We all need more Veggies in our diet, don’t we? These 15 great Oven Roasted Vegetables Recipes which are 100% Plant Based will get you started.
New Year, New You! Like everybody else, at the beginning of each year, I tend to reevaluate all of my habits, including my diet. And, just like most of us I can always do better. We all know we should consume lots of greens and vegetables and one of my favorite ways to eat them is by oven roasting!
What’s so special about roasted vegetables? Roasting brings out their sweetness by caramelizing the natural sugars. Carrots and beets, for example, are naturally sweet and roasting enhances those flavors.
What are the Best Vegetables to Roast?
Most vegetables work well for roasting but root vegetables, in particular, lend themselves to this easy cooking method. Root veggies such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, beets and yams tend to be denser and sturdier.
Other great roasting vegetables include: cauliflower, brussel sprouts, asparagus, squash, broccoli, green beans, radishes and bok choy.
Leafy greens such as kale, spinach and lettuce don’t usually roast very well as they are too thin. Although, kale makes great kale chips!
Useful Supplies for Roasting:
** Sheetpans tend to be made with aluminum. Recent tests have shown that food should not come in direct contact with aluminum so I always cover my sheetpans with uncoated Parchment Paper, which is also compostable!
How to Roast Vegetables
Roasting vegetables is so easy!! Honestly, that may be the best part of cooking in general. Basically, all you have to do is put your veggies on a sheetpan with some parchment paper, sprinkle with a bit of Olive Oil or Vegetable Broth, season and put the whole thing in the oven. Roast at 375 to 400 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes. (Skip the oil if you are trying to lose weight or have a heart condition.)
The specifics of how long to roast and at what oven temperature depend on what vegetable you are cooking and whether or not you are roasting it whole or cut up. Obviously, the smaller the vegetable, the less time in the oven.
Okay, now that you know how to roast your veggies, here are some easy roasted vegetables recipes to get you started. Change them up to suit your taste. Add some chopped almonds or a flavored vinegar. Have fun with this and experiment!
Easy Roasted Vegetables Recipes
15. Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Are Roasted Vegetables Healthy?
Whether or not roasted veggies are healthy really depends on what you add to them. If you use a minimal amount of oil and season with herbs and vinegars rather than salt, roasted vegetables are very healthy. Add too much oil and salt, though, and they can be quite unhealthy.
Should I Cover Vegetables when Roasting?
As a general rule, you do not want to cover your vegetables when roasting. Covering keeps moisture in the pan which basically steams your vegetables. Roasting them uncovered, draws the moisture away from your veggies which allows them to caramelize and thereby become sweeter.
We hope you will give these great vegan side dishes a try. And if you have a favorite roasted vegetable recipe you would like to share, please let us know in the comment section below.
Ready for more vegetables? Check out Jamie Oliver’s epic recipes.
Enjoy!
