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
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:
- 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:
- 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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- 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. - 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
