We’ve all been doing a lot more home cooking lately, so naturally we’re looking for new ways to keep our meals exciting. Whether you cook for yourself or for a family, it can be a challenge to continue to be inspired by the same grocery list time and time again. That’s why we at Mother Raw rounded up five of our fav veggies along with some exciting ways to use them. So as long as you’ve got some of these multifaceted staples, you can always keep it creative!
Cauliflower
Of course we had to put cauliflower at the top of our list! In recent years we’ve seen this multipurpose piece of produce turned into rice, pizza crust, and even “steaks”. High in fibre, B-vitamins and antioxidants (Health.com, 2019), there are so many more ways to enjoy it beyond simply steaming or boiling.
Try your hand at a cauliflower fried rice recipe like this one. Or grab whatever’s in the fridge and stir fry it with your favorite veggies! We also love this Mediterranean take on cauliflower rice.
If you haven’t tried cauliflower crust pizza yet, what are you waiting for?! Make a crust for each person and get creative with your own individual toppings.
Remember the cheesy cauliflower from your childhood? Grab our Vegan Queso (or Spicy Vegan Queso if you’re feeling bold!) and take a delicious trip down memory lane.
If you’re not inspired enough already, take a look at these takes on BBQ Cauliflower Wings, Garlic Mashed Cauliflower, and Cauliflower Nachos.
Zucchini
There’s nothing quite like a BBQ after saying the long-awaited farewell to winter. Seeing the grill marks on those slices of zucchini is what dreams are made of! But there are many more ways to enjoy this delicious, nutrient-rich veggie.
For a new twist on grilled zucchini, try it as a salad using a recipe like this one, or make it your own with one of our Mother Raw Dressings.
Zucchini may be most renowned for its transformation into pasta, lovingly known as “zoodles”. Whether you have a spiralizer at home already or just a peeler or knife, we highly recommend giving this tasty trend a try! If you can’t get enough of zoodles, check out our Easy Cold Japanese Noodles recipe.
A true icon of versatility, zucchini can even be made into both burgers and fries. Check out these recipes for Zucchini Quinoa Burgers and Baked Zucchini Fries.
The possibilities with this one are literally endless! Whether you want it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even dessert, zucchini’s got your back. Yes, Zucchini Brownies are a thing and yes, you can thank us later.
Artichoke
Perhaps a more surprising addition to this list, artichokes have had a reputation for being a bit tricky to prepare. However, there are many ways to enjoy them that aren’t as difficult as you might think.
The simplest artichoke hack is buying jars of already marinated artichoke hearts from your grocery store (usually in the same aisle as the pasta sauce!) These can quickly and easily be used in a salad or as a pizza topping, or thrown together with whatever veggies you’re already cooking.
Once you’re comfortable with the idea of preparing artichokes, you can steam them and serve them with garlic butter, Mother Raw French Onion Dip, or your favourite sauce or dressing. Give a roasted artichoke recipe like this one a try or check out these Roman-Style Artichokes.
If you want a little something extra, why not experiment with an artichoke dip? We’re pretty confident you’ll wish you got into this versatile veggie sooner.
Brussels Sprouts
These tiny cabbages are not only delicious and versatile, they’re also high in antioxidants, fibre, and vitamins K and C (Health.com, 2019). Raw or cooked, there are limitless ways to enjoy Brussels sprouts.
Often thought of as a wintery veggie, Brussels sprouts definitely also have their place in the summertime. Fall head over heels for a salad like this one, or you can get creative and make your own. Drizzle on a Mother Raw dressing and you’re good to go!
While there are tons of delicious ways to roast or sautee your sprouts, we also love putting them on skewers (with or without other veggies - whatever you’re in the mood for!) and grilling them on the BBQ.
The great thing about Brussels sprouts is how amazing they are on their own and how effortlessly they mix in to other dishes. They’re an awesome addition to stir-fries or thrown into your favourite pasta dish for some added texture and fibre.
Radishes
We would be doing you a disservice to exclude radishes from this list! The crunch, the spice, the colour - what more could we ask for?
Slice them up and throw them into any salad for an added kick of flavor and a burst of colour! Whether you’re making your own original creation with a Mother Raw dressing or following a recipe like this one, you’ll be feeling (and tasting) the summer vibes.
Avocado toast is cool, but adding sliced watermelon radishes will really put the “rad” in your breakfast. You can try adding radishes to your fruit salad too, as these little guys are a perfect compliment to sweet fruits.
Perhaps the most classic way to enjoy them, grab some of our Mother Raw Ranch Dressing and serve them up raw on a veggie tray.
Beyond these ideas, you can try putting sliced radish on your sandwiches, burgers or tacos, adding them to your favourite rice or quinoa bowl, or roasting them in the oven with other veggies.
Here at Mother Raw we’re plant-obsessed, and love discovering new ways to dig into our favorite veggies. We hope these ideas have inspired you to try one of your old favourites in a new way, or maybe to take a second look at a veggie you’d written off or forgotten. With these five flexible vegetables, you’ll never run out of ways to make your next meal delicious, healthy, and full of plants!
Stay RAWesome!
Written By: Victoria Ehgoetz