Sauces and spreads to spruce up your vegetables

If you find vegetable side dishes bland or boring, it’s time to shake things up. Getting all the vegetables you need doesn’t have to be a chore, thanks to these flavourful sauces and spreads.

Easy herb spread

This tasty spread is a flavourful alternative to plain old butter or margarine. You can use it to roast, sauté or steam your vegetables. Or spread a dollop of it over your baked potato or corn on the cob. Just whip it up, keep it in the fridge, and use as needed to add a tasty twist to all your favourite vegetable sides.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Becel Buttery Taste Margarine
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
• Salt (optional, to taste)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, place all the ingredients, and use a fork to stir and combine until all the herbs are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
2. Transfer the mixture to a resealable container, store it in the fridge, and use as needed.

Note: This is one herb combination, but there are many more you can test out. Combine garlic, basil and oregano for an Italian flair, or lemon zest and rosemary for a sweet and tangy zing. Switch up the quantities depending on your flavour preferences, and use dried herbs if that’s more convenient. The combinations are virtually endless, so have fun experimenting with all the ways you can enjoy a tasty herb spread.

Get your herbs from your very own DIY kitchen herb garden >>

Maple dressing

Some vegetables, such as kale, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, rapini, broccoli and mustard greens, can fall on the bitter side. If that causes you to avoid them, then this dressing is coming to the rescue. The touch of sweetness will cut the bitter flavours nicely so you can finally enjoy these nutritious vegetables and satisfy your taste buds at the same time.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1–2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (depending on desired sweetness)

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a salad dressing dispenser or resealable container, and shake to combine.
2. Pour over salads, or use to coat and cook sautéed or roasted vegetables.

Amp up your vegetable intake with these nutritious toppings and dressings for salads >>

Creamy ricotta sauce

Did your mom ever bury your Brussels sprouts or broccoli under a mound of cheese with the hope of tricking you into eating them? You might not need that mound of cheddar anymore, but a little bit of cheesy goodness is a creamy, flavourful and delicious way to give a vegetable dish new life. This ricotta sauce is great over cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes and much more.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (optional)
• Salt (optional, to taste)

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan cheese, garlic and salt. Store the mixture in a resealable container in the fridge until needed.
2. Steam desired vegetables on the stovetop or in the microwave until tender.
3. Pour desired quantity of cheese mixture over the vegetables, and heat for another couple of minutes until everything is warmed through.

More vegetable recipes

Colcannon: A traditional Irish side dish
Garlic broccoli and cauliflower side
A healthy holiday side: Nutty Brussels sprouts