Roasted Vegetable Salad Recipe
I have been holding onto this recipe for sooooo long! It is one of my absolute favorite fall/winter salads and I have made it countless times over the last 2 years. I originally ate a similar salad at a cafe called Clementine in Century City (LA) and I knew that I would have to duplicate it at home. I proceeded to make it once a week for many weeks on end and then subsequently teach it in my classes. Everyone flipped for it, and even though I taught it in a February cooking class, this salad is made for Thanksgiving!
Yes, I realize there are a lot of ingredients that need prepping, but you can do all of that on Tuesday (washing, chopping) and Wednesday (roasting.) Then bring the roasted veggies to room temp and pull your salad together in minutes. I consistently made a double and sometimes triple batch of this salad in my classes and I did not feel as though it was too difficult or too much work. And I ate the vegetables from this salad as leftovers many times and enjoyed them so much.
This salad really solves many problems/questions that have been coming up lately in my Instagram lives and in my classes:
- what is a hearty dish for vegetarians and vegans?
- what are some side dishes that are gluten-free and dairy-free?
- what dish can I bring to someone’s house who is hosting Thanksgiving?
- what side dish can be made ahead and doesn’t need to be served hot?
I also get the question very often, “what are some of your favorite dishes to eat on Thanksgiving?” Super tough question! I have actually never made this for Thanksgiving, but I might this year. I really need to commit to a menu, don’t you think? The salad choice gets me every time. Too many amazing options! Which is why I’ve made two salads for Thanksgiving the last couple of years! How I determine which salad to make is based on two things: not repeating an ingredient (i.e. if I make roasted brussels sprouts, I won’t do a brussels sprout salad) and if the salad has had a long run and I need to mix it up a little, which means the Delicata Squash and Apple Salad might need to get the boot this year.
This is the last recipe I am posting for Thanksgiving, so it’s high time we all decide on our menus. Once we do that, photocopy all the recipes and get grocery shopping! You can also order my Thanksgiving ebook for a mere $15 and you will have ALL my Thanksgiving recipes except for this month’s online Thanksgiving class menu. If you are interested in how to cook a spatchcocked turkey, consider watching my online cooking class!
Upcoming Instagram and Facebook Lives:
Instagram LIVE Thursday, November 15th at 2:30 pm PST with Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes. We’re talking pie-making and baking!
Private Facebook LIVE Saturday, November 17 at 9:45 am PST for my private online cooking class subscribers
Instagram LIVE Monday, November 19th at 5:00 pm PST at Thrive Market Headquarters. I’m making pumpkin cake and sweet potato casserole.
I will continue to set up more Instagram Lives next week leading up to Thanksgiving. They all get posted on my Facebook page if you can’t join live.
Shop the tools I used for this recipe by clicking on the images below!
- 1 fennel bulb, trimmed and sliced lengthwise (through the core) into ¼-inch slices
- 2 bunches baby beets, scrubbed, trimmed and halved
- 6 medium shallots, peeled and halved
- 1 bunch small radishes, trimmed and halved
- 3 large parsnips, peeled if desired and cut into 3-inch sticks
- 3 large carrots, any color, peeled if desired and cut into 3-inch sticks
- 4-6 Tablespoons melted unrefined olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Dressing:
- 1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- A few twists of freshly ground black pepper
- 1-2 teaspoons raw honey or pure Grade A maple syrup
- 3 Tablespoons unrefined, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 cups mixed greens, butter lettuce, and/or arugula
- ¼ cup currants or green raisins, rehydrated in warm water if necessary
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, if desired
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 3-4 baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper.
- Grease the parchment paper with oil. Arrange the vegetables (preferably likes with likes) on the parchment paper in one layer. Drizzle with a little more oil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Roast in the oven until tender and slightly caramelized, about 20-30 minutes. If you need to crowd the vegetables in one oven, consider roasting at 375 degrees on the convection setting.
- While the vegetables are roasting, make the dressing: in a jar with a screw-top lid, shake all the dressing ingredients until combined.
- Allow the vegetables to cool slightly or completely before assembling the salad. Place the lettuce in a large bowl or on a large platter. Toss with a small amount of dressing (just enough to coat the leaves lightly.) Arrange the vegetables on top and drizzle with a little more dressing. Sprinkle with currants and pine nuts.
Vegetables can be roasted 1 day ahead and brought to room temperature before assembling salad.
Greens can be washed 2-3 days in advance.
Dressing can be made 2-3 days in advance and refrigerated. If it solidifies, remove from the fridge at least 30 m minutes prior to assembling salad.
Nuts can be purchased toasted or can be toasted a week in advance.
2 Comments
Dear Pamela,
YOU ARE MY #1! CHEF GO TO GURU and I recommend you to all of my (few friends who like to cook, and some who do not). I own “Kitchen Matters” which is on the shelf with my 80’s friends: “The Silver Palette” and “The Way to Cook”. I always look forward to your weekly menu planners and the other tidbits that you send our way. I love your videos (even the one on the food possessor is great too … mine is no longer stored with a “surf board” … or was that a “Generator”?).
I am 65 years old, had a mom who was a great cook, and my grandmother knew Julia Child (they all grew up in the San Marino/Pasadena area). My mom always had an amazing vegetable garden, so we never had to eat canned / frozen vegetables (except frozen peas which I actually like) … most importantly, we did not get hooked on bread which was not served except on holiday occasion’s (all my young school age friends served “weber white bread” at their table) that horrified me.
I know that this is a long wordy bit of writing, but I wanted to let you know that I love what you are doing for all of us! Tonight, we add “Braised Fennel with Tomatoes and Thyme” from your cook book (will serve it with … sorry … , my dairy version of mac and cheese … although even my husband loves the mac and cheese made with your cashews recipe.
DO NOT STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!
Warm Regards, Elizabeth Ann Metz
Oh my goodness! What a generous and encouraging note and a beautiful memory. Thank you so much for sharing that with me. You really made my day. XOXO