Roasted Veggie Basics

I am not really a recipe kind of gal.

I don't love detailed directions and I am not much of a baker. Instead, I use basic cooking techniques and my senses to put together a meal.

To keep up with my healing diet throughout the week, I prepare a simple protein and roasted veggies to turn into Jar Meals

I follow the same basic strategy when roasting any type of vegetable- check it out below!

1.) CHOP Preheat your oven to 400° then chop veggies into your preferred size pieces. I prefer a chunkier, undercooked veggie while my partner likes his cut up into small bite size pieces. Cut them into whatever size you enjoy eating, but remember the smaller the chop, the faster they will cook. 

2.) FAT BOWL Load chopped broccolini into a large mixing bowl. Add in 1 tablespoon of your chosen fat and 2 pinches of salt. I am using coconut oil but anything with a high smoke point works (ghee, avocado oil, lard, tallow- more on fat coming soon!). Use your hands to melt the fat (if solid) and massage it into your veg. Make sure every little floret is covered with fat. Add fat 1 TBS at a time until all of the veg is shiny and lightly coated with fat. 

3.) ROAST Lay your veg in a single layer on a sheet pan or cast iron. Don't overcrowd, as you will get the most consistent and crispy results with a little elbow room. Once the oven is at 400°, add the tray(s) and set a timer for 10 minutes for their first check-up.

After 10 minutes, give the veg a FLIP and set another 5 minute timer. Keep an eye on your trays and take them out when they start to turn brown. Every oven is different, so the first few times, keep a close eye on the oven. 

4.) RECORD Take note of how long each ingredient took to brown, whether its in your mind, in your phone or on a sticky note. As I said above, cooking time will depend on your oven, the size of your chop and your preference for brownness. I wish I could give you the perfect cook time, but its up to you to figure out! In my oven, I like broccolini roasted for 12 min, cabbage for 22-25, delicata for 20. After a few roasting attempts, you will get a feel for what you like. Happy Roasting!