Roasted Vegetable Salad (Printable)

Warm roasted vegetables combined with fresh greens and a tangy balsamic dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
02 - 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
04 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
05 - 1 small eggplant, diced into 1-inch cubes
06 - 8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 2 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs (thyme, oregano, basil blend)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Greens

10 - 5 oz mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, or spring mix)

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
15 - 1/2 tsp honey or maple syrup
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Garnish

17 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or chopped walnuts
18 - Shaved Parmesan or crumbled feta cheese (omit for vegan)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss zucchini, bell peppers, red onion, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Spread vegetables evenly on the prepared baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized.
04 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
05 - Arrange mixed greens on a serving platter or individual plates and top with warm or room-temperature roasted vegetables.
06 - Drizzle the salad with prepared dressing and garnish with toasted nuts and cheese if using. Serve immediately.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • Roasted vegetables taste nothing like raw ones, and your taste buds will thank you for finally understanding the difference.
  • It works warm straight from the oven or chilled the next day, which means it actually fits into real life.
  • You can throw it together in under an hour and feel like you cooked something that matters.
02 -
  • If you crowd the baking sheet, vegetables will steam instead of roast, and you'll lose all that caramelization magic.
  • Stirring halfway through roasting is not optional, it's the difference between vegetables that color evenly and ones with burnt edges while the other side stays pale.
03 -
  • Don't even think about skipping the parchment paper, because cleanup is real and parchment paper is cheap.
  • If your vegetables aren't quite tender when the edges start browning, lower the oven temperature slightly next time and give it another few minutes.
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