Why Cooking With Vegetables Is Important

A bright summery salad for a hot day, a vibrant vegetable curry to tuck into on a chilly autumn night, or a masterful, mouth-watering meat substitute that will make any meal sing with flavour - when you’re talking about nutritious foods that deliver deliciousness, vegetables are sure to be at root of the conversation!

An assortment of flavours and types that are as varied as the beautiful array of colours they come in, when you’re cooking with vegetables, you’re always spoilt for choice.

There are so many vegetables to choose from - leafy greens, root vegetables, edible stems and marrows - and so many ways to cook them. Which makes them an excellent choice for any meal where you want to add some delicious flavour. But the benefits of cooking with vegetables go beyond their great flavour.

Vegetables play a vital role in eating a healthy, balanced diet, along with fruits, protein, carbohydrates, dairy and healthy fats. And while each food group has their part to play, today we’re highlighting the importance of cooking with vegetables. So read on as we explore some of the benefits and uses of vegetables in cooking, and some tips for getting your veggies to explode with flavour.

What Are Some of The Benefits of Cooking With Vegetables?

1. One of the main reasons that vegetables are such an important part of a healthy diet is because they are packed with different nutrients that are essential in helping us to stay healthy. These nutrients help to promote optimal health and fight off certain illnesses.

2. Certain vegetable nutrients can also help to keep you feeling full after eating a meal, which is ideal for helping with weight management. So, eating the right amount of vegetables can help you feel satisfied so that you don’t binge on the unhealthy stuff.

3. Most vegetables are also super light in calories, making them a tasty and healthy, light-calorie substitute to heavier, processed carbs like white rice.

4. Speaking of substitutes, cooking a veggie meal is a great way to have a filling and nutritious meal that is meat free. Meatless dishes can still pack a lot of flavour and meaty texture with the right combination of tasty veggies.

Preparing and Cooking Vegetables

Now that we’ve covered some of the benefits of cooking with vegetables, here are some of our top tips for preparing and cooking vegetables.

Spice Things Up

Herbs and spices are the perfect way to bring some robust, exciting flavour to your vegetable dishes. Sure they are wonderful for vegetable curries and stews, but don’t be afraid to spice things up and get creative with a well-seasoned Vegetable and Herb Spiral Tart or an unforgettable, flavour-filled Lentil and Mushroom Lasagne. So next time you’re making a veggie dinner, be sure to add some cayenne pepper, garlic and turmeric for layers of delicious flavour.

Play With Fire

Not literally of course! But when it comes to cooking with vegetables, one of the best ways to add new dimensions of flavour and exciting texture to your veggies is by experimenting with different cooking techniques. For example, consider grilling slices of eggplant or marinated mushroom steaks over a braai and enjoy the smoky, flame-grilled flavour and meaty texture.

Cooking with vegetables is not only a delicious endeavour, but a fun and nutritious one too. Explore the foodie in you and experiment with different vegetables to create mouth-watering, healthy meals that you’ll want to make again and again.

Visit What’s For Dinner today for more exciting meal inspiration.