Perfect Roast Veggies: Crispy and Flavorful Every Time

Happy Kitchen
Dec 14, 2023
3 min read

Happy Kitchen is dedicated to health and wellness, and empowering you to cook delicious meals in your own kitchen. We're taking a stand against the tide of habitual unhealthy take-aways, unnecessary Uber Eats orders and microwave dinners. We believe that cooking at home should be an enjoyable, affordable, healthy, and straightforward - and we're on a mission to share this with the world.

This blog post is part of our 'Food Ideas' series, where we share simple recipe ideas that are inexpensive, delicious and quick to prepare.

Roasting vegetables has to be one of the simplest but most delicious ways of eating veggies on your plate. We’ve all eaten them before, but we definitely don’t eat them enough considering how GOOD they are, and how simple they are to prepare. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a kitchen novice, this ultimate guide will help you achieve perfectly crispy and flavorful roasted vegetables every time.

Ingredients

You honestly don’t need much, and you’ll likely have most of the spices at home! All you really need to buy from the supo are the veggies themselves.

Ingredients:

An assortment of vegetables (carrots, potatoes, kumara, broccoli, capsicum, onion, garlic, courgette, etc.)
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
Garlic powder
Paprika
Dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano)

For best results, choose your veggies wisely. Not all vegetables roast the same way, so it's helpful to choose the right ones if you’re going for max crunch and flavour. Root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips work well, as do cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli. You can also experiment with colorful capsicum, courgettes, and cherry tomatoes for added variety. Regardless what you use though, it'll still ttaste delicious.

Steps

Pre-heat oven to 200C. Easy.
Prep the veggies by washing and drying them
Cut veggies into small bite-size pieces that’s roughly the same size as each other. More uniform sizing means more consistent cooking (this avoids having your broccoli pieces being perfectly crispy whilst your whole potato is basically still raw).
Toss all veggies into a big bowl. Mix with olive oil, salt and pepper
Mix in herbs and spices for the full flavour effect! Try rosemary and thyme for an earthy flavor, or go for a Mediterranean twist with oregano and garlic. Don't forget a pinch of paprika or cayenne for a subtle kick.
Place veggies into a large, rimmed baking sheet to allow for even heat distribution. Make sure to spread out the veggies so they’re in a single layer, otherwise you may end up steaming them and eating soggy veggies!
Cook until done. When are they done?? When they taste good! Cooking times vary so we can’t give a specific time but think somewhere in the 20-35min range. Root veggies generally take longer than softer ones. Make sure to stir your veggies halfway so they roast evenly on all sides. You can always pluck one out and give it the ol’ taste test.
Once cooked, remove from oven and adjust seasoning if you didn’t add quite enough earlier. Eat!

Tips for a Perfect Mix

Colorful Variety: Aim for a colorful mix of vegetables to create an appealing visual plate.
Texture Contrast: Combine softer vegetables like tomatoes with firmer ones like potatoes for a delightful textural contrast.
Even Size: Chop vegetables into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
Balanced Flavors: Consider the flavor profiles of each vegetable. Sweet potatoes complement the earthiness of Brussels sprouts, and the sweetness of bell peppers pairs well with the savory notes of onions.
Experiment: Feel free to experiment with different vegetables based on personal preferences. Add seasonal veggies to keep things exciting.