By Melanie Albert, Guest Blogger

“Eat your vegetables,” is a common phrase that most of us probably heard from our parents growing up. Many people, especially children, believe that vegetables are boring, or that they have no taste. That only “health nuts” eat raw or plain steamed vegetables. This is where “finishing vegetables” comes into Whole Food S.O.U.L. Food cooking techniques. Read on for tips and recipes about how to make veggies fun and delicious for the whole family to enjoy!

Add Culinary Interest to Your Veggies

Finishing steamed vegetables with organic oils, toasted spices, fresh herbs, toasted nuts and seeds, and finishing salts adds delicious taste and culinary interest, with beautiful colors, textures and aromas.

Steam carrots, cauliflower or broccoli in a bamboo steamer and then finish them with different combinations of oils, seeds, salt or spices to create exciting, tasty dishes!

Use nut oils such as almond nut oil, hazelnut oil or walnut oil, or try herbal flavored oils such as lemon, garlic or rosemary. Toasted spices like sunflower seeds, fennel seeds and cumin seeds are a great addition to veggies, and finishing salts such as smoked sea salt or flavored salt will add some zing! Walnuts and almonds are great to mix into a salad full of vegetables, or use fresh citrus juice such as lemon, lime or orange to add zest to salads or veggies!

Simple Steps to Finish Vegetables

• Steam vegetables for about 5-7 minutes in bamboo steamer
• Take vegetables out of steamer into a bowl
• Sprinkle with sea salt, to bring out the natural flavor of the vegetables
• Drizzle with oil and gently toss
• Add citrus and gently toss
• Add freshly chopped herbs, toasted nuts, seeds or spices, and gently toss
• Taste and add additional flavor, if desired

The next Whole Food Cooking class begins January 7th! What a great way to learn some healthy cooking tips for the New Year! Contact Southwest Institute of Healing Arts to enroll in the course, or to learn more about our Holistic Nutrition programs! 480-994-9244.

Check out a video clip of Melanie Albert working her magic in the kitchen

Whole Food S.O.U.L. Food Wednesday Action: Experiment with Finishing Veggies

With our Whole Food S.O.U.L. Food blog we invite you to take action with your whole foods eating habits. The goal is to incorporate new whole foods eating into your way of eating step-by-step.

Our challenge for you this week is to experiment with different oils, spices, nuts and seeds, citrus and sea salts when you steam carrots, broccoli or cauliflower. Share your creations with us on Facebook!

How to Toast Nuts, Seeds and Spices

Toasting nuts, seeds and spices brings out their flavor and creates a beautiful aroma.

• Pre-heat small frying pan on low heat
• Add a few tablespoons of nuts, seeds or spices to the pan
• Gently cook, stirring gently for a few minutes, until the nuts, seeds or spices begin to smell, and brown a little
• Enjoy the nuts, seeds or spices with your steamed veggie dish

  Enjoy!

Share your Veggie Finishing creations with us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/SWIHA and www.facebook.com/9Ways90Days