We are right in the midst of spring and there are loads of great vegetables in season.
Why not visit your local farmers market on market day, they’re sure to have a wide variety of your favourite spring vegetables on offer to tempt your taste buds. And the good news is, they’ll usually be fresher and cheaper than what you’ll find in the supermarket. For example, I bought a bunch of asparagus the other day for $2, I tossed them into a stir fry that night and it tasted delicious.
When you buy what’s in season they’re not only cheaper, but you also get the vegetables at their nutritional peak and some of the most ordinary vegetables have extraordinary benefits. For example, if you’ve been taking fluid tablets for a while you might want to add some potassium to your diet, and one of the ways to do this is with vegetables high in potassium such as beetroot, cauliflower, white onions, pumpkin or spinach.
Actually, spinach really is a wonder food with loads of vitamins A, C, folate, magnesium, calcium, iron and, as mentioned before, potassium.
So, let’s look at the nutritional benefits of some of your favourite spring vegetables.
Did you know…
- Asparagus is a good source of folate, vitamin C, E
- Broccoli provides an excellent source of vitamin A, C and folate
- Cabbages have loads of vitamin C
- Cauliflowers are an excellent source of vitamin C, plus some folate and potassium
- Leeks provide vitamin A and C
- The humble lettuce offers folate, vitamin A and C
- Mushrooms boost our health with riboflavin, niacin, and some B12
- The ever-popular pumpkin has vitamin A, C, folate and potassium
- Tomatoes will help to boost your vitamin A, C and folate
- and finally, the good old zucchini which has vitamin C and folate.
Plus many of these vegetables are a good source of dietary fibre which will help to fill you up and keep you regular.
And now let’s get cooking!
Here are 10 deliciously healthy recipes from my 9 cookbooks that include your favourite spring vegetables.
- Asparagus and Ham Slice – Book 2
- Asparagus, Snow Pea and Almond Salad – MORE Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Beef and Mushroom Lasagne – Book 7
- Beef Stir Fry – Book 1 & Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Cauliflower Fried Rice – Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Cheese and Broccoli Slice – MORE Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Chicken and Cashew Stir Fry – Book 2 & Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Creamy Chicken and Broccoli – MORE Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Roasted Pumpkin and Spinach Pie – Book 5 & MORE Cooking for 1 or 2 people
- Zucchini Slice – Book 1 & Cooking for 1 or 2 people