Do you want to try eating healthier but are put off by bland and tasteless food? Just because it’s not sweet or oily doesn’t mean that it has to taste dull. In fact, there are a lot of things that you can do with these seemingly bland food items because it means they are more flexible to work with. To give you an idea, here’s how you can elevate them!
For Eggs
Eggs are pretty much a staple in any household, not just in the United States but in the world. It is a great source of protein, and people on BRAT diets often include these because it doesn’t upset your stomach. Although there are a dozen different ways to cook them, most of them require little to no seasoning. While this is great and all, it can get a bit boring after a while.
There are tons of ways you can elevate your eggs without overpowering them. Adding more seasoning aside from salt is the best way to do this. You can add some more pepper or dried herbs such as oregano and basil to your typical scrambled eggs. Spring onion or chives also add a bit of freshness to it.
What some professional chefs do is add a bit more cream to make it fluffier. Others add some smoked salmon for more flavor and added nutrients. The whisking done can also make a difference to its taste. Adding butter is also great, and you can even do this for other methods such as poaching.
For Rice
One common option for those that want something cheap but filling is rice. It comes in a variety of colors, and each of them has its own textures and flavors. As a whole, though, they are considered quite bland on their own. That’s why those who make them also add a variety of sauces and seasonings. Adding it to your diet can help you reach your daily fiber intake.
In other parts of the world, there are a lot of ways you can cook rice. Simply adding margarine or butter to warm rice can make it taste great. You can make something simple like saffron rice, which only needs saffron and chicken stock in it. Some add onion powder and green chile powder for added spice and depth.
Those who make sushi actually add a bit of vinegar and a bit of sugar to the rice before rolling it. If you have leftover rice, turn it into egg-fried rice. What makes old rice better than fried rice is the fact that it’s already dry. New rice can be too mushy and soft when you add the additional ingredients.
For Tofu
If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, tofu is one thing that you can substitute for meat. It is high in protein and also has calcium and vitamin B12. You can use this if you want to meet your daily vitamin intake that you usually get from meat. However, tofu is undoubtedly quite bland on its own, which is why it is often served with either a marinate or syrup.
Tofu can be eaten both raw or cooked. How you season both can vary greatly. For instance, frying them will help you create more dishes, and this is how you can make it into a meat-substitute. You can fry it as it is, but adding flour or cornstarch will allow you to create a new texture. Season it with salt and pepper to make it even better. Some add breadcrumbs to make it crunchy. From here, all you need to do is add a sauce to it like oyster sauce or barbecue sauce.
When cooking with raw tofu, make sure that it is drained first. You can create a simple sauce with soy sauce, chili paste, and scallions. A combination of sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha works as well. It can be served cold.
For Chicken
Many people have a hard time with healthy eating and dieting because the first thing they think of is bland, boiled, unseasoned chicken breast. Frying is considered unhealthy because of all the additional fat, which does not happen in boiling. However, that doesn’t mean you have to endure with bland chicken.
When you’re boiling chicken, you can still add some seasoning to it. Instead of boiling it in plain water, you can add a bouillon cube or seasoning. Another alternative is air frying. Unlike regular frying, this does not result in the chicken absorbing the oil. In fact, it can even drain out the excess oil of the chicken. Marinade it with things like dried herbs, dijon mustard, or barbecue sauce to make it tastier.
With these ideas in mind, you can enhance the usual meals with something better and yummier.
