is cooking

Baked sweet potatoes are nice

Slow roast tomatoes

Frozen green beans

Fresh steamed mange tout or baby corn

Frozen broad beans

Yum

[Fuschia]

Thinly sliced leek, possibly with Savoy cabbage, is another veg that cooks well in a microwave bag

[Fuschia]

You can buy frozen sweet potato mash

Chunks of butternut squash - nice roasted

[Convex]

ah microwave bags! didn't think of that!

[Fuschia]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006CUD5NQ/ref=pd_aw_sim_201_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=513W7Gll9NL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL100_SR100%2C100_&refRID=W0YQ779TH1SRFHBD9S1R

[devsdev]

Or get the Lekue type dishes that work in the microwave? Save on waste!