roastedvegetablesRoasting is by far one of my favorite techniques! I am amazed at how many peoples culinary repertoire only includes recipes for bland boiled or steamed vegetables. Coupling the super simple ingredients below with roasting at high heat, you can bring out amazing flavor from your favorite vegetables and have your children clamoring for more (even cauliflower and broccoli!) Simply toss vegetables with salt & pepper, olive oil and roast at 400 degrees. You can vary the recipes with little to no fuss with additions like chopped onions, garlic, and herbs. Roasting at high heat carmelizes the sugars in the vegetables bringing out their natural sweetness and keeps them crisp. (Mushy vegetables are a surefire way to turn your kiddos away!) I often finish roasted vegetables with a microplane grating of fresh parmesan and a quick squeeze of lemon.




No-fail Vegetable Roasting

Ingredients

  • vegetables (anything you like – how easy is that!) cauliflower, asparagus, green beans, new potatoes
  • cast iron skillet, rimmed baking pan, or roasting pan
  • olive oil
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • optional ingredients include:
  • onions, chopped
  • garlic, minced
  • parmesan
  • lemon

Instructions

  1. For cauliflower: mix cauliflower with 2/3 cloves of chopped garlic, 1 white onion, salt & pepper, olive oil. Roast on 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Micro-plane fresh parmesan before serving.
  2. For asparagus: toss asparagus with olive oil, salt & pepper and roast at 400 degrees for approx. 12 minutes. Squeeze a small amount of lemon juice just as the asparagus come out of the oven. Serve immediately.
  3. For green beans: toss with olive oil, salt & pepper and roast at 400 degrees for approx 15-18 minutes. Squeeze a small amount of lemon juice just as the green beans come out of the oven. Serve immediately.
  4. For new potatoes: mix with 2/3 closes of chopped garlic, 1 white onion, salt & pepper and olive oil. Roast on 400 degrees for 45 minutes. I also like to add fresh rosemary to this dish. My girls eat them up like fries – they will get very crispy!