How to Spice up Your Vegetables With Herbs and Spices

Adding spices and herbs to your vegetables may help you enjoy them more.

A diet filled with vegetables helps keep your weight down and benefits your overall health. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends eating three to five servings of vegetables a day. Eating these many servings may be difficult for some people, especially if they find vegetables bland. By adding spices and herbs to vegetables while cooking, you can make bland vegetables taste more flavorful.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• List of herbs in the article

1. Add cinnamon, cloves and ginger to vegetables. While these spices are typically reserved for sweet foods, these spices can enhance the flavor of carrots, squash and sweet potatoes.

2. Spice up steamed broccoli with lemon, olive oil and a pinch of salt. If you prefer eating broccoli raw, add paprika, yogurt, garlic and chives to enhance its flavor.

3. Boil vegetables in water that has a little salt. Before you put your vegetables in a pot, sprinkle a few dashes of salt in the water.

4. Add a little olive oil, garlic powder and lemon to asparagus when you boil it or bake it in the oven.

5. Use herbs to enhance the taste of vegetables. For example, you can add mint to peas and tarragon to green beans. After vegetables are tender from cooking, throw your herbs in the pan.

Tips & Warnings

• Eat vegetables soon after you buy them to maximize taste. Avoid cooking vegetables too long, so you don't lose flavor and beneficial nutrients.

• Please check with your doctor if you are taking any medications because some herbs can interfer with medicines.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: Pyramid Servings: How Much? How Many?
• Fit Day: 8 Fun Ways to Add Flavor to Bland Vegetables
• Spice Advice: Spice Usage Tips
• MedicineNet.com; Fruit and Vegetable: Easy Ways to Get 9 Servings; Elaine Magee
• Gaiam: Kick Up the Flavor on Vegetables