Can I make these vegetables more exciting or make "salads"?

[weddinggong]

Posting for traffic.

My vegetable intake is quite limited for various reasons I don't want to go into.
With the limited range I eat I struggle to make them more exciting and less boring but I have recently been aiming to eat less carbs and more veg and protein and would be really grateful if anyone could give me any pointers to how I can Jazz the veg up a bit.

So here's the trick:
I don't eat: salads or anything raw for that matter. No tomatoes/peppers/carrots or anything like that unless they're cooked in a sauce like bolognese.
I do eat: broccoli, peas, sweet corn, wilted spinach, cauliflower, green beans, sweet potato (not sure where it lands?, carrots.

I'm fine with all sorts of lentils and pulses, beans/quinoa/couscous all good.
I'm good with fresh herbs too.

But I am rather inept at making it something I look forward to, I'd love to make some super healthy and tasty salad type bowls with maybe couscous and veg or something to have at the side of my protein but I'm really not sure how to start.
What dressings to make/use and what to do to make it all less bland and less of a chore to eat?

Any tips very welcome!

Roast it all. Cauliflower, aubergine, sweet potato, carrots, green beans and many more are all transformed in the oven or on a BBQ. Add spices and garlic. No more boring cold salad.

Look at Hugh Fearnlet-Whittingstall’s Veg book for ideas.

Look up Buddha bowl recipes and adapt to your tastes.

Agree with @DollyDoneMore. I meal prep on a Sunday (when I can be bothered) and will often make a large tray of chicken and roasted vegetables

That’s a decent range of veg. And cooked tomatoes are actually better than raw for you.

There’s lots of nice pulse and grain based salads with cooked /roasted veg. And pastas with cooked veg. I usually search on BBC good food and find things there.

As PP said, roast it. Roasted broccoli with some sesame seeds / chilli is lovely served with some lentils.
Sweetcorn puree is a nice side / dip. Look up indian veg recipes.
Soup obviously is an easy one.
You could make veggie burgers.
Veggie chilli is excellent, I make it with different lentils / beans, then heaps of veg

Just experiment :) good luck.

You're completely the opposite to me, I like everything raw and don't really like cooked veg. But you've a great range there and I can't see that there is a problem. If you prefer them cooked, eat them cooked. You don't need a cold salad if that's not your thing.

Lightly stir fry the veg if you don’t like raw. Use soy sauce or wheat free tamari, lime juice, Thai herbs.

Tuna Niçoise salad

Veg Frittata

Try different types of ingredients in your salads eg baby spinach leaves (sweet and earthy), rocket(tangy) watercress (hot) chicory (bitter).

Look up poke bowls for ideas

Would you be interested in curries and stews or just looking for salads?

Veg like broccoli, green beans, peas, spinach are amazing first fried for a couple of mins in butter with a clove of garlic, then add a mug of chicken stock to the pan and cook till done.

It is soooo delicious compared to normal boiling or steaming

is there a reason you don't eat raw?

I only ask because of the endless variety of salads that are at your disposal.

Is there a salad dressing that you know you like? That makes a big difference to raw veggies.

Maybe find yourself a nice vegetable recipe book? Or vegetarian too. Or pinterest. Pinterest is my go to for all recipes!

Broccoli is lovely stir fried with some oyster sauce

If you're not a big fan of veg on the side of protein, why not make meals that combine them together?

Sweet potato spinach and lentil curry, sweetcorn fritattas, roast spiced chicken and cauliflower, etc.

@Zilla1 no not just salads just general ideas would be great.

Quick and easy would be a huge bonus.

I'm just like you, can't stand raw vegetables with the exception of sweetcorn, but will eat pretty much any cooked.

Definitely a vote for roasting them, with garlic and herbs, and you can then stir them into couscous or similar

@StuffThem yes there is a reason as mentioned in my OP, and adding salad dressing won't change that I'm afraid.

I'm on a low carb thing at the moment and I am not a big veg eater so it's hard. I am also terrible at seasoning and knowing what goes best with what.

I made a mushroom and spinach omelette this week - that was good.

My plan also says fry aubergine slice in coconut oil and serve with a piece of fish. That was good and I also used courgette.

Mange tout and baby corn with a splash of soy sauce.

I made parsnip chips in air fryer and they were ok.

As a potato substitute for a roast dinner I cooked parsnip swede and carrot and mashed up with some fried onion and a little Philadelphia and then cooked in oven.

Couscous with roast vegetables is nice.

Pinterest also has dressing ideas. I like olive oil, mustard and honey 🍯

A friend of mine chops up a load of herbs to go in his dressings, they always taste amazing.

In fact fresh herbs may be your key. So many veg taste out of this world dressed with butter or oil and herbs 🌿

My fave, easy veg dish at the moment is courgette. Hear me out!!

Big non stick frying pan with a generous glug of olive oil, pinch of chilli flakes (if liked) and a peeled, grated clove of garlic (if liked).

Sauté for 1 min on gentle heat whilst you wash and coarsely grate into the pan a courgette (for 2 people 1 1/2). Add a pinch salt & some black pepper.

Sauté for a few minutes on a medium heat. You’ll know it’s coked as it will lose its watery, pale colour. You can either eat as it is, or add some wilted spinach, some frozen peas, sliced green beans and cook through for few more mins. Last night I added a few sliced spring onions (into the pan first) and at the end some double-podded broad beans.

You have loads of options!

I second roasting them.

Some ideas of recipes:

www.theguardian.com/food/2019/may/10/anna-jones-chickpea-recipes

www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/food/recipes/a537518/fruity-couscous/

www.houseandgarden.co.uk/recipe/roasted-vegetables-halloumi

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spicy-roast-veg-lentils-0

simpleveganblog.com/lentil-salad/ (Replace the raw veg with cooked ones)

parade.com/842499/communitytable/broccoli-salad-with-pumpkin-seeds-cranberries/

I'd second PP who referenced Anna Jones recipes. She's ace - lots of easy to follow ideas for veggies. Or BOSH? I know they have lots of interesting Buddha bowl ideas which incorporate tonnes of protein too.

@weddinggong no worries, I'm sorry i didn't digest your post fully before posting that

Dressings are amazing for cooked vegetables too, that's what I was trying to get at on my second post if I wasn't clear. Butter, salt and mint on garden peas, zested lemon and honey on green beans. Tahini or peanut butter, lime juice and thyme on broccoli or cauliflower.

Sweet potato wedges are yummy. You can make great dishes with lentils (braised green lentils, red lentil soups/stews)

Blend the sweetcorn into creamed corn. I use a stick blender after it's been heated up in the microwave.

Roast the sweet potato, halfway through drizzle with honey and sesame seeds.

Leeks cooked for a long time in a splash of apple juice.

Sprouts cooked with very little water til soft, and a splash of cream and crush slightly.

Carrots cooked in a little water with a dab of butter, honey, lemon juice.

Anything roasted and drizzled in sesame oil. Especially broccoli and cauliflower.

Cauliflower and/or broccoli and/or leek baked in a cheese sauce.
All the above in a tomato sauce, or half tomato half cheese (very popular in my house).

Stir fry can combine up to 10 veg in one meal. Add soy sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil..

Also this one - not exactly low calorie, but very yummy and adaptable

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/nov/04/recipes.cheese