Cooking with Karina: Springtime Veggies and Herbs

Karina Arnold created her Roasted Carrots dish with a Mediterranean flare based on a photo shared by chef Erin Gleeson. 

Karina Arnold is a junior at the University of Oklahoma who’s passionate about healthy cooking. She provides creative, healthy recipes and tips on clean eating.

Springtime means growth. Warmer weather invites blooming flowers and herbs coupled with sinus sniffles and runny noses. Although the butterflies and the bees are stuffing their faces in flowers, many humans are retreating indoors and avoiding nature. The solution to enjoying full –bloom without doom? Be like the bees! This spring, alleviate allergies with nature’s bounty.

Although spring’s pollen population increases allergies, pollen also provides fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Use ripe veggies from your Farmer’s Market Haul to make delicious and nutritious dishes ideal for fighting allergies. Flavorful vegetable sides like these Stringed Greens dusted with chili flakes will help clear your sinuses. Vegetables, coupled with spices, provide antioxidants and de-congests noses.

However, spice does not always equate to spicy. If you are not a fan of chili’s kick, try more subtle spices like sage, cinnamon or rosemary to pack your vegetables with sharp flavor. A family-favorite dish are oven-roasted rosemary carrots and potatoes with my mom’s Baked Chicken. Sticking to these herbs and spices will gradually alleviate allergies through anti-inflammatory properties that benefit your blood and body tissues. The result: clear nose, and less puffy eyes! Using herbs in your cooking is not only cheaper than allergy medicine but also more delicious.

Karina Arnold created homemade Za'atar spice to use with her Roasted Carrots recipe.  

This spring, I decided to give my roasted carrots an Arabian twist. Arabian cuisine is notorious for flavorful dishes coupled with ripe vegetable bakes. One spice in particular caught my attention. Za’atar spice is an ancient Arabian spice used for holy rituals, medical use and culinary practices. This spice dusts a number of dishes from “labneh” or yogurt and sesame pita bread to vegetables with lamb. Although popular in the Middle East, this spice is hard to find in your traditional grocery store. The spice is a mixture of thyme, salt, oregano, pepper as a base. Different versions include sesame seeds, paprika or chili flakes. I made my own Homemade Za’atar using chili flakes to give the seasoning a spicy kick. Your nose and plate will be cleared after trying this Roasted Carrots recipe topped with Greek yogurt. The sweet roasted carrots and their fiber-full flavor compliment the spicy Za’atar.

As the flowers fill the air with their aromas, allergies stuff your nose. Use nature’s bloom to your advantage rather than resent the pollen. Following the equation of vegetable + spice will clear your head and fill your stomach. What are your favorite herbs to garnish or season with? Comment below!