Tips and Tricks for Flavoring Fruits and Veggies
Transform meals from mediocre to a-mazing.
BY VICKI MARTINEZ
Welcome to your new cooking comfort zone. Invigorate veggies and flavor fruit with these tips from Primal Kitchen’s senior writer and educator, Lindsay Taylor.
Vegetables
Taylor's number one recommendation for cooking appetizing, flavorful veggies is to master the skill of roasting. “For anything more robust in terms of texture, like cruciferous vegetables, roasting is a game-changer,” she says.
To create a flavorful, crispy crust on your roasted veggies, follow three simple steps:
- Toss veggies in a dressing or oil—you want a light coating, not a pool of dressing.
- Use an extremely high heat.
- Resist the urge to stir or flip, leaving your veggies alone while they cook.
Use a robust, herb-based dressing for tossing veggies. Add an extra punch by finishing the dish with chopped fresh herbs. Not sure which herbs to use? No worries. Check your dressing ingredients and use the same herbs and spices it contains.
.
Primal Kitchen Tip:
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a handy guide on roast vegetable cook times and temperatures.
Sautéing veggies is another great way to impart flavor. A tasty trick: Replace cooking oil with a flavor-filled dressing. As long as the dressing is oil-based, it can be substituted for cooking oil.
If grilling’s your thing, try these recipes, using a simple sauce or mayonnaise to add layers of flavor to your veggies:
Vegetables
Taylor's number one recommendation for cooking appetizing, flavorful veggies is to master the skill of roasting. “For anything more robust in terms of texture, like cruciferous vegetables, roasting is a game-changer,” she says.
To create a flavorful, crispy crust on your roasted veggies, follow three simple steps:
- Toss veggies in a dressing or oil—you want a light coating, not a pool of dressing.
- Use an extremely high heat.
- Resist the urge to stir or flip, leaving your veggies alone while they cook.
Use a robust, herb-based dressing for tossing veggies. Add an extra punch by finishing the dish with chopped fresh herbs. Not sure which herbs to use? No worries. Check your dressing ingredients and use the same herbs and spices it contains.
.
Primal Kitchen Tip:
Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for a handy guide on roast vegetable cook times and temperatures.
Sautéing veggies is another great way to impart flavor. A tasty trick: Replace cooking oil with a flavor-filled dressing. As long as the dressing is oil-based, it can be substituted for cooking oil.
If grilling’s your thing, try these recipes, using a simple sauce or mayonnaise to add layers of flavor to your veggies:
Fruits
Sweet and succulent, you might think that it's not possible to add more flavor to fruit. With the right ingredient combos, you can further develop and enhance the flavor of fruits, taking dishes to the next level.
Berries go really well with herbs. “Strawberries and basil are beautiful together and watermelon works wonderfully with basil, mint and parsley,” says Taylor. Perfect for a sweet and savory summer salad.
And just like pork, pineapple goes great with sweet, tropical, and tangy sauces.
Strawberries and whipped cream are a tried-and-true treat, but with a few tweaks, you can create a sweet and savory version.
Whip mascarpone cheese into cloud-like peaks and add a few drizzles of balsamic vinegar (use sparingly because it can be strong). With this combination, you’ll transform any berry dessert into a decadent, yet healthy after-dinner treat.
.
Primal Kitchen Tip:
Primal Kitchen has a big selection of paleo, keto and Whole30 sauces and dressings to perk up vegetables and fruit.
Fruits
Sweet and succulent, you might think that it's not possible to add more flavor to fruit. With the right ingredient combos, you can further develop and enhance the flavor of fruits, taking dishes to the next level.
Berries go really well with herbs. “Strawberries and basil are beautiful together and watermelon works wonderfully with basil, mint and parsley,” says Taylor. Perfect for a sweet and savory summer salad.
And just like pork, pineapple goes great with sweet, tropical, and tangy sauces.
Strawberries and whipped cream are a tried-and-true treat, but with a few tweaks, you can create a sweet and savory version.
Whip mascarpone cheese into cloud-like peaks and add a few drizzles of balsamic vinegar (use sparingly because it can be strong). With this combination, you’ll transform any berry dessert into a decadent, yet healthy after-dinner treat.
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