Make the Most of Your Summer Food Budget With These Simple, Tasty Veggie Recipes

Better still? Cooking plant-based food is not only economical. It is among the tastiest and most fulfilling ways to fuel your body and honor the vibrant array of hues that summer veggies offer.

Why focus on vegetables when creating a meal?

We are not referring to dreary steamed carrots or side salads. Making veggies the main attraction is the goal of a vegetarian diet. Put them on a grill. Roast them until they are smokey and caramelized. Mix them with creamy cheese, cereals, or legumes. Allow their inherent sweetness to show.Meals centered around summer vegetables do more than just taste good, according to Liz Moore, author of The Hungry Heart Cookbook and registered dietitian at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which is affiliated with Harvard. "Vegetables like eggplant and beets are powerhouses of fiber," she explains. "Fiber promotes good digestion, helps control blood sugar, and lowers cholesterol." Additionally, meals high in fiber are typically satisfying without adding extra calories, which is advantageous for anyone controlling their weight.

Additionally, your produce drawer contains an entire botanical medication. Lycopene, a plant chemical linked to a lower risk of cancer and a stronger immune system, is abundant in cooked tomatoes. Beets provide folate and potassium. Green beans, squash, and peppers all contribute something substantial and filling to the dish.

Three easy yet filling summertime vegetable dishes

Are you in need of motivation? These three simple yet elegant dishes transform common summer vegetables into something you will truly want.

1. Summer Chickpea Salad with Grilled Eggplant "Steak"

Do not think about beef. Grilling thick eggplant slices produces a flavorful and filling dish. Simply cut into ¾-inch lengthwise slabs, drizzle with olive oil, and season with black pepper. Grill until soft and begin to caramelize.

Prepare a simple salad in the meantime using sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and drained chickpeas from a can. Add dried oregano, red wine vinegar, and olive oil for dressing. Top the grilled eggplant with a mound of salad and, if you are feeling very decadent, a crumble of feta.

2. Pita with Vegetables and Cold Gazpacho

The epitome of low effort, huge reward is this dish.

Begin by blending ripe tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, half a red onion, olive oil, a few bread crusts, and a pinch of cumin to make the gazpacho. Blend until smooth or chunky, as desired, then refrigerate for at least half an hour. Season with salt and pepper.

Spread a scoop of hummus on a whole wheat pocket that has been sliced open for the pita. Add a handful of greens, raw zucchini pieces, and carrots.

3. Black beans and corn in quinoa-stuffed peppers

Despite its elegant appearance, this dish is surprisingly easy to make and incredibly affordable.

Cut red peppers in half, then remove the seeds. Add a handful of black beans, chopped tomatoes, grilled corn kernels, cooked quinoa, one beaten egg, shredded low-fat cheddar, and seasonings (try salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin). Either grill the peppers in a basket until they are soft, or stuff them and bake them at 350°F for 30 to 35 minutes.

Enhancement of flavor: For a smokey summer flavor explosion, grill the corn before removing the kernels.

More easy summertime vegetable recipes

Are you still hungry? Try:

Vegetable kebabs: Grill eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms after skewering them, then top with goat cheese.

Quick summer pasta: Add whole-wheat pasta and olive oil to a skillet with whatever vegetables you have on hand, such as peppers, onions, or squash.

A loaded summer salad consists of leafy greens, raw green beans, cherry tomatoes, olives, and a hard-boiled egg, which makes for a quick dinner.

Pay attention to the color

More color typically indicates more nutrition in plants. The colors that indicate a plate full of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals are lush green, deep purple, and bright orange.

Moore says it best: "Your diet's nutrients are more varied the more colors you see on your plate. Let your curiosity run wild and experiment with new culinary methods or vegetables you have never tried. Consider it one of the wonderful small experiences of summer.

The Bottom Line

Summer vegetables are incredibly underappreciated, colorful, and adaptable. Incorporating them into your meals is not only healthy, but it also allows you to eat more slowly, seasonally, and creatively without breaking the bank. Let the produce section serve as your inspiration whether you are stuffing peppers, making gazpacho, or grilling eggplant "steaks."Tags: plant-based summer meals, inexpensive healthy meals, simple vegetarian dinners, summer vegetable recipes, and inexpensive vegetable dishes