Description
Festive roasted vegetables bring Mediterranean warmth to winter dinner tables, combining colorful seasonal produce with robust herbs and olive oil. Crisp edges, caramelized surfaces, and rich flavors invite you to savor each delicious bite of this simple yet elegant side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables:
- 2 cups (300 g / 10.6 ounces) Brussels sprouts, halved
- 2 cups (300 g / 10.6 ounces) butternut squash, diced
- 2 large carrots, sliced into rounds
- 1 large red onion, sliced into wedges
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
Seasonings and Oils:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
Toppings and Optional Ingredients:
- ½ cup (50 g / 1.8 ounces) dried cranberries or pomegranate arils
- ¼ cup (25 g / 0.9 ounces) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a preheated culinary environment at 400F (200C), positioning two spacious baking sheets with protective parchment or silicone liners to create an optimal roasting landscape.
- Consolidate Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, carrots, red onion, and red bell pepper within a generous mixing vessel, creating a vibrant vegetable medley.
- Infuse the vegetable collection with olive oil, then generously scatter salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme, and smoked paprika across the surface, massaging the seasonings thoroughly to ensure complete and uniform coverage.
- Meticulously distribute the seasoned vegetables across baking sheets, maintaining strategic spacing to facilitate proper caramelization and prevent steaming, allowing each piece adequate breathing room.
- Transform the vegetables through thermal alchemy, roasting for 25-30 minutes and implementing a midpoint rotation to guarantee comprehensive cooking and develop rich, golden-brown edges.
- Extract the roasted masterpiece from the oven, transferring to an elegant serving dish where dried cranberries or pomegranate arils will introduce bursts of crimson brightness and nuanced sweetness.
- Enhance the textural landscape by scattering chopped pecans or walnuts, providing delightful crunch and nutty undertones, then conclude with an optional honey or maple syrup drizzle to elevate the dish’s complexity.
- Present the vibrant roasted vegetable ensemble immediately, offering a stunning accompaniment to festive culinary celebrations.
Notes
- Boost caramelization by patting vegetables completely dry before seasoning, preventing excess moisture that prevents browning.
- Cut vegetables uniformly to ensure even roasting and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Swap ingredients easily for dietary needs: use gluten-free spices, replace nuts with seeds for nut allergies, or substitute maple syrup with agave for vegan preferences.
- Elevate flavor complexity by adding fresh herb garnishes like chopped rosemary or parsley just before serving, which brings brightness and aromatic depth to the roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2530 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg