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Simple Vegetable Sauté

This vegetable sauté highlights the natural flavors and textures of colorful vegetables cooked quickly in a hot pan. Using minimal ingredients and techniques, it results in tender, charred edges with smoky, sweet, and fragrant notes, creating a vibrant and satisfying dish. Perfect for busy nights, it embraces the beauty of everyday produce with a rustic, homey appeal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: home cooking
Calories: 150
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil good-quality extra virgin
  • 2 carrots carrots sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 bell pepper bell pepper any color, sliced into strips
  • 1 zucchini zucchini sliced into rounds or half-moons
  • 3 cloves garlic minced or crushed
  • to taste salt and pepper for seasoning
  • 1 lemon lemon for squeezing
  • a few fresh herbs basil or thyme chopped, added at the end

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Small plate

Method
 

  1. Start by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Wait until the oil shimmers and smells fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add the sliced carrots to the hot pan. Sear for about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften and develop a slight caramel color.
  3. Next, toss in the bell peppers and zucchini. Cook for another 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are tender with charred edges and smell smoky.
  4. Add the minced garlic to the vegetables and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring constantly until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter.
  5. Season generously with salt and pepper, then give everything a good stir to coat the vegetables evenly with the seasonings.
  6. Check the vegetables for tenderness; they should be soft with some caramelized edges and fragrant with smoky aroma. Remove the pan from heat.
  7. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the vegetables to brighten the flavors, then sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs like basil or thyme.
  8. Gently toss everything together and let sit for a minute to allow flavors to meld.
  9. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a serving platter and enjoy immediately while they’re tender, smoky, and bursting with flavor.