Roasted Mediterranean Greek Vegetables (Printer-Friendly)

Tender roasted vegetables with herbs, lemon, and optional feta. A colorful Mediterranean-inspired dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
03 - 1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
05 - 1 large red onion, cut into wedges
06 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes

→ Seasonings and Oil

07 - 6 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
12 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
13 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
14 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

→ Garnishes

15 - 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, optional
16 - 3.5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled, optional
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# Direction Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and position a rack in the middle.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the eggplant, zucchinis, red and yellow bell peppers, and red onion. Add olive oil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Toss until the vegetables are evenly coated.
03 - Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet, leaving space between pieces for even roasting.
04 - Roast for 20 minutes. Remove the baking sheet and gently stir or flip the vegetables.
05 - Add the cherry tomatoes and minced garlic to the pan, mixing them in with the other vegetables. Return to the oven and roast for an additional 10-12 minutes, until all vegetables are tender and lightly caramelized at the edges.
06 - Remove from the oven. Drizzle immediately with lemon juice and add Kalamata olives, if using. Toss gently.
07 - Transfer to a serving platter. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and chopped parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms a pile of ordinary vegetables into something that tastes like you spent hours on it, when really the oven does all the work.
  • Leftovers are a gift, the flavors deepen overnight and it's perfect cold straight from the fridge or tucked into a wrap.
  • You can swap in whatever vegetables are wilting in your crisper drawer and it still turns out beautifully.
  • It's one of those rare dishes that works as a side, a main, or even breakfast with a fried egg on top.
02 -
  • Don't skip the single layer step, piling vegetables on top of each other steams them instead of roasting, and you lose all that caramelized sweetness.
  • Adding the garlic too early will turn it bitter and burnt, those last 10 minutes are all it needs to soften and perfume the dish.
  • If your eggplant tastes bitter, it's likely old or oversized, look for smaller, firmer ones with shiny skin and you won't need to salt them first.
03 -
  • Use a large enough baking sheet or divide the vegetables between two pans, overcrowding is the enemy of crispy edges.
  • Taste a piece of eggplant and zucchini before serving, if they need more salt or lemon, add it then, not before roasting.
  • If you're making this ahead, roast everything but wait to add the feta and parsley until just before serving so they stay fresh and vibrant.
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