As the aroma of a roasting dinner fills the air, there’s an undeniable anticipation for the hearty and wholesome flavors that await. But can vegetables play a starring role? We say yes, offering vibrant colors, robust textures, and a burst of nutritional goodness.
Elevating your roast dinner to a symphony of tastes and textures, these vegetable-centric recipes promise to be both a feast for the senses and a celebration of seasonal abundance. From perfectly roasted root vegetables to innovative takes on classic sides, we invite you to discover the art of transforming humble vegetables into culinary masterpieces.
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Sweet Red Cabbage In The Slow Cooker
I have 2 recipes for sweet red cabbage to serve as a vegetable for Christmas dinner. Both are simple recipes that are easy to prepare in advance, thus making Christmas Day easier. However, one is a slow cooker recipe, hence takes a lot longer to cook.
But don’t let that put you off, slow cooker recipes are so quick and low maintenance. I love how you can just put all the ingredients in a pot and leave it, that is my kind of cooking.
Sweet Red Cabbage Cooked In A Pan
On the other hand, if you want reasonably quick-to-cook vegetables. This red cabbage recipe is cooked with lashings of butter tastes divine, and takes around an hour to prepare and cook.
If you choose to cook on the day prepare the day before and keep in the fridge ready prepared tp put in the pan. However this also can be made in bulk, frozen in advance and re-heated.
Shredded Brussel Sprouts With Pancetta
My fave-ever vegetable is this brussels Sprouts with Pancetta recipe. In our house, brussels are not just for Christmas, and no Christmas Dinner would be complete without this show-stopping Christmas Day Veg.
Chop the Brussels and pancetta the day before and store in the fridge ready to cook on Christmas Day to save time, it takes less than 10 minutes to cook on the day.
Roasted Carrots With Honey
Roasted carrots are super easy; simply drizzle with honey, season with sea salt and pepper and cook in the oven for 30-40 minutes at 180C. For an extra tasty touch sprinkle with a little rosemary soaked in extra virgin olive oil.
To save time, buy mini carrots with the tops on; these are super sweet, look great, and simply need washing before popping on a baking tray. However, if you choose larger carrots, just chop and prepare on Christmas Eve.
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted Butternut Squash is a delightful and versatile dish that captures the sweet and nutty flavor of this popular winter squash. The caramelization during roasting enhances its natural sweetness, making it a perfect side dish for various meals.
Not A Vegetable, But!
Because no roast dinner is complete without Yorkshire Puddings, am I right? Save time, make your pudding mix the day before and store in the fridge until you are ready to put them in the oven. They couldn’t be simpler to make and taste, so they’re much better than their shop-bought comparisons.
Also, See the Best Bolognese Ever With Mayonnaise
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Sarah Christie is a craft, food, cruise, and family travel blogger Extraordinary Chaos, Cruising For All and Mini Travellers. Known for her unique perspective and ability to find beauty in chaos, Sarah designs and creates craft projects as well as creating recipes for people who want to cook from scratch the easy way. Whilst also exploring family travel and how to navigate it.