Winter is a perfect season for getting together with friends and family around a well prepared hearty meal. Of course when we talk about meal in this kind of season, its not only the heat of the oven that feels so good, or a hot bowl of soup. Warming foods are also a great choice during these times.
I'm Happy to give and recommend the current foodie trend - “Juice it” – one of the best ways to consume benefits without discarding any of the goodness of the Veggies that you use –
You get your fast food – that is actually quick, healthy and give added bonus of giving the missing liquids, removes the compromising fats from the diet and I could go on singing paeans for this trend
Have a Sturdy Blender as one of the Must Haves in your Kitchen – “Experiment”, find and add your favorite taste maker to the Blend – herbs, sea-salt, lemon juice, honey, spices, - Find your reason to get in to this habit and stay with it.
Some Vegetables that you might want to try out this winter.
Carrots – oh yes they also come in variety- black, Country (desi gajar):
First on my list are carrots. Versatile in Salads, addition to stews, a very important part of the all pervasive “Mirepoix” or “Matignons” used for imparting flavours to sauces & stocks, the all time Favorite food “Gajar ka Halwa” for bollywood Moms & Sisters & Sister in laws to cajole their loved ones – as Bugs Bunny says chomping on one; you can literally say “Wassup Doc “ with its health benefits - This root vegetable has more carotene (what the body converts to vitamin-A) than any fruit or vegetable. In addition, carrots are an excellent source of vitamins B, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium pectate (a pectin fibre that has cholesterol-lowering properties).
Peas:
A very Tasty comfort food, Peas, with their excellent mild sweet & Savoury taste, ,and starchy texture come loaded with phytonutrients that provide us with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Further, recent research shows that these legumes can help prevent stomach cancer, a good source of vegetarian Protein, makes a spectacular addition to Mashed potatoes, a very good blend with mint gives you a hearty winter soup, adds colour , texture, and above all interest to stuffings, stews, pilafs, used in almost every cuisine, additive to the dish, Side vegetables, in Stuffings and in many more imaginative ways.
Turnips:
The best turnips come to the market in the winter season. A root vegetable about the size of an apple, turnips pack in insoluble fibre, folates, vitamins and minerals. This root vegetable has a rather pungent taste, which becomes mild after cooking complements Lamb dishes very nicely , can go raw in salads, excellent accompaniment as a stewed puree to add zing to your Grilled Meats
Spinach:
One of the most celebrated , publicized and well known; A super Vegetable by any standard, It’s counted among the world’s healthiest veggies, thanks to its nutrient richness. Vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and a host of flavonoids that offer antioxidant protection – this leafy vegetable – has them all. Whether you choose to make some salad,, a plain sautés, Puree, soup or just stir fry it, make sure you’re eating this one!.
(photo from www.haldimirch.net)
Fenugreek leaves:
Known to Indians methi, loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytonutrients. It can lower cholesterol, help keep your diabetes under check and more. Adds the prized sixth Taste – “Pleasant Bitterness” to your palate – introduce or if already introduced – savour the taste with this beneficial Herb/Vegetable
(Photo from www.gardeningKnowHow.com)
Mustard leaves (sarson):
Bit pungent & Bitter and acquired taste, A winter crop, the mustard plant’s leaves are highly nutritious, very earthy & pervasive. The young tender leaves of the plant are flavourful and very popular in the state of Punjab, India.
Fresh mustard greens are an excellent source of several vital antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and carotenes. Include the goodness of these leaves in your diet this winter season.
Radishes – Mooli or Daikon:
Radish, a root crop that is pungent or sweet in taste is available in plenty during winter. This root vegetable has a lot of roughage and is a powerhouse of potassium, folic acid and ascorbic acid. Eat it raw in salads, make puree, - however be careful as your burps may smell quite offensive
First on my list are carrots. Versatile in Salads, addition to stews, a very important part of the all pervasive “Mirepoix” or “Matignons” used for imparting flavours to sauces & stocks, the all time Favorite food “Gajar ka Halwa” for bollywood Moms & Sisters & Sister in laws to cajole their loved ones – as Bugs Bunny says chomping on one; you can literally say “Wassup Doc “ with its health benefits - This root vegetable has more carotene (what the body converts to vitamin-A) than any fruit or vegetable. In addition, carrots are an excellent source of vitamins B, C, D, E and K, as well as calcium pectate (a pectin fibre that has cholesterol-lowering properties).
Peas:
A very Tasty comfort food, Peas, with their excellent mild sweet & Savoury taste, ,and starchy texture come loaded with phytonutrients that provide us with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. Further, recent research shows that these legumes can help prevent stomach cancer, a good source of vegetarian Protein, makes a spectacular addition to Mashed potatoes, a very good blend with mint gives you a hearty winter soup, adds colour , texture, and above all interest to stuffings, stews, pilafs, used in almost every cuisine, additive to the dish, Side vegetables, in Stuffings and in many more imaginative ways.
Peanuts
Not a vegetable though - A good source of Vegetarian Protein, vitamins, potassium, protein, carbohydrates, calcium and fat – peanuts are good for you in so many ways. Roast or boil some peanuts and have them with your tea this chilly evening or make some peanut Butter Sandwiches because they freshly arrive in the winterThe best turnips come to the market in the winter season. A root vegetable about the size of an apple, turnips pack in insoluble fibre, folates, vitamins and minerals. This root vegetable has a rather pungent taste, which becomes mild after cooking complements Lamb dishes very nicely , can go raw in salads, excellent accompaniment as a stewed puree to add zing to your Grilled Meats
Spinach:
One of the most celebrated , publicized and well known; A super Vegetable by any standard, It’s counted among the world’s healthiest veggies, thanks to its nutrient richness. Vitamins, minerals, carotenoids and a host of flavonoids that offer antioxidant protection – this leafy vegetable – has them all. Whether you choose to make some salad,, a plain sautés, Puree, soup or just stir fry it, make sure you’re eating this one!.
Fenugreek leaves:
Known to Indians methi, loaded with vitamins, minerals, fibre and phytonutrients. It can lower cholesterol, help keep your diabetes under check and more. Adds the prized sixth Taste – “Pleasant Bitterness” to your palate – introduce or if already introduced – savour the taste with this beneficial Herb/Vegetable
Mustard leaves (sarson):
Bit pungent & Bitter and acquired taste, A winter crop, the mustard plant’s leaves are highly nutritious, very earthy & pervasive. The young tender leaves of the plant are flavourful and very popular in the state of Punjab, India.
Fresh mustard greens are an excellent source of several vital antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and carotenes. Include the goodness of these leaves in your diet this winter season.
Radishes – Mooli or Daikon:
Radish, a root crop that is pungent or sweet in taste is available in plenty during winter. This root vegetable has a lot of roughage and is a powerhouse of potassium, folic acid and ascorbic acid. Eat it raw in salads, make puree, - however be careful as your burps may smell quite offensive
