How do I cook these vegetables?!
I realise using olive oil is not very low-fat so how can I roast these things without it? Is there anything I can put on them which will stop them shrivelling up which will make them more tasty but is low fat? Or is there an alternative way to cook them (maybe wrapping them in foil or something?).
Answers: I'm trying to lose weight and would like to eat some vegetables which I'd normally roast with olive oil in the oven. I mean vegetables like mushrooms, peppers, sweet potatoes, parsnips, broccoli, carrots etc.
I realise using olive oil is not very low-fat so how can I roast these things without it? Is there anything I can put on them which will stop them shrivelling up which will make them more tasty but is low fat? Or is there an alternative way to cook them (maybe wrapping them in foil or something?).
A lot of people make the mistake of dredging the veggies in oil so they are swimming in the roasting pan. If you drizzle a bit in a bowl, with some sat and pepper and then mix up your chopped veggies in that, just coating it. This is what the chefs do. Then tip it into the roasting tray. Each piece of veg will have a thin coating and be evenly coated stopping the burning on the ends so much. Olive oil isn't too bad an oil to use compared to some others. Wrapping in foil will only steam them rather than give them that "chargrill" look and taste.
you can still roast them, just don't use too much olive oil. a little goes a long way...
Use frylight for all your cooking purposes, for frying, baking ect. Low in fat and does the job.
Check out the link:
http://www.frylight.co.uk/tips.html
i think you can just put a little water on top every now and again... but you would be better off just boiling them or making a soup.
think you have to come to terms with healthy food lacking in taste
get an olive oil spray so you only add a very small amount on the surface of the veg - you could par boil them first so they are not in the oven for as long
Steam them instead.
The best way to cook vegetables is by steaming. It helps keep in most of the nutrients and does not add fats, calories, etc.
I wrsp them in foil and when they are cooked i open the foil to let them roast a little.
no oil needed.
some recipes:
http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/vegeta...
Here is what i am cooking tonight:
http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/pastaa...
Using vegetable oil instead of olive oil.
You can put them in foil and cook them on the grill.
You can slice the sweet potatoes and dip them in vegetable oil them bake them, to make sweet potato fries.
You can steam them instead of roasting them, and then they won't be greasy or dry.
Good luck with the diet.
I usually steam my veggies with cayenne pepper to give them some spice. Maybe find a low-fat spray butter to put on them while they're steaming to keep them tasty:-) I read in the south beach book that instead of having sweet potatoes or regular mashed potatoes, do mashed calliflower(sp?) and just season like you would normally do mashed potatoes. It's apparently low carb and worth a try.
Using olive oil is not all bad as it is a healthy fat as opposed to vegetable oil which is a saturated fat,the key is to use it in moderation.
If you want you could spray them with a cooking spray before roasting.Spray them toss them about then roast.
Good luck with the weight loss
Oh my goodness -- you need a little fat in your diet! Just grease the pan, then flip the veggies in the greased pan and roast. A teaspoon of olive oil per person is not going to hurt anyone.
You should cut the sugar and excessive fat things, instead. Your veggies should taste as good as you can possibly make them!
Seriously. Check out the calorie counts if you are worried. I would cut corners calorically elsewhere.
Y not try steaming your veg instead. Boiling your veg also boils the taste away but steaming keeps ALL the flavor. Other than that if you go to your supermarket there's a wide range of low fat oils that do a great job.
You can get a light spraying oil and still roast them. Other wise steam them.
how about trying to steam cook them ..that way you will not be needing to use any oil at all
Sweet potatoes, parsnips and carrots you can bake without any oil and they won't dry out. Another way to enjoy these vegetables (which is also a very healthy way of cooking them) is to steam them. Broccoli is also quiet nice when steamed. As for the mushrooms and peppers, I like to pan fry these with a little bit of garlic and lemon juice - just be careful not to overcook them.
But if you prefer to bake your vegetables, try putting them all into a plastic bag then add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil (and whatever herbs you like - garlic is very healthy & tasty), squeeze all of the air out of the bag and tie it closed then mix the vegetables around until they are all coated with the oil.
Enjoy!
I like to saute green beans in a little olive oil with salt, pepper, lemon juice and several cloves of garlic, sliced. mmmm yummy! if you want lower fat just sub canola oil.
There are lots of different ways to cook them:
*You can broil them with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. (This tastes the best with asparagus).
*You can pan-cook them with olive oil (or water to steam them instead), with a little bit of garlic.
*You can grill them with a little bit of terriaki sauce or just plain with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper.
NOTE: Extra Virgin Olive Oil is not low-fat...but it has monosaturated and polysaturated fats which are very, very good for you!! "Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 milliliters (mL) - about 2 tablespoons - of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood. Spanish researchers suggest that including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. "
*You can also just chop them up raw and make a delicious Variety Salad. Just pour on some balsamic vinegar and add some spices/herbs!
*Sweet potatoes are incredibly healthy and delicious. I microwave them for 5 minutes and then wrap them in foil and let them get soft inside....delicious!
Olive oil is very healthy and if you use very little it won't make you fat. Otherwise you can steam the veggies in the microwave or a steam cooker. You can also wrap them in tinfoil [as you yourself suggest] and roast them in the oven.
I won't recommend boiling, you lose most of the nutrients and the taste.
Olive oil is a healthy fat so it is not that bad for you. It is not low fat but it is a GOOD fat. What people fail to realise is that some fats are good for you and olive oil is one - it is extremely good for the heart.
An alternative might be to use what I use - which is a low calorie olive oil spray. It's called Fry Light and they have several varieties including Rapeseed, Sunflower and Olive.
http://www.mhfoods.net/fl.html
When cooking with fats, olive oil is a healthy choice. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, which can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol levels in your blood.
All types of olive oil provide monounsaturated fat, but "extra-virgin" or "virgin" olive oils are the least processed forms. As a result, they contain the highest levels of polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant.
Sweet Potatoes can be Boiled then Mashed.
Broccoli,Carrots can be Steamed or Boiled.