Roasted vegetables are the simplest, most delectable and enriching way to get you daily dose of vitamins and minerals. The rustic colors, caramelized outside, and vibrant aromas will surely impress dinner guests from miles away. I do a lot of roasting in our house. Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, squashes, garlic, each morphing whole foods into lavish meals. And, I’m allllll about simplicity. To me, roasting is the best way to eat vegetables. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll eat a raw celery stick or steamed carrots as much as the next guy. But, adding a little coconut oil or olive oil, some sea salt and ground pepper goes a long way. The natural flavors of the vegetables and it’s juices create a phenomenal end result.
What about nutrients? No single cooking or preparation method is superior for preserving 100 percent of the nutrients in a vegetable. And, since the best vegetables are the ones you actually eat; taste should also be factored in when deciding on a cooking method. I believe the best way to get the most out of your vegetables is to enjoy them in a variety of ways — raw, steamed, grilled and roasted.
Beets, in particular, have amazing benefits. Can you say natures Viagra? Seriously. One of the first known uses of beets was by the ancient Romans, who used them medicinally as an aphrodisiac. And, that’s not just urban legend – science backs it up. Beets contain high amounts of boron, which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones. Also, beets are high in vitamins and minerals such as: potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron; vitamins A, B & C; beta-carotene, beta-cyanine; folic acid, AND are great for pregnant woman as the vitamin B and iron are very beneficial to new growth cells during pregnancy, replenishing iron in the woman’s body. They are a wonderful tonic for the liver, works as a purifier for the blood, and can prevent various forms of cancer. Prevent cancer? Need I say more? If you’re not convinced, beets help with mental health due to amounts of betaine, the same substance used to treat depression, you can also use them to test your stomachic acid– If you are eating a lot of beets or beet juice, and your pee turns pink, guess what? You have low stomach acid. Pee still clear? Ratchet it up and get juicing (use the greens too)! Lastly, they are a great source of energy! And we can all use a little more that, right?
As you may know by now, I love food. Nooo! You?. Yes, it is true. And with this love, I loooove to experiment. Not gonna lie, sometimes I get that, “Are you crazy” look… or my favorite Karl response, “No babe. This is…tasty?” But, luckily, not to toot my own horn {TOOT! TOOT!}, I usually enjoy what I make. Even if I’m the only one…
This mixture of roasted root vegetables, radishes, golden beets and red beets, garlic, and fresh herbs is colorful, nutrient and delicious.
Simply Enjoy!
- 2 bunches of radishes
- 1 bunch of golden beets, halved
- 1 bunch of red beets, halved
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 bunch of fresh thyme
- 1 bunch of fresh rosemary
- 2 heads of garlic
- 1/4 sea salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted coconut oil
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Clean and trim radishes and beets (save beet leaves for another uses. Such as a salad or in smoothie).
- Cut off 1/4 to a 1/2 inch of the top of garlic heads, exposing the individual cloves of garlic.Leave outer skin on.
- Toss radishes, beets and garlic heads with oil, balsamic vinegar and salt.
- Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper and place vegetable mixture on it. Sprinkle thyme and rosemary around the sheet.
- Place sheet of vegetables on the center rack and roast for 25-30 mins, checking on it frequently.
- Stir mixture after 15 mins. and rotate sheet half way through.
- If you like your vegetables more firm, you may want to reduce the roasting time.
