• Home
  • About
    • My photo Journal
    • My Plant-Based Journey
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Plant Based Resource
    • Kitchen Gadgets & Tools
    • Other Resources
    • Blogging Resources
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Eat Live Be Inspired

Provides tools and inspiration for Plant-Based, Vegan lifestyle.

  • Eat Live Be Inspired
  • Start Here – WFPB Journey
  • Tips & Tools
  • Encouragement
  • Recipes
    • Newbie Recipe list
Saute without oil and store fresh herbs for weeks. Impress family, friends with these two easy kitchen/cooking tips I learned, even the non-cooking chef can master.

Newbie Beginner’s Series -“Two Easy Tips”- Starting Plant-Based Diet 

What’s Inside: Saute without oil and store fresh herbs for weeks. Impress family, friends with these two easy kitchen/cooking tips I learned, even the non-cooking chef can master.

Plant-Based Living “Newbie Beginner’s Series” a step by step guide. Breaking down the transition phase to a Whole Food Plant Based Diet (Lifestyle). Avoid the overwhelm, save time, money and improve your health.

My husband loves telling the story about a bag of instant rice burning. Simple instructions: place a bag of rice in a pot of boiling water. Cook for X amount of minutes, drain the water and dinner is served.

Simple right?

Are you asking, who burned the instant rice?

Well me, of course!

I’m not a chef nor do I claim to be. I try to do the best I can each day.  

But my cooking skills have improved over the years, since I transitioned to a whole foods plant-based diet.

It didn’t happen overnight. But with continuous effort and implementation I’ve improved.

Today, I’m sharing two easy kitchen techniques I learned during my journey from Julie Marie of Protective Diet.com. She teaches the techniques I use to this day.   

    • Saute without oil
  • Storing and preserving fresh herbs

Below each video is a step by step instructions for both the dry browning technique and storing fresh herbs technique. But watch the video first so the process makes sense.

This page includes affiliate links. Which means if you click and make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. – read more on my disclosure page

free-plant-based-progress-tracker

Items Needed:
 _______________________________________________________

For Oil-Free Saute:

    • Cooking Pan – (Any kind will do)
  • Water or Vegetable Broth – (I purchase Oil & Additive Free. Either Pacific or Trader Joe’s – Always check the label) (I’ve also made homemade Veggie Broth)

For Storing And preserving Fresh Herbs:

    • Bowl – (for washing the herbs)
    • Plastic or Glass Container with a Lid – (To store the herbs in the fridge)
    • Flour Sack or Tea Towel – (That fits into the container above)
  • Dry Erase Marker or Masking Tape – (To label above container- Not essential but nice know what’s in the container without opening it every time.)

_____________________________________________________________

1. Saute without Oil

Saute without oil and store fresh herbs for weeks. Impress family, friends with these two easy kitchen/cooking tips I learned, even the non-cooking chef can master.

At first, I worried the onions would burn if oil wasn’t added. But the fear of burning the onions went away the more I applied this technique.

And the easier it became.

Bonus: Download and print the Quick Step by Steps

Start your Plant Based Journey:  Free Plant-Based Progress Tracker

Oil Free Dry Browning Technique by Julie Marie from Protective Diet

Quick Step by Step: Oil-Free Saute Technique

First, watch the video above.

    • Use a dry stainless pan (instant pot: use saute setting)
    • Turn burner to medium heat
    • Add onions (diced or sliced)
      • Don’t add any liquid or oil
    • Allow onions to brown (or other items. See below for suggestions)
      • Notice the natural water releasing from the item
  • Stir – occasionally (Approximately 3 minutes)
      • Remove from burner or lower the temperature if:
          • The onions get too dark
        • Your worried about burning.
    • Continue to stir (About another 3 minutes)
    • Turn off heat
    • Add a small amount of water or vegetable broth
    • Stir, making sure to scrape the bottom of the pan
  • Mix everything together

Dry Browning has become a natural part of everyday cooking. Now when I look at a recipe with oil in the ingredients, the first thing I do is see if the oil is only for browning. As long as all the other ingredients are on my okay to eat list. I’m good to go.

Use any type of onions (yellow, red, white or sweet) – diced or sliced.

I also use this technique for sauteing mushrooms. The natural water within the mushroom  releases. Just like the onions.

Oil is not needed to add more flavor. The Dry Browning Technique adds all the flavor you need.

Use the same technique for sauteing in the instant pot. Click the saute button and follow the steps above.

Start with whatever pan you currently have in the kitchen.  

Bonus: Download and print the Quick Step by Steps

Why no “oil” not even Olive Oil?

Dr Esselstyn says “Oil injures the endothelium, the innermost lining of the artery. And that injury is the gateway to vascular disease. All oil is empty calories”  

Here are some great resources to check out:

    • Why No Oil?
  • When Friends Ask: Why do you avoid adding vegetable oils?

free-plant-based-progress-tracker

2. Storing and Preserving Fresh Herbs

Saute without oil and store fresh herbs for weeks. Impress family, friends with these two easy kitchen/cooking tips I learned, even the non-cooking chef can master.

How long do your herbs last? Do you throw them away before using them all up?

Most of the time, I avoided buying fresh herbs. But on the occasions I dropped them into my grocery basket.

I rushed to use the herbs within a few days. That’s one way to avoid the inevitable outcome of tossing money down the drain or garbage. Otherwise they wilt or become wet and slimy.

Yuck!

My herbs never lasted long.

Once I learned Julie Marie’s technique my bad herb days were gone. Now, days turn into a couple of weeks, at least.

Quick Step by Step: Storing and Preserving herbs

First, watch the video above.

    • Place herbs in a bowl
    • Add cold water
        • Gently move herbs from side to side
      • Remove any dirt
    • Drain the water
    • Repeat the steps of adding cold water and draining until all the water is clear
    • Drain all the water from the bowl
    • Shake the excess water from the herbs
    • Rest herbs on the side of the bowl
    • Use plastic or glass container with a lid to store the herbs
    • Use a flour sack or tea towel that will fit into the container folded in half
    • Lay one half of the towel inside the bottom of the container
    • Add herbs
    • Fold the other side of the towel over the herbs
  • Change the towel weekly
      • The towel will absorb the water from the herbs
      • By changing the towel weekly the herbs will last two weeks or longer.
    • When changing out the towel the following week  
      • If herbs are limp repeat the Cold Water Rinse steps from above.

I change out my towel every Saturday.  No matter when I brought them home. It makes it easier for me to have a set date instead of remembering the day I washed them.

I’ve use this technique with celery, green onions, green (red) leaf lettuce or Kale. You can try this with most veggies.

I label the outside of the potluck size container with what’s inside. By using a dry erase marker or masking tape.

My cooking skills have greatly improved since the instant rice incident. I still don’t call myself a chef.  

But, I do enjoy cooking more than when I first started my plant-based journey.

Now both of these techniques have become second nature.

What techniques have you implemented? Let me know in the comments below.

What’s Next?

Download and print both Quick Step by Steps from above.  

Sign up and receive access to my FREE resource area:

    • Plant-Based Progress Tracker  
  • Pantry Staples List

Want more on beginning a Plant-Based Diet?

    • 10 things to do before starting a Plant-Based Diet
    • List of Free Protective Diet recipes I recommend for beginners
  • Important area to focus

Saute without oil and store fresh herbs for weeks. Impress family, friends with these two easy kitchen/cooking tips I learned, even the non-cooking chef can master.

Free Plant Based Progress Tracker

Sign up to receive your FREE Plant Based Progress Tracker printables and exclusive subscriber content!

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Powered by ConvertKit
«

Cooking Tips, Encouragement, Getting Started, Habits, Tips & Tools 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Maria!
I regained my health, lost 125 pounds with a whole food plant based diet (WFPB). Along the way I learned how to make this a lifestyle instead of a onetime diet. My passion is to enlighten, encourage and empower you along your plant based journey. So, let's get started! Read More…

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Popular Post!

10 steps to start your plant based diet journey for beginners.
The Best Recipes for switching to a plant based diet. Easy to prepare, simple and satisfying meals. Oil, nut and sugar free.
Enjoy Homemade Vegan Polenta Butter that’s oil-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free and gluten-free. Quick and easy only 4 ingredients.

Record your Plant-Based Journey!

Free plant-based progress tracker printables. Keep track of your plant based journey all in one place. From Medication list, vitals, measurements to recording your why.

Become an Insider

Sign up to receive your FREE Plant Based Progress Tracker printables and exclusive subscriber content!

Pin with me!

Search

Copyright

All content and images on this site are the property of EatLiveBNspired. All free printables are for personal use only. Pinning and sharing is always welcomed and appreciated!

 







Welcome!

Hi, I'm Maria!
I regained my health, lost 125 pounds, during my transition to a whole food plant based diet (WFPB). Along the way I learned how to make this a lifestyle instead of a onetime diet. My passion is to enlighten, encourage and empower you along your plant based journey. So, let's get started! Read More…

View My Blog Posts
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

Disclosure & Privacy Policy

Become an Insider

Plant Based Progress Tracker

Copyright © 2023 · Darling theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Darling Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in