Bust out of the toss-with-sea-salt-and-olive-oil rut you've been in for years. This week's featured foodie, Holly from Taste and See, will open your eyes to new ways of preparing veggies you've always considered boring. We're not lying when we say you've never tasted cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and potatoes this good.
1. Roasted Parmesan Broccoli
You know how pizza is better with Parmesan and crushed red pepper? Well, so is broccoli. If you're sick of simply steaming the little green trees at dinnertime, take them up a notch by giving them a heavy shake of Parm and a light dusting of the spicy stuff. Your easy-veggie-side search has come to an end.
2. Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower With Blue Cheese Sauce
We don't need to convince you that cauliflower is the queen of veg right now (pizza crust! mashed taters! rice!), so just go ahead and add this to the list. When you're in the mood for game-day food but don't feel like chowing down on a total gut-bomb, opt for these instead. The blue cheese sauce makes you forget you're not at a sports bar.
3. Spicy and Sweet Brussels Sprouts
So long, boring Brussels roasted with sea salt and oil. Coated with spicy Sriacha and sweet honey, these sprouts bring the tangy and sweet flavors of Asian fusion home. It's a quick and easy side dish that you'll make again and again... and again.
4. Roasted Cauliflower and Chickpeas With Yogurt Sauce
Some say side dish; we say vegetarian dinner. The crispy chickpeas add enough fiber and protein to make this a meal for a busy weeknight. Besides, who doesn't love one-pan meals? Seasoned with cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper, then finished with a creamy yogurt sauce, the Mediterranean-inspired meal is all yours for the eatin'.
5. Smashed Potatoes
When a baked potato just isn't cutting it, buy a bag of small golden potatoes to go with your steak. A quick plunge in boiled water, followed by a fork smash, and then these little guys get popped into the oven until they're crispy on the outside and tender with every bite. Each spud gets a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle of green onions so they aren't too far off from the OG.
6. Cauliflower With Asiago Cheese and Raisins
We know what you're thinking... Seriously, more cauliflower?! But when they're cut into large steaks and topped with Asiago cheese and juicy golden raisins, it's like nothing you've ever tried before. We're going to go out on a cauliflower stem here and say this will change your bored-with-veggies life.
7. Roasted Ranch Broccoli
These broccoli florets might look just like the Parmesan roasted ones from No. 1 you already have cooking in the oven, but you're going to be blown away by what a packet of ranch seasoning can do for the flavor. With just five ingredients, you're going to have a tough time deciding which way is your favorite.
Holly, the founder of Taste and See, is on a mission to teach home cooks everywhere that food can be delicious without sacrificing nutrition. Raised in Michigan but now a Boston-dweller, Holly is a blogger, organic gardener, food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer.
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