Veggie Disguises

LER091811

Wasn't sure what to call this thread. I hate vegetables but want to start eating more of them. I'm looking for recipe suggestions that hide the veggies but still allow you to get plenty of them.

For example, I really like green mashed potatoes (baby spinach mashed into yukon gold potatoes), spinach souffle, red pepper cream sauces, etc

lindyanne

You can put all sorts of veggies in tomato sauce for spaghetti.  I also really like putting spinach and kale in fruit smoothies. 

livinitup

Good for you. I think you may be surprised at the flavor and taste of vegtables when it stops being something boiled and plopped on your plate with a pat of butter next to the meat. Think about new cooking techniques, like roasting. You'd be amazed at the difference in flavor and texture. You can chop zuchini, squash and onions; sprinkle with olive oil and salt; pop into the oven on high heat until they brown. I love it over pasta with a nice red sauce. You can also saute carrots, onions, celery for almost any recipe calling for chopped meat and enjoy a wonderful flavor with hardly any vegtable texture at all, it all melts into the dish.

philandclaire

I often add shredded carrots to the same dishes where I add shredded cheese (like on top of enchiladas). 

 I suggest you trying to roast vegetables - any of them - you'll love it.

Here's a direction you can go...

iwalktheline

I'm not trying to be snarky... Why don't you check out Jessica seinfeld's book "deceptively delicious".  It has tons of tricks for hiding veggies in food

 http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/006176793X

nestinginjapan

hpinault:

I'm not trying to be snarky... Why don't you check out Jessica seinfeld's book "deceptively delicious".  It has tons of tricks for hiding veggies in food

 http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/006176793X

I agree.

Someone gave me this book as a gift and while I don't really agree with the style of hiding veggies in meals (the cauliflower hidden in lemon bars just seems wrong) it might help be a place to get inspiration.

My other advice (and you probably won't like this one as much) is to branch out and try some new vegetables and/or cooking methods (like roasting instead of steaming) And start with the freshest, seasonal produce you can find. There's so much to love!

livinitup

Me, again:

I just had this for dinner - I made shrimp and red/orange peppers with the marinade and used leftover cooked chicken (b/c I had it in the frig):

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/gold-medal-sizzling-fajitas-recipe/index.html

With Tyler's guacomole:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/guacamole-recipe4/index.html

You might be veggie adverse, but these peppers would make anyone a lover of eating brightly colored veggies (although peppers may technically be a fruit with its seeds - but onions are definatley a veggie!). Anyway, a wonderful gateway to bright veggies with lots of flavor and an easy prep. You don't have to "hide" them if they taste this good.

Jim&Jaime

nestinginjapan:

hpinault:

I'm not trying to be snarky... Why don't you check out Jessica seinfeld's book "deceptively delicious".  It has tons of tricks for hiding veggies in food

 http://www.amazon.com/Deceptively-Delicious-Simple-Secrets-Eating/dp/006176793X

I agree.

Someone gave me this book as a gift and while I don't really agree with the style of hiding veggies in meals (the cauliflower hidden in lemon bars just seems wrong) it might help be a place to get inspiration.

My other advice (and you probably won't like this one as much) is to branch out and try some new vegetables and/or cooking methods (like roasting instead of steaming) And start with the freshest, seasonal produce you can find. There's so much to love!

Agree with all of the above. The idea of saying "I don't like vegetables" is really, really childish to me. It's like when people say, "I don't like seafood". Really?!?!?! There are so many types and varieties of these two types of food, it's ridiculous to cut yourself off from the whole category.

 I used to think I didn't like asparagus. Turns out, I was served gross, probably canned, mushy asparagus. When I had it lightly steamed, grilled, or roasted, I LOVED it, and have been known to eat a pound at a sitting.

So, grow up, get it out of your head that you hate vegetables, and branch out. I think you'll find that you were wrong all along.  

Jim&Jaime

Also, I see you're expecting. Congratulations! Think about learning to enjoy vegetables as an investment in your child's health. Do you really want them walking around thinking they *hate* vegetables as well? Lead by example.

nestinginjapan

Jim&Jaime:

Also, I see you're expecting. Congratulations! Think about learning to enjoy vegetables as an investment in your child's health. Do you really want them walking around thinking they *hate* vegetables as well? Lead by example.