Eating Vegetables I Don’t Like

August 31, 2011  •  Pasta & Pizza, Vegetables

Are you one of those people who just loves vegetables? One who literally can’t name a single vegetable you hate (other than beets or Brussels sprouts)? Well, I’m the opposite. I do love quite a few – tomatoes, corn, broccoli, red peppers, potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, greens, onions, fennel, beets, celeriac and more. But there’s another list, just about as long, of things I really don’t like.These are the vegetables I need to do something to in order to stomach them. Asparagus – must be roasted and with balsamic glaze or forget it. Carrots – I have to be really hungry to crave one of these. Cauliflower – just smells like sulfur to me. Peas – I’ll blame that on being forced to eat them as a kid. And then this motley crew – cabbage, eggplant, green beans (only way I truly love them is with crispy pancetta dripping with bacon grease), and banana peppers. I shouldn’t lump the lovely shallot, which I also have sliced here, into the mix – I LOVE them.So after reading my blogger friend Kirsten’s great looking recipe for a simple Asian cabbage stir fry with whole wheat spaghetti, I had an idea. If I stir fry all of these with enough seasonings – sesame oil, fish oil, soy sauce, chili oil, ginger, cilantro – and mix them with some cooked pasta, and top if I top it with a fried egg whose runny center will enrich the sauce, then maybe – just maybe – I can love these vegetables too. Well, love is a strong word, but I did eat this entire plate…except a few eggplant slices which I just couldn’t finish. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or a picky spouse or kid, adding interesting new flavors can sometimes take it from yuk to edible!

Asian Stir Fried Vegetables and Pasta with a Fried Egg
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Recipe type: Entree
Serves: 1
Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
  • 1 very small eggplant, thinly sliced
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup green beans, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ½ tablespoon fish sauce
  • ½ teaspoon chili oil
  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 ounces cooked whole wheat spaghetti, cooking water reserved
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 egg, fried sunny side up, yolk runny
Instructions
  1. Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and add vegetables; saute until tender crisp. Add soy sauce, fish sauce, chili oil,ginger, pasta, and a bit of the pasta cooking water and cook for 1 minute for flavors to meld.Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir in fresh cilantro. Spoon onto a plate and serve with a fried egg on top.

 

Comments

8 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. Ty says:

    That’s a great idea.

    I want so badly to like ALL vegetables… I just cannot stomach bell peppers though. I try to force myself to eat them and reinforce with positive ‘This isn’t so bad!’ thinking but eventually I start gagging.

    Same goes for raw tomato, avocado and crunchy onion.

    Which is a crying shame because those are basically the only vegetables my husband likes!

    • Michele says:

      Ty, for alot of people the problem with peppers is the skin – have you tried roasting them and removing the skin? I like them much better that way. Can’t help you on the others – they are on my love list!

    • Barbara | Creative Culinary says:

      I am part of a GreenPepperHaterz group on Facebook. Some things are just not worth the effort and they are them. Too many other great veggies out there! You are not alone.

  2. Juliet says:

    Kind of off-topic, but I just wanted to let you know that I love your site! Fresh ingredients in great combinations with down-to-earth (read: do-able in my cramped kitchen) cooking instructions…I’ve already bookmarked a bunch of recipes I can’t wait to try 🙂

  3. Joan Nova says:

    I pretty much like all vegetables, except one…okra! I won’t even try it. I often do something similar. I think Asian spices and ingredients can make anything taste delicious…maybe even okra?

  4. Lea Ann says:

    I saw that beautiful dish of noodles over at Kirsten’s site and loved the idea. I must make it soon. Great photos Michele.

  5. Karen Harris says:

    This looks so good. I am a veggie lover so this is right up my alley. Your photos are beautiful.

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