Roasted vegetables aren’t usually something that gets me overly excited. Don’t get me wrong, once you know how to properly roast vegetables, the technique is a game changer. A little time spent in the oven totally transforms veggies. They get those perfect crispy edges and crave-worthy caramelized bits. But after a long day at work or keeping busy, I’m usually craving a big bowl of pasta or something rich and creamy like my mom’s palak paneer. I do, however, know that eating more vegetables is always a good idea and that for me, it’s about finding ways to make them exciting. And during this full-of-root-vegetables time of year, I’ve been craving all the bright and fresh flavors. In getting creative with ingredients I always have on hand, I’ve rounded up the best tips for roasted root vegetables that’ll upgrade any meal.

How Do I Properly Roast Vegetables?

It seems simpler than it should be, but I’ve asked myself this questions many times. Luckily, I’ve made my way through many sheet trays of vegetables and don’t even have to think twice about it now. To get those caramelized and crispy vegetables, here’s what I do.

  1. First, make sure your vegetables are at room temperature. Trust me, this little tip has made a difference in roasting vegetables for me. Yes you can roast veggies cold from the fridge, but letting them come to room temperature does help achieve that crispness.
  2. Coat generously in olive oil, and double down on the seasonings. I used to be too light with the salt, but it makes a difference to salt your vegetables properly.
  3. You need space. This might require two sheet trays. Trust me, it’s worth it. You want to space your vegetables out so that instead of steaming each other, they can roast properly. So give them enough space on the sheet tray instead of crowding them. It’s also important to cut everything about the same size or thickness if you want all of your veggies to finish cooking at the same time. If not, have larger pieces together on one sheet tray, and smaller pieces on another so you can remove the smaller pieces first.
  4. High heat. Always. I roast at 425 degrees F, and will sometimes push a little higher. For most vegetables that I’ve chopped, 425 for 15-20 minutes on each side yields sweet, roasted pieces that are delicious. Keep an eye out for your vegetables. If it looks like they’re roasting too fast, just remove sooner. If they’re not golden enough, cook for longer.

Reach for the Fresh Herbs: Gremolata vs. Chimichurri

When I have a pile of root vegetables sitting on my counter, my go-to method is roasting. Especially during winter— with hearty veggies on hand, roasted vegetables are a great side dish. But how do we elevate them from a side to a main? By pairing them with special sauces. My first choice? A zesty gremolata. Gremolata is made with three simple ingredients: lemon zest, parsley, and garlic. It’s fairly similar to a chimichurri, which includes the previous ingredients as well as olive oil and vinegar. While you could also use a chimichurri on this dish (like this roasted cauliflower), because I already have the creamy feta on the bottom, I wanted to highlight the freshness, rather than add extra liquid on top. Plus, the feta already adds a bit of tang to the recipe, so I didn’t want to add extra vinegar on top. The best part? No food processor necessary! Gremolata just requires some fine chopping and zesting. Voila!

Creamy Feta for the Win

I’ve been a long-time fan of a creamy feta sauce. The cheese is protein-packed and has this great salty tang that pairs extremely well with the caramelized sweetness of root vegetables. To get this feta extra creamy, I toss it into a food processor with a little sour cream. You could also use greek yogurt if you wanted, but I prefer the milder flavor of sour cream. You might be thinking, two sauces? Is that truly necessary? Yes. Leaning in on complementary sauces takes your vegetables from side dish to the star of your meal. The bright and tangy gremolata is lightly mellowed out by the creamy feta sauce, and it all melds perfectly together with the vegetables.

Set the Scene

My last tip for making vegetables stand alone as a main dish? Dress it all up! Maybe it’s the food stylist in me, but we all eat with our eyes first. So to make vegetables feel special and plate them up in a way that feels nice. Group vegetables over the dolloped feta sauce. Toasted pine nuts add some extra heft and crunch as a garnish. And the greenery from the gremolata helps tie it all together. You can drizzle with a little finishing olive oil, and serve with crusty bread to scoop up any extra sauce. Trust me, this is not just another plate of vegetables for dinner.

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Roasted Root Vegetables with Gremolata and Whipped Feta


  • Author: Suruchi Avasthi

Description

These upgraded roasted vegetables are the perfect stunner for any party or weeknight dinner. 


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the vegetables:

  • root vegetables of choice: I used 2 peeled and chopped beets, 1 peeled bunch of carrots, 1 bunch of radishes, 1 small bag of baby onions, and 1 head of garlic sliced in half
  • olive oil
  • drizzle of honey
  • salt and pepper
  • red chili powder

For the whipped feta:

  • 6oz of feta cheese (crumbled or fresh)
  • 1/2 cup of sour cream (more if needed)
  • zest of 1/2 lemon
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 head of caramelized garlic (make with the roasted vegetables)

For the gremolata:

  • 1 small bunch of parsley
  • 1 small bunch of cilantro
  • 1 garlic clove, zested
  • zest of 1 large lemon
  • salt
  • toasted pine nuts


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and prep the vegetables. Peel the beets and chop into large quarters. Peel the carrots and chop the leaves off. Halve the radishes and slice a head of garlic in half. Drizzle all the vegetables generously with olive oil, salt and pepper, chili powder, and honey. Space all the vegetables out onto a sheet tray. Place the garlic cutside down. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes. Flip the vegetables except for the garlic, and bake for another 15-20 minutes until golden brown and caramelized. Remove from oven and set aside.
  2. Prep the whipped feta while the vegetables bake. Add the feta, sour cream, lemon zest, and salt and pepper to a food processor. Be light with the salt as feta is already salty. Pulse and whip the ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Once the vegetables have finished, squeeze the caramelized garlic into the food processor, and combine with the feta.
  3. Prep the gremolata. Chop the parsley and cilantro roughly on a cutting board. Zest the garlic clove onto the herbs, then zest the lemon. Use the knife to chop the three ingredients together until roughly brought together.
  4. To assemble, layer the feta on the bottom, top with roasted vegetables, and add the gremolata and pine nuts on top. Serve with crusty bread. Enjoy!

Share this Post

Leave a Comment
Recipe rating

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments (4)
  1. 1
    Anne Metz March 2, 2022 at 1:34 pm

    Is there a cheese that could substitute for the Feta? Sorry, but just not a fan.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Suruchi Avasthi March 2, 2022 at 5:02 pm

      Hi Anne! You could whip some ricotta or goat cheese in a food processor to replace the feta if you wanted. I think goat cheese would be preferable to give a little bit of tanginess to this dish!

      Reply
  2. 2
    ALowell March 3, 2022 at 7:24 am

    How does one zest a clove of garlic without zesting her knuckles?

    Reply
    • Camille Styles March 3, 2022 at 9:34 am

      Haha, VERY carefully! 😉 I usually get about half of it grated, then have to finely mince the rest w/ a knife.

      Reply