Cooking Vegetable

Vegetable

Preparation Cooking Directions Cooking Time
Artichoke Wash, trim stems; cut off 1 inch of drop. Remove loose outer leaves; snip off sharp leaf tips. Brush cut edges of leaves with lemon juice. In a large covered kettle simmer in a large amount of boiling slated water till a leaf pulled out easily. Drain upside down. 20 - 30 minutes
Asparagus Wash and scrape off scales. Break off woody bases where spears snap easily. Leave spears whole. Cook whole spears, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water. Prop tips up out of water with crumpled foil. (Or, fasten spears in a bundle; stand upright in a deep kettle so tips extend 2 to 3 inches above boiling salted water.) 10 - 15 minutes (whole)
Or, cut up asparagus spears Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water. 6-10 minutes (cut-up)
Beans, Green and Wax, fresh Wash; remove ends and strings. Leave whole or cut into 1-inch pieces. (Or slice end-to-end for French-style beans.) Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till crisp-tender. 20-30 minutes(whole or cut-up-10-12 minutes French-style))
Lima, fresh Shell and wash. Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender. 25-30 minutes
Lima, Navy Northern dried Rinse; add 3 times as much water as beans. Cover; soak overnight. (Or, bring to boiling; simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Cover; soak 1 hour.) Do not drain. Add salt. Bring to boiling. Cover; reduce heat and simmer in water used for soaking till beans are tender.

3/4 - 1 hour (lima)

1 1/4- 1 1/2 hours (navy and northern)

Beets

Cut off all but 1 inch of stems and roots. Wash. Do not peel whole beets.

 

Cook, covered in boiling salted water till tender. Cool slightly; slip off skins.

35-50 minutes (whole)

Or, peel beets; slice or cube.

Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender.

20 minutes (sliced or cubed)

Broccoli Wash; remove outer leaves and tough parts of stalks. Cut lengthwise into uniform spears, following the branching lines Cook, covered, in 1 inch of boiling salted water till crisp tender. 10-15 minutes
Or, cut off buds; set aside. Cut remaining stalk into 1-inch pieces. Cook, covered, in boiling salted water for 5 to 8 minutes. Add reserved buds; cook 5 minutes. 10-13 minutes total (cut-up)
Cabbage Remove wilted outer leaves; wash. Cut into wedges; remove center core. (Or, shred.) Cook, uncovered, in a small amount of boiling salted water for the first few minutes. Cover; cook till crisp-tender. 10-12 minutes (wedges), 5-7 minutes (shredded)

Carrots

Wash, trim, and peel or scrub. Leave tiny carrots whole. for larger carrots. slice, dice, shred, or cut into strips.

Cook, covered, in 1 inch of boiling salted water just till carrots are tender.

10-20 minutes (whole cut-up),

5 minutes

(shredded)

Cauliflower

Wash. Remove leaves and woody stem. Leave whole or break into flowerets.

Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water just till tender

15-20 minutes (whole),

10-15 minutes (flowerets)

Celery Cut off leaves. Separate stalks. Slice. Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water just till tender. 10-15 minutes.
Corn For cut corn, cut off the tips of kernels. Scrape cobs with the dull edge of a knife. Or, cook on the cob. Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling slated water till done. 12-15 minutes.
Eggplant Wash; cut off cap. Peel, if desired. Cut crosswire into 1/2-inch-thick slices Saute on both sides in hot cooking tips. About 2 minutes per side
Greens Thoroughly wash in cool water. Cut off any roots; remove damages portions and large veins. Tear or cut up large leaves. Cook, covered, in boiling salted water just till tender 10-75 minutes depending on type and maturity
Lentils. dried Rinse; add 2 1/2 times as much water as lentils. Don't soak. Bring to boiling. Simmer, covered, till tender. 35-45 minutes
Mushrooms Rinse gently in cold water; pat dry. Leave whole, chop, or slice through cap and stem. Cook in butter, uncovered, over medium-high heat till tender; stir often. Season. 4 to 5 minutes (sliced)
Okra Wash pods. Cut off stems Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water. 8-15 minutes.
Onions Peel; cut into quarters. (Or, leave small boiling onions whole. cut off ends.) Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender. 25-30 minutes
Parsnips Wash; peel or scrap. Leave whole, cut in half, slice, or cut into strips. Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender. 25-40 minutes (whole), 15-20 minutes (cut-up)
Potatoes Scrub thoroughly; remove any sprouts or green areas. Cook with skins on. (Or, wash and peel. Cook whole, quartered, or cubed.) Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender. 25-40 minutes (whole), 20-25 minutes (quartered), 10-15 minutes (tiny new)
Rutabagas Wash; peel. Slice or cube. Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender. 25-35 minutes
Spinach Wash several times in a pan of lukewarm water, lifting out of the water each time and discarding the water. Cook, covered, in a very small amount of water. Reduce heat when steam forms. Turn frequently with a fork. 3-5 minutes after steam forms.
Squash, Winter Wash; cut in half; remover seeds and strings. Cut each half into serving-size pieces. Place, cut side down, in a baking pan. Cover; bake in a 350o oven 30 minutes. Turn cut side up; bake, covered, 20 to 30 minutes more for acorn, buttercup, or butter squash; 45 to 50 minutes more for hubbard, banana, or spaghetti squash. 50-80 minutes (total)
Tomatoes Wash, remove stems. Core. Peel. Cut up o cook whole In a tightly covered pan cook slowly without added water. 10-15 minutes
Turnips Wash; peel. Slice or cube. In a tightly covered pan cook slowly without added water. 10-20 minutes
Zucchini Wash; do not peel. Cut off ends. Slice. Cool in small amount boiling water Cook, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water till tender. 5-10 minutes

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