Roasted Vegetable Salad That Goes with Just About Anything

My roasted vegetable salad is full of color and very filling. The vegetables are coated in a herby, zesty dressing. You can serve it as a side dish with so many mains, from crispy chicken tenders to grilled halloumi.

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Roasted vegetables salad

Ingredients

To get started, you’ll need the following ingredients. I’ve split the ingredient lists up for the salad and the dressing to make things a little easier.

For the Salad:

Ingredients for the salad
  • Eggplant – 1 eggplant
  • Zucchini – 2 zucchini
  • Mushrooms – 1 lb (450 grams) mushrooms
  • Bell Peppers – 3 bell peppers
  • Onion – 1 small red onion
  • Spinach – 3 oz (85 grams) or two packed cups of baby spinach
  • Olive Oil – 4 tbsp light olive oil or any neutral oil (for roasting the veggies)
  • Salt – pinch of salt
  • Black Pepper – pinch of black pepper

For the Salad Dressing:

Ingredients for the salad dressing
  • Olive Oil – 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Lemon – 2 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest from 1 lemon
  • Mustard – 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • Oregano – 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Garlic – 1 large garlic clove
  • Salt – 1/2 tsp kosher salt (or more to taste)
  • Black Pepper – 1/4 tsp black pepper (or more to taste)
  • Parsley – about 2 tbsp fresh parsley when finely chopped

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

Step 2 – Chop the veggies into relatively even-sized pieces and toss them with olive oil (or a neutral oil like sunflower oil), a good pinch of salt, and black pepper. Arrange them on a roasting tray into rows. See below for more details on chopping the veggies (if needed).

Chopped Veggies in a roasting tray

The Bell Peppers:

First, slice the peppers, remove the seeds, and cut them into medium-sized pieces (as shown below). Transfer them to a bowl, add a tablespoon of light olive oil or a neutral oil (like sunflower oil), a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss them and transfer them to the roasting tray.

Chopping the bell peppers

The Eggplant:

Cut the eggplant in half and then into half-inch slices. Toss them with a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to the roasting tray.

Chopping the eggplant

The Zucchini:

Cut the zucchini in half and then into half-inch slices. Toss them with a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to the roasting tray.

Chopping the zucchini

The Red Onion:

And finally, peel the red onion and slice them in half and then into fourths. Toss them with half a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to the roasting tray.

Chopping the red onion

The Mushrooms:

Toss the mushrooms whole (if they’re small or cut them in half if they’re larger) with half a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to a roasting tray.

Mushrooms on the roasting tray

Step 3 – Roast the vegetables in the oven at 425°F (220°C) until tender on the inside and a little charred on the outside. For the mushrooms, that’s about 25 minutes, although that will depend on the size of the mushrooms you’re using. And for the rest of the vegetables, it’s about 35 minutes.

Step 4 – While the veggies are roasting, make the vinaigrette dressing by whisking together the lemon juice and zest, mustard, oregano, minced garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, finely chopped fresh parsley, and a good pinch of salt and pepper.

Salad vinaigrette dressing

Step 5 – Once you’ve pulled the roasted vegetables out of the oven, transfer them to a bowl and toss them with half the vinaigrette dressing. As they’re warm, they’ll absorb all that flavor. Let the veggies cool for about 5 minutes.

Roasted veggies in a large bowl
Adding the vinaigrette to the roasted veggies
Tossing the roasted veggies with the vinaigrette

Step 6 – If you want to serve the salad warm, now, toss the vegetables with the spinach and the remaining vinaigrette. If you want to serve it cold, combine them just before serving. I prefer this roasted vegetable salad served warm but it’s also delicious when cold!

Roasted vegetable salad

Serving Suggestions

I typically serve this with a protein-based main like crispy chicken tenders or pan-fried basa. However, this salad is sweet, earthy, and filling enough to eat on its own. Try it with some fresh bread.

Roasted vegetable salad

If you are making it as a side, you could serve this with any of my juicy and delicious burgers. Roasted vegetables can be used instead of potatoes or fries.

Roasted vegetables work with salmon, too, like my blackened salmon recipe with a side of rice.

A good pairing for parties I’ve tried before is this bowl with crispy chicken tenders and some lemon basil aioli.

What this dish gives you is options. You can always find something that works with roasted vegetables in a zesty dressing. Let me know below what you served it with, and if you tried any other vegetables in your dish.

Recipe Card

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Roasted Vegetable Salad

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the Salad:

  • 1 eggplant
  • 2 zucchini
  • 1 lb (450 grams) mushrooms
  • 3 bell peppers
  • 1 small red onion
  • 3 oz (85 grams) or two packed cups of baby spinach
  • 4 tbsp light olive oil or any neutral oil (for roasting the veggies)
  • pinch of salt
  • pinch of black pepper

For the Salad Dressing:

  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest from 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 large garlic clove
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt (or more to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper (or more to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Chop the veggies into relatively even-sized pieces and toss them with olive oil (or a neutral oil like sunflower oil), a good pinch of salt, and black pepper. Arrange them on a roasting tray into rows.
    Bell Peppers: First, slice the peppers, remove the seeds, and cut them into medium-sized pieces (as shown below). Transfer them to a bowl, add a tablespoon of light olive oil or a neutral oil (like sunflower oil), a
    pinch of salt and pepper. Toss them and transfer them to the roasting
    tray.
    Eggplant
    : Cut the eggplant in half and then into half-inch slices. Toss them with a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to the roasting tray.
    Zucchini: Cut the zucchini in half and then into half-inch slices. Toss them with a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to the roasting tray.
    Red Onion: And finally, peel the red onion and slice it in half and then into fourths. Toss them with half a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt
    and pepper, and then transfer them to the roasting tray.
    The Mushrooms: Toss the mushrooms whole (if they're small) with half a tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and then transfer them to a roasting tray.
  3. Roast the vegetables in the oven at 425°F (220°C) until tender on the inside and a little charred on the outside. For the mushrooms, that’s about 25 minutes, although that will depend on the size of the mushrooms you’re using. And for the rest of the vegetables, it’s about 35 minutes.
  4. While the veggies are roasting, make the vinaigrette dressing by whisking together the lemon juice and zest, mustard, oregano, minced garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, finely chopped fresh parsley, and a good pinch of salt and pepper.
  5. Once you’ve pulled the roasted vegetables out of the oven, transfer them to a bowl and toss them with half the vinaigrette dressing. As they’re warm, they’ll absorb all that flavor. Let the veggies cool for about 5 minutes.
  6. If you want to serve the salad warm, now, toss the vegetables with the spinach and the remaining vinaigrette. If you want to serve it cold, combine them just before serving. I prefer this roasted vegetable salad served warm but it’s also delicious when cold!

You Might Also Like to Try

Save this recipe to one of your recipe idea boards. On those days you have some leftover veggies you don’t know what to do with, you can come back to this recipe.

Roasted vegetable salad

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