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Spin off from Roast Dinner posts

(67 Posts)
ExDancer Thu 03-Nov-22 11:16:37

Vegetables.
When I was a child vegetables were cooked for 20 minutes (plus), even cabbage and peas.
Now they (especially carrots) seem to be dipped into a pan of boiling water and then removed and served - neither cooked nor raw.
Seriously, how long do you cook your veg so they're acceptable to modern tastes as well as DH's and my more ancient ones?
(I do know about preserving nutrients etc).

SiobhanSharpe Fri 04-Nov-22 11:25:57

Some root vegetables absolutely need to be cooked until tender -- like swede, celeriac, parsnips, especially if you're going to mash them.
Carrots I cook until they are almost tender but not mushy (and finish them off in the pan with butter and grated nutmeg). Similar for cabbage but finished off with butter, pepper and a few caraway seeds. Or sautéed pancetta cubes.

MissAdventure Fri 04-Nov-22 11:30:50

I can take or leave carrots.
I do eat them, but come to think of it, I don't like them that much.

henetha Fri 04-Nov-22 12:27:44

Let's encourage others to join our sweetheart cabbage appreciation society! It is an underrated vegetable. 😁😁😁

MissAdventure Fri 04-Nov-22 12:31:30

grin we need a catchy hook line.
S.C.A.B... sweetheart cabbage appreciation... and something beginning with B.

ParlorGames Fri 04-Nov-22 12:36:31

Potatoes are boiled until they are mashable.......don't know if that actually is a word.
Greens are dropped into boiling water for around 3 minutes and carrots are cooked to the al dente stage, I cannot tolerate overcooked vegetables, particularly greens and don't get me started on overcooked brussels sprouts!

BlueBalou Fri 04-Nov-22 12:51:28

I prefer carrots grated raw or roasted to cooked ones, although Chantaray carrots are lovely if cooked al dente.
My grandmother boiled veg completely to a mush (and added soda bic), my mother slightly cooked them less so but salt was added liberally to the boiling water. Any nutritional value went down the plug hole when they were drained!
I love lightly steamed cabbage, sprouts, beans etc, only swede and potatoes have to be ‘mashable’, parsnips are always roasted 😋

Cabbie21 Fri 04-Nov-22 13:02:11

It is tricky in our house as DH can only eat mushy veg. He has a swallowing problem.
I keep my veg separate eg broccoli, green beans, but have to compromise on cabbage.
I like carrots fairly well cooked, even better roasted with parsnips.

Nannagarra Fri 04-Nov-22 13:24:42

Oh, I remember those big tablets used to cook marrowfats/mushies! DM and MiL used to serve them with ham shank as pea and ham soup.
Sweetheart cabbage. Mmmmm.

sodapop Fri 04-Nov-22 13:36:02

My husband removes all the large 'veins' from the cabbage and cooks it for a few minutes only with fennel seeds it's delicious.
A French neighbour was puzzled about it staying so green, apparently she cooks cabbage twice to avoid getting wind. smile

MissAdventure Fri 04-Nov-22 13:38:10

grin

henetha Fri 04-Nov-22 23:48:55

Sweetheart cabbage appreciation brigade
😅

hollysteers Sat 05-Nov-22 00:54:48

I’ll be putting my sprouts on for Chr*st**s in about an hour’s time😁

BigBertha1 Sat 05-Nov-22 06:40:14

Parsnips are the work of the Devil.

kittylester Sat 05-Nov-22 08:46:11

hollysteers

I’ll be putting my sprouts on for Chr*st**s in about an hour’s time😁

Crikey, that will be touch and go, hollysteers.

Witzend Sat 05-Nov-22 08:47:54

BigBertha1

Parsnips are the work of the Devil.

Sorry, no - that’s white chocolate.

Redhead56 Sat 05-Nov-22 09:37:46

I have Brussels tops on my veg patch but no actual sprouts this year this has never happened before.