10 Underrated Vegetables That You Can Have For Dinner Tonight

Sometimes it seems like potatoes, carrots, and beans get all the attention. So it’s time to give some other earthy edibles their time in the spotlight! Check out these recipes featuring some of the most underrated vegetables.

Taro Root

This tuber is often compared to the potato, but it packs in far more vitamin E, potassium, and magnesium. It also has an earthier, nuttier flavor than its counterpart. The next time you’re hankering for a chip, put down the potato and try some taro chips instead.

Recipe Idea: Taro Chips

Spaghetti Squash

Looking to put a new twist on spaghetti? The flesh of this vegetable comes out in noodle-like strands, making it a perfect substitute for pasta. Try it for a more nutritive alternative to basically nutrition-less noodles.

Recipe Idea: Greek Spaghetti Squash Pasta

Okra

This veggie of African origin is high in anti-oxidants, Vitamin A, folates, and more. A staple in Indian cuisine, you should try chopping up okra as a side dish, or a healthy snack!

Recipe Idea: Spicy Okra and Tomatoes

Rutabaga

This hulk of a root vegetable comes from the same family as turnips and cabbage and is actually a cross between them. Like taro, it can be used as another alternative to the potato, this one is richer and sweeter.

Recipe Idea: Creamy, Smokey Whipped Rutabaga

Beets

Beets are a source of betalains, which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification benefits. While I’m used to enjoying these guys in juices, there are a surprising number of interesting recipes to use them in.

Recipe Idea: Beetroot & Feta Burger

Cornichons

Pickles aren’t just for burgers. Cornichons, or gherkins, are French pickles made with mini gherkin cucumbers and are typically found accompanying cheese and meat plates. But you should get creative with these sour little guys, or just pop them as a midday snack.

Cornichons

Recipe Idea: Marinated Salmon With Capers & Gherkins

Brussels Sprouts

You probably remember this vegetable from being gross in childhood. I remember hating these guys without ever having tried them; that’s how powerful the stigma associated with them is. But if you haven’t tried them as an adult, they actually have a nice texture and versatile flavor that goes well in lots of dishes. Plus they’re full of protein.

Recipe Idea: Roasted Brussels & Bacon

Celery

Hate it or love it, I hate it. But you don’t have to, especially if you’re a dude, because allegedly the stalks are full of pheromones which can send off sexy signals after eating. But amorous or not, these uber-healthy veggies contain only 10 calories per stick.

Recipe Idea: Minty Green Olive Celery Salsa

Fiddlehead Ferns

The fiddlehead fern, the magical furled fronds of a young fern, looks like the scroll at the end of a violin; the taste is grassy, with hints of asparagus and artichoke. Fiddleheads are high in omega fatty acids and are a good source of iron and fiber, making them a fantastic spring energizer. They are available only for a short time during the season, and they are true wild food, only found through foraging. (Note that many varieties of fern are poisonous, so make sure you’re an expert before you decide to search out your own, and do not eat them raw, as they can cause gastric upset.)

These curly guys are not only fun to look at, but they also go great in stir fry, which is the best kind of fry in my opinion. They contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which make them a great compliment to the cashews in the tasty recipe below.

Recipe Idea: Fiddlehead Cashew Stir Fry

Yuca

Also known as cassava, this starchy veg is an excellent source of minerals and fiber. Its flour is gluten-free, so anyone can bake away with this slightly sweet root.

Recipe Idea: Cassava Cake Coconut Bars

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