Steamed as a side with lemon

Steamed as a side with lemon recipe videos

This is a simple, light side dish where a fresh vegetable (most commonly asparagus, broccoli, or green beans) is steamed until tender-crisp and finished with a bright squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt. The core ingredients are the chosen vegetable, lemon juice, and often a small amount of butter or olive oil for richness. It's a universal preparation found in many cuisines, from American and British to French and Asian-inspired cooking.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is very low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates, making it a nutrient-dense choice. It's an excellent source of dietary fiber and provides key vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and folate, along with essential minerals such as potassium and manganese.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	45 kcal
Protein	3 g
Carbs	7 g
Fat	1.5 g
Fiber	4 g
Sugar	2 g
Sodium	150 mg
Vitamin K	90 mcg
Vitamin C	25 mg
Folate	60 mcg
Potassium	250 mg
Manganese	0.3 mg
Vitamin A	150 mcg RAE
Iron	1.5 mg
Magnesium	20 mg

Per 1 cup (150 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

The lemon juice not only adds vibrant flavor but also helps preserve the bright green color of the vegetables and can increase the absorption of plant-based iron. Nutritionally, steaming is considered one of the healthiest cooking methods as it minimizes the loss of water-soluble vitamins compared to boiling.