Let’s jump into the colder months with warm, delicious, healthy veggies.
Learn how to roast veggies like a pro!
It feels like I blinked, and the cooler months are here. Now we’re heading into the winter and holiday season.
Let’s talk recipes that so many wait all year to enjoy. Light salads dominate in the warmer summer months, and pumpkin is all we hear about in the fall.
I love pumpkin, but get over it after Thanksgiving leftover pumpkin pie.
Cooked vegetables can be a great comfort food and you feel good after eating them! So learn how to roast veggies like a pro.
One of the best ways to enjoy your veggies as the temperatures cool down is to crank up your oven and roast them. It gives them a fantastic texture and flavor that tastes more decadent than any other cooking method. They’re just delicious!
Plus, they pair well with any main dish.
But how do you roast veggies like a pro?
If you’ve ever tried and failed at roasting veggies – perhaps they were overdone, or some pieces were still raw – you’ve got to keep reading to make the best roasted vegetables to go with every meal. Even those big holiday meals can do with a presentation of perfectly-roasted vegetables.
How to Roast Veggies Like a Pro
Honestly, you can roast any vegetable out there, though you should choose ones that have similar cook times to ensure they all finish at the same time. Aside from that, follow these tips!
Use high heat
For roasted veggies to turn out just right, you should preheat to 400 to 450F and then cook.
Cut them right
Roasted vegetables will cook more evenly and taste their best if you cut them down to 1-inch size. Green beans and asparagus should always be left whole though.
Coat them and season well
Your veggies need a light coating of olive oil or Italian dressing to help them cook up right. Plus, it adds plenty of flavor too. If you use olive oil, you’re freer to experiment with spices and herbs from your cabinet like curry powder or Cajun seasoning.
Never overcrowd the pan
If you’re making roasted veggies for a crowd, use 2 or more pans and roast in batches. It might seem like more work, but your vegetables won’t cook evenly if you shove them all in one pan.
Toss them halfway
Don’t just pop them in the oven and forget it. Halfway through the cooking time, stir them around. The edges of the baking sheet tend to get hotter than the middle. Doing this assures even cooking.
Veggies to Roast
Here’s another tip for roasting veggies like a pro:
Because different vegetables require different cook times, it’s wise to pair vegetables with similar cooking times.
Different cooking times
Root vegetables like potatoes will always take longer. If you’d like to serve them with softer vegetables, put the potatoes in first and then add your other veggies to the tray.
Things with shorter cook times (around 20 to 25 minutes) include asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, halved Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, yellow squash, green beans, and zucchini.
Here’s a great recipe to roast cauliflower:
Cabbage does best when sliced into thick 1-inch chunks at 30 minutes. Carrots, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes are all suitable for 30 minutes too. A quick roast is grape or cherry tomatoes – just 15 minutes. Kale also takes just 15 minutes, but there’s no need to keep it in a single layer, unless you’re making kale chips. Potatoes will take about 45 minutes.
These are easy ways to complete your favorite holiday and winter meals with a side of roasted veggies for a healthy and delicious way through the season.
Let’s recap: How to Roast Veggies Like a Pro
-Use high heat.
-Cut them into 1-inch pieces, except green beans and asparagus.
-Coat them and season well.
-Never overcrowd the pan.
-Toss them halfway.
Cooking times at 450F:
-Potatoes 45 minutes
-Asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, halved Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, yellow squash, green beans, zucchini: 20-25 minutes
-1-inch chunks of cabbage, carrots, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes: 30 minutes
-Cherry or grape tomatoes: 15 minutes
Give these a try and you’ll soon know how to roast veggies like a pro!
Like what you see here? Connect with like-minded women how want and have kitchen success in my free, private FB group: Practical Meal Planning Moms Community.
