FFYWB - Personalize Your Plants
Food for Your Well-Being (FFYWB) is a nutrition and wellness education series from Bon Appétit Management Company that supports your well-being, whether you’re working or learning onsite or at home. Read the tips, watch the videos, and try the recipes for all FFYWB topics.
PERSONALIZE YOUR PLANTS
Love produce, but getting a little bored of steamed or roasted vegetables and whole fruits? It’s time to get creative! Plant foods are versatile and there is no one-size-fits-all way to prepare them.
Personalize your plants with these outside-the-box plant-forward cooking techniques:
- Fire up the grill. Move over hot dogs, plants are taking over the grill! Try eggplant, carrots, and cauliflower “steaks” in place of meat, and char fruits like peaches and pineapple on the grill for a sweet treat.
- Smoke them low and slow. Smoking plants brings out interesting flavors and textures. Try a new take on brussels sprouts in the smoker or make a smoked carrot “lox.”
- Blend plants in sauces. Make sauces creamy with cashews, cauliflower, or beans and get creative by adding carrot greens and broccoli stems to herb-based sauces like pesto and chimichurri.
- Use plants as a vessel. Forget traditional toast or conventional crackers, use crispy cucumbers for dips or add your favorite toppings to thinly-sliced baked sweet potatoes or eggplants.
- Make plants into a wrap. Trade tortillas for large leafy greens like collards or kale in wraps and burritos.
- Plate plants in place of pasta. Lose the linguine and instead spiralize zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, and radishes for a twist on traditional pasta or try out spaghetti squash which makes its own “pasta.” Sliced thin, these can also replace lasagna noodles.
- Swap plants for meat in a burger. Make a half-and-half burger with meat and mushrooms or swap the patty completely for plants like portobello mushrooms or beets.
- Include plants in desserts. Did you know plants are also delicious in desserts? Try using avocado in pots de creme or make “ice cream” from bananas.
Personalize Your Plants Video
Need inspiration to use plants creatively in the kitchen? Watch the following video and download the activity card for plant-forward cooking tips, as well as a tasty recipe for cauliflower steaks.
DOWNLOAD THE TIPS & RECIPE CARD
Learn More
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