Forks Over Knives suggests using a small amount of water, which definitely does not give you the same result.

I hear you. The minimization/exclusion of oils in a whole-food plant-based (WFPB) diet is not something that all WFPB people agree with. The author of Forks Over Knives is known for it though

You could oven-bake your veggies, it’s a similar but healthier option. I do like to pan fry my veggies too though.