You skip the aromatics

If the word "steamed" conjures up images of bland food, you may be overlooking an important aspect of steaming. People frequently use steaming because it eliminates the need for added calories like cooking oil or butter, but that doesn't mean you can't season the food. While it may appear that seasoning is only used on baked or grilled foods, nothing could be further from the truth.

While steaming retains the original flavor of the food, adding aromatics such as garlic, ginger, onions, or other herbs, to name a few, can drastically alter the outcome of your steamed dish. Fine Cooking experts recommend steaming the aromatics alongside the food or even adding them to the water before boiling. However, the former produces a more intense flavor. Another option is to marinate the items you're steaming in a sauce before steaming them.