The Chef’s Guide To Roasted Veggies
Pantry Recipe
The Chef’s Guide To Roasted Veggies
Roasting your veggies can totally change your meal-prep game. It’s a fast and easy way to make any veggies taste delicious. By roasting, you concentrate the flavor of the veggies.
I make giant trays of veggies a few times a week for my family and simply set them to cool on trivets on the kitchen table. My kiddos will often eat half a tray of roasted cauliflower or broccoli before dinner. I love adding roasted butternut squash to my soups
In this guide, I give you the tools + equipment you need in your kitchen, the basic pantry items you need, and my basic roasted veggie template, which means you can roast any veggie that comes your way!
If you have any questions, send me a DM on Instagram at @chefcarlacontreras.
Eat Well,
xo Chef Carla
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Chef Carla’s roasted veggie template:
This is what I call a non-recipe. Basically, you cut whatever veggie you have into uniform pieces (cut to the same size), throw it on a lined rimmed baking sheet, and put it in the oven. Easy, right?!
Ok, but how do you actually do this? How do you get the veggies to taste like you ordered them in a restaurant?
Veggies cut in uniform pieces + 1 to 2 tbsp. fat (olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil) + 1/8 tsp. salt and a few cranks of fresh ground pepper and toss. Depending on the veggie, roast for as little as 15 minutes for a veggie like roasted fennel to up to 45 minutes for a veggie like spaghetti squash.
Rules for roasting veggies:
Cut them into uniform pieces. The veggies need to be about the same size (this ensures that they will cook evenly).
Do not crowd the pan. Give the veggies space or they will get soggy.
Make sure you check on the veggies, especially during the last 10 to 15 minutes of cooking. Veggies can sometimes go from zero to burned very quickly.
You can always add more salt, but you can’t take it away. If you’re not sure how to season, add a little at a time. If it makes sense, taste your raw veggies. Over time, you will learn how much salt you need to add.
You can roast directly on the rimmed lined baking sheet. I like to use parchment paper or a Silpat to cut down on cleanup, but that being said, veggies will get crisper if cooked directly on the pan.
MORE Resources:
My videos on cutting + roasting veggies in Cook+Chop
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