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!
- 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
- 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
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!
August 31, 2011 at 5:29 am
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!
August 31, 2011 at 5:52 am
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.
August 31, 2011 at 11:37 am
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 🙂
August 31, 2011 at 9:46 am
Michele says:
Thanks for the kind words Juliet!
August 31, 2011 at 10:23 am
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?
August 31, 2011 at 3:47 pm
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.
September 1, 2011 at 4:32 am
Karen Harris says:
This looks so good. I am a veggie lover so this is right up my alley. Your photos are beautiful.
September 1, 2011 at 7:53 pm