5 vegetables every kitchen must have
What's the story
Vegetarian cuisines across the globe are based on a range of vegetables to prepare delicious and healthy meals. These must-have vegetables not only amp up the taste but also add a lot to the nutritional value of dishes. Knowing which vegetables are important can help you make classic vegetarian dishes that are filling and nutritious. Here, we take a look at five such vegetables that enhance vegetarian culinary adventures significantly.
Drive 1
Tomatoes: The versatile ingredient
Tomatoes are a staple in almost every vegetarian recipe because of their versatility and delicious flavor. Whether fresh, cooked, or pureed, tomatoes are an essential part of sauces, soups, and salads. Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C, and antioxidants like lycopene, which are great for health. Their natural acidity balances flavors in different dishes, making them a vegetarian cook's best friend.
Drive 2
Spinach: Nutrient powerhouse
Spinach is praised for its nutrient-richness and versatility in various cuisines. It is rich in iron, calcium, vitamins A, K, and fiber. Spinach can be consumed raw in salads or cooked in curries and stews without losing its nutritional value much. Its bland taste helps it fuse into different dishes seamlessly while offering nutrients necessary for good health.
Drive 3
Bell peppers: Colorful flavor boosters
Bell peppers not only add color and crunch to vegetarian meals, but they also provide a sweet-yet-slightly-tangy flavor. Available in green, red, yellow, or orange variety, they are rich sources of vitamin C as well as other antioxidants like beta-carotene. Bell peppers can be roasted for added sweetness or used raw for a crisp texture in salads or stir-fries.
Drive 4
Carrots: Sweetness with crunch
Bringing natural sweetness and a satisfying crunch to many vegetarian dishes, carrots make an excellent addition. They are great sources of beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), fiber, potassium, and eye-healthy antioxidants among others. From being grated into salads to being cooked into soups where they release their sweetness gradually, enhancing the overall taste profile, carrots do it all.
Drive 5
Mushrooms: Umami enhancers
Mushrooms add that umami depth that vegetarians long for in hearty flavors without meat. They're packed with B-vitamins, selenium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, choline, dietary fibers, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, sugars, water, and other minerals. All of this makes them a nutritional powerhouse to enhance vegetarian dishes.