There is something magical that happens when you take out a tray of warm roasted produce. More often than not, flavour and nutrition can be lost due to peeling, chopping, seeding.
With foods you may be eating raw, roasting can sweeten and intensify the flavours. Here is a list of some fruit and vegetables that would be great to try roasting this Autumn.
Tomatoes
So, of course, there are the traditional whole stuffed tomatoes, which are good, but never really sparked the wow factor. But quickly roasting whole cherry or vine tomatoes is a bit different. They are almost the gateway fruit to sun-dried tomatoes. They hold their juices but become both sweeter and more savoury, and their texture takes well to a bit of heat. Just add a little drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper and roast until they begin to collapse.
Eggplant
There are many ways to cook eggplant but roasting them take is to a whole another level. This allows an interior of warm, velvety, dense, smooth flesh that can be topped with sauce or scooped and used for dips, spreads, sauces, soups, etc. Yum!
Beetroot
When cutting beetroot, put some baking paper down before you cut it on your board to avoid red juice stains. Start by cutting into little cubes and toss in olive oil then roast. Cover with foil to prevent drying out. Try adding some pumpkin seeds for some additional crispy texture.
Potatoes
Parboil potato wedges, drain and shake in a colander. Season and sprinkle with a little semolina flour or paprika. Tip into a tray with hot oil and toss together and roast as per usual.
Grapes
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! Roasted grapes are a revelation. Flavour is intensified and texture is concentrated, and they are delicious in both savoury and sweet dishes. You can serve them with cheese or salty things or in a bowl with Greek yogurt. Spread some grapes in a single layer on a pan, add a little olive, sprinkle with salt or sugar, toss. Cook for just under 10 minutes, until they start to caramelise a bit and the skin begins to split.
Cherries
Are you feeling festive? Roast cherries are plump and bursting with deep mellow cherry flavour and roasting them with their pit gives them an almond-like edge. Some of the juice releases and makes a syrup of sorts, and the whole experience is just wonderful! Serve them over ice cream, with yogurt, on pancakes, with cheese, on cheesecake, or almost anything!
We hope you enjoy roasting these healthy fruit and veg! Let us know what your favourite roasted produce is!