Boiling is one of the easiest ways to prepare vegetables.
All you need is a cooking pot, some water, some vegetables, and maybe a bit of
salt. It's quick and convenient!But boiling vegetables causes them to lose some
of their nutritional value. The boiling water leeches some of the vitamins and
nutrients, and even some of the flavor, right
out of the veggies. The best way to minimize that nutrient loss is to make sure
that they spend as little time as possible in the boiling water. And just how
you do that depends on what kind of vegetable you're boiling.
Steaming is a great method for cooking vegetables. It cooks
the vegetables and softens them up, but because they're not immersed in water,
they don't lose as many nutrients. It also preserves more of the flavour than
boiling does.And like boiling, steaming is super convenient. Even though you
can get a special cooking appliance, a steamer, you really don't need
one. If you have a pot, some water, and a steaming basket, you're all set. Or
if you don't have a steaming basket, even a colander can do the trick. There's
even a way to steam vegetables using just a pot and a bit of water. What could
be easier?
Sautéing vegetables, or stir-frying them, means cooking
them over fairly high heat, and stirring them often. The high heat helps them
cook quickly, which minimizes nutrient loss. And stirring them keeps them from
burning!Sautéing is a really tasty way to cook vegetables. They keep a lot more
flavour than boiling or even steaming, so that you taste how delicious
the veggie really is. And it also lends itself really well
to seasoning the vegetables. A little bit of oil and spices or a tasty marinade
can really make your vegetables go from good to outstanding.Unlike some of the
other methods for cooking vegetables, though, you really have to keep an eye on
sautéing vegetables. They can burn pretty quickly!
Roasting: One
of the great things about roasting vegetables is that even though it takes a
while to cook, the preparation time is pretty much non-existent – just toss the
veggies with a bit of oil and herbs, put them in a baking dish, and let them
roast. It's especially nice when the rest of your meal takes a little more
attention, so that you can work on it in peace.Roasting gives the vegetables a unique flavor that you don't get by boiling or steaming. Cooking
them slowly in the oven helps them caramelize a little bit, bringing out their
natural sweetness and enhancing their flavour. And it's so easy to add a few
delicious herbs and spices. Yum!
Grilling. Some
vegetables are just better on the grill.
Grilling gives that special cooked outdoors, perfectly browned taste that no
other cooking method can match. And you can easily marinate the vegetables, or
add some herbs or a sauce to them before cooking to give them some extra flavour.Grilling
isn't quite as convenient as some of the other cooking methods though. For one
thing, you need a grill. And that also means it's usually more of a warm
weather kind of meal. But you also have to keep a close eye on the vegetables
while they're cooking. They'll usually need to be flipped, and checked to be
sure they're not burning. Not as convenient, but well worth the effort!
Braising is a cross between steaming and boiling. Instead
of cooking the vegetables by completely immersing them in boiling water, you
only add enough water to cover about half the vegetables. Like steaming, it
cooks the vegetables a bit more gently than boiling. But it's usually a bit
quicker than just steaming, since part of the vegetables are in the water. And
using just a bit of water means that you don't lose as many nutrients or
flavor, so you get extra delicious vegetables.And it's so easy. Vegetables and a pot filled with
a bit of water is all you need for a delicious vegetable side dish! You can
even use stock or wine for some extra flavour.
