No time to peel, chop, and cook vegetables tonight? Try some of these easy vegetable side dishes.
Parmesan Broccoli
Steam or microwave a bag of frozen broccoli. Sprinkle with a little bit of Parmesan cheese.
Pesto Green Beans with Walnuts
Steam or microwave a bag of frozen green beans. Toss with 1-2 tablespoons of jarred Pesto and some chopped walnuts.
Okra, Corn, and Fire Roasted Tomatoes
In a medium size pot, combine two cans of fire-roasted diced tomatoes with one bag of frozen okra and one bag of frozen corn. Add a cube of frozen or jarred diced garlic. Simmer for 10 minutes or until heated through.
Kale Chips
Toss chopped fresh kale with a little bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Spread a single layer of kale onto a large baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees until crisp but not burned (10-15 minutes), stirring halfway. Purchase chopped fresh kale in the produce section.
Beans and Greens
Defrost a bag of frozen broccoli rabe or other chopped frozen greens in the microwave. Rinse one can of pinto beans in a colander. In a medium pot, warm one tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add crushed garlic and a little bit of chopped lean turkey if desired; stir to combine. Add defrosted greens and beans; season with salt and pepper. Cook until heated through.
Cabbage Crunch
Combine 2 Tbsp. honey, 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar, 2 Tbsp. canola oil, and a dash of salt. Toss with thinly sliced raw cabbage and almonds. You can purchase preshredded cabbage with the bagged salads in your produce section.
Sesame Kale Salad
In a small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce, 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp. sesame oil, 1 Tbsp. honey, dash of garlic powder and ginger. Serve over chopped fresh kale with thinly sliced red peppers and matchstick carrots.
Roasted Cauliflower with Parmesan
Toss fresh cauliflower florets with with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees until they are golden and tender (20-30 minutes); stirring occasionally. Top with a little Parmesan and fresh chopped or dried herbs. You can purchase fresh chopped cauliflower florets in the produce section. If you prefer, give them a rough chop into popcorn size pieces before you roast them to make “cauliflower popcorn.”
Steamed Broccoli with Goddess Dressing
You can choose your favorite dressing but this is a favorite in our household. Use the full fat dressing more sparingly or lighter versions a little bit more liberally. Goddess Dressing is made from vegetable oil, tahini (just like hummus) and apple cider vinegar. I purchased the bottle below at Trader Joe’s or it can be homemade. Microwave the steam-in-bag variety of frozen broccoli to make this side quickly. …Prepare to devour broccoli at record breaking speed.
Collard Greens with Turkey Bacon
Frozen greens make this dish quick and inexpensive. I used a 16 ounce bag of Whole Foods Brand 365 frozen chopped collards but any brand or variety of greens would work. Try frozen chopped kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, or spinach also. Warm a little bit of vegetable oil over medium heat in a medium size pan that has a lid. Saute a little bit of chopped turkey bacon for a few minutes until it is lightly browned. Add the greens. Honestly, I just pour them in frozen. However, you could thaw them out in the refrigerator or microwave first to speed up the cooking process. Add some low sodium chicken broth, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of crushed red pepper to add a little bit of heat. Cover with a lid and simmer for a few minutes until they are cooked through.
Creamed Spinach with Parmesan Cheese
Here is another easy recipe with chopped frozen greens. Cheap and easy. I used a 16 ounce bag of Whole Foods 365 brand chopped frozen spinach. Warm a little bit of vegetable oil in a medium size pan over medium heat. Saute some finely chopped onion for about five minutes until it is soft; stirring occasionally. Add the spinach. Again, I add it frozen but you can thaw it first to speed up the cooking process. Add a little bit of low sodium chicken broth and a pinch of salt; cover with a lid and simmer for a few minutes. Stir in a little bit of grated Parmesan cheese and few tablespoons of light creamed cheese (I prefer the tub of whipped light cream cheese because it melts evenly). Simmer for a few minutes until it is warmed through and evenly combined.
