red veggies are a little different from others. They’re typically much higher in iron and due to being so iron-rich, they’re perfect for our health benefit – along with being super tasty!
It’s essential to get enough vegetables in our lives for a healthy diet, along with getting enough exercise of course. This guide looks at a list of red vegetables, along with their health benefits and how you can enjoy them.
So, try to think of some red vegetables and see if they’re in our list too!
Red Peppers
We’re kicking off our list by sort of… cheating. Red peppers are technically a fruit! But much like another item on our list, they’re treated as vegetables due to their taste and how they work with other foods.
They’re very tasty and a little sweeter than other peppers, and they can be used in so many dishes like tortilla wraps, chilies, curries, soups and just in a salad!
You can boil them, fry them, stew them, caramelize them – the choice really is yours.
They’re very popular in Asian and South American cuisine, but many other nations enjoy red peppers.
They’re a fantastic source of antioxidants, and they’re high in vitamin C which is vital in promoting good heart health and lower blood pressure.
Red Chili Peppers
For those of you who like a kick of spice in your meals, red chili peppers really deliver some of the best tasting meals you could ask for.
They’re related to their larger siblings of the bell pepper, but these are much more spicy and can be used to knock a meal up a notch for some amazing tastes.
These chilies can be used to make chutneys, sauces, salsas and many other side dishes.
As their relations, you can cook these in a variety of formats. You could fry them, boil them or eat them raw – whatever you want! Just be prepared for the spicy hit.
These chilies are also good for your heart, your blood and your digestive system. They can also to a smaller extent help with the prevention of some types of cancers.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a very common and popular… fruit! Again, it’s kinda cheating, but it’s the way that tomatoes are used that makes them more of a vegetable in our list than a fruit.
Tomatoes are largely grown throughout the US and many other nations and are easily home-grown. You can enjoy tomatoes in a soup, a salad, a broth, as a purée for pasta dishes and curry dishes or eat them in a sandwich.
A popular dish in Spain is gazpacho, which is tomato soup served cold. Leaving it cold continues its very fruity aroma and taste.
To get the most out of your tomato soups, you could consider adding basil or thyme to further bring out the amazing smells and tastes.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and packed with antioxidants, which makes tomatoes perfect for fighting off common winter viruses like the common cold or flu.
Many people enjoy using large tomatoes to stuff with other foods like cheese, or you can fry them for a morning treat. Some others prefer eating cherry tomatoes, which are much smaller and can be eaten raw like a fruit.
Related: O Is For Onions: Outstanding Veggies That Start With ‘O’
Rhubarb
Finally, we have an item on this list that many people mistakenly think is a fruit – but it’s actually a vegetable. It’s understandable why people would believe it to be a fruit though because of its common uses in desserts like pies and tarts.
Normally, rhubarb is fried or caramelized, but it can be boiled. It has a chunky bite to it and when it is usually sweetened, it tastes amazing in desserts!
You can eat rhubarb as a vegetable though but without seasoning, it has very little taste to it.
The leaves and stork of the rhubarb are toxic and inedible to humans, but they can be used for a great compost heap or as part of other animal foods.
Rhubarb has some health benefits but not as many as some others on this list do. Rhubarb is often full of water which is essential in kidney function and can help the liver to detoxify.
This also helps with alertness levels and preventing headaches.
Red Onions
Red onions may appear purple, but they are actually a deep red. They’re perfect for most meals and are very rich in antioxidants which helps us to fight off illnesses.
These onions can be used to liven up recipes and make the perfect side dish like on top of your hot dogs or in a sauerkraut. It’s very common to see these onions in salads and these onions are more typically used to pickle.
They taste a little sweeter than their white onion cousins and this makes them better for younger people who don’t like the strong and sharp tastes of some vegetables.
Consider using these onions in a stew for a lovely winter feel and warm up with their aroma and taste.
Red Cabbage
Red is much weaker in terms of its smell and taste than its green and white relative. Red cabbage is often used in salads to take the dominant taste of green vegetables away.
They work hand in hand to make the most amazing salad tastes. Red cabbage can also be used to make a tasty sauce or coleslaw, when mixed with mayonnaise. Red cabbage is a good source of vitamin D and can promote a healthy diet easily.
You can eat this cabbage raw or choose to cook it, but cooking cabbage frequently takes away some of its sweetness. It’s much better to eat it raw when mixed with another sauce or condiment.
Related: U Is For Ube: Uber Veggies That Start With ‘U’
Radishes
Radishes might not be the most popular vegetable out there, but it certainly has its health benefits. A massive source of vitamin B6, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E – the radish is perhaps one of the most healthy vegetables on this list.
Want more assistance from the radish? No problem! It also contains phosphorus, potassium and magnesium which promotes healthy and strong bones.
Radishes are normally used in sauces, but it’s crucial that you cook them fully. Other than this, radishes are often used as livestock feed.
Red Spinach
Spinach is extremely high in nutrients and minerals – just ask Popeye! Red spinach has a slightly sweeter taste than green spinach and is less obvious when used as part of a meal.
This is great for feeding those who are more picky with their vegetables.
Chicory
Chicory, or radicchio is an Italian vegetable which is used to implement a bit more bitter tastes to pasta and risotto dishes.
It has an odd triangular shape and is very rare to see outside of Europe, but you can purchase these in some health food stores.
Red Beets
Red beets or beetroot in some places is a very sweet root vegetable that is normally used in coleslaw or as a side dish. It’s very well known to stain clothing with its red and purple drippings!
It’s of massive health assistance, with some studies suggesting that it can help with conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Although red beets aren’t for everyone, those that do enjoy them will love their unique taste and smell.
Red Potatoes
Red potatoes are often cooked with olive oil and mixed with Italian style cooking like garlic, salt, herbs and Parmesan.
They’re slightly more sweet than the white potato but still have the same versatility and great flavor. You can boil, fry and mash these potatoes or even use them as a sweet potato substitute.
They’re high in vitamins and minerals and are very high in iron. Needless to say, however you enjoy your red potatoes, you’re going to reap some benefits.
Consider using red potatoes in a potato salad or as part of a Thanksgiving dinner to give your meals that extra pop!
Red-Leaf Lettuce
Lettuce is a very common vegetable in most households and this is because of its versatility and inoffensive taste. It’s often used as part of a salad or in a sandwich with something else.
Filled with water and minerals, red-leaf lettuce can be enjoyed by almost anyone – even those who wouldn’t normally eat vegetables!
Atomic Red Carrot
Due to the presence of lycopene, these carrots are unique from their orange counterparts. They still however pack a punch of vitamin D and help your normal bodily functions.
Not to mention – they look amazing. They have a dark red color which cannot be matched and are usually very large when picked. So, you can get a big lunch and something interesting to look at if you opt for this red vegetable!
Summary
Red vegetables are great for you and some look so beautiful! Ensure you’re getting enough red vegetables as part of a healthy diet and prepared safely and thoroughly cooked.
The majority of people who have no interest in the subject, and aren’t green fingered assume that all plants and vegetables require the same growing conditions. This is not the case at all. Each plant has its own unique and interesting history and growing process.
I hope you will find The Natural List useful, and that it will help educate you on the wide variety of different flower and plant species there are across the globe.
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