How to Make Delicious Veggies with Only 2 Ingredients
Liz of espressofied
Liz here, your favorite lacto-ovo-vegetarian!
No meat, lots of fruits and veggies, and dairy on occasion.
And, yes—- my cholesterol, calcium, iron, protein levels, etc. are stellar (say, my doctors).
Given today’s rise in concern that meat won’t be as readily available in grocery stores as meat factories have been cited as being the epicenters of Coronavirus (CDC), paired with people’s desire to eat healthier foods to either lose the weight they’ve gained in quarantine and to help boost their immune system functionality… I’m here to show you how to make delicious veggies with only 2 ingredients.
Only two?
Could there be more? Of course. I have a whole cabinet full of spices, sauces, oils, vinegar, etc., but I’m going to keep this really simple so you can make a variety of veggies to enjoy rather than worry about having to find/buy a variety of condiments.
Couldn’t salt and pepper do the trick?
Yes, but you’ll get tired of it and your blood pressure may not love you for all the sodium you’d be ingesting. Too much sodium/salt can cause a plethora of health issues. (CDC)
The top reason why people use salt so much is that they’re not sure what else to use. Instead, let’s use good-for-you spices that not only help our food taste better, but also help our system function in healthier ways.
TWO INGREDIENTS
1) Olive Oil: I use extra-virgin olive oil. The only time I use fancier olive oils is when I’m going to use the oil to enhance taste versus just for cooking.
2) Vegetable Blend Indi Spice: This spice blend is made with a combination of many herbs and spices such as basil, red pepper flakes, parsley, and garlic. It makes every vegetable I cook/prepare taste so good and the hand-blended spices used are all so beneficial for our health. It’s mild, so you can use a ton and not ruin your dish. It enhances the flavor of your meal instead of masking it and is beneficial for your health.
I put this season on everything: potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, peas, carrots, beans, rice, garlic bread, pasta dishes, etc. I also mix it into mayo to dip fries into, blend it with balsamic vinaigrette as a salad dressing, and stir it into olive oil as a bread dip.
WHY Indi Spice’s Vegetable Blend’s INGREDIENTS ARE BENEFICIAL
-Basil is an excellent source of vitamin K, manganese, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. It's also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. (From The Grapevine)
-Red peppers contain >200% of our daily vitamin C intake. It’s a powerful antioxidant and has vitamin C which helps iron absorption. (Chatelane)
-Parsley provides a concentrated source of nutrients and is particularly rich in vitamins A, C, and K. Parsley is said to improve bone health, protect against chronic diseases, and provide antioxidant benefits. (Healthline)
-Garlic is beneficial for so many reasons. It has anti-oxidant (Allicin) properties which help to lower cholesterol levels, regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels, relax blood vessels to increases blood flow which therefore may reduce the risk of heart disease, and more (WebMD).
HOW TO USE
Wash your veggies, cut off the parts that need to be cut off, drizzle a bit of olive oil, sprinkle seasoning on top, and cook! Simple, right? Yep.
5 EASY VEGGIE RECIPES:
-Asparagus: Wash, cut 1/2 inch off the ends, boil in water for 2 minutes, blanch, drizzle with a tiny bit of quality olive oil, sprinkle with vegetable blend seasoning. To grill, wrap the asparagus in foil, drizzle with olive oil, season with the vegetable blend, close foil, and grill until you’re happy with its consistency.
-Brussel Sprouts: Wash, cut each in half, trim a little off the ends, boil in water for 2 minutes, remove from heat and drain, toss with a tiny bit of quality olive oil, coat with vegetable blend seasoning, pan fry to your liking.
-Carrots: Wash and peel the carrots, cut a little off the ends and tips, drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil, sprinkle with vegetable blend seasoning, and bake at 425 degrees F for about 18-20 minutes.
-Tomatoes: Wash, cut in half, drizzle with olive oil, season with the vegetable blend, and grill with the cut side face-down for about 4 minutes.
-Zucchini: Wash, cut in 1/2 lengthwise, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with vegetable blend seasoning, bake at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.
P.S. In case you’re wondering, I did not get paid (nor will I get paid) to tell you about this seasoning blend.
