What to add to baked vegetables to enhance their flavor

When it comes to baked vegetables, root vegetables are the most commonly mentioned for some reason. Perhaps it's because they are really tasty, and they are what we are mostly offered in restaurants.

"However," writes the Mashed website, "you'd probably be surprised to learn how great other vegetables, such as beets, sweet potatoes, or parsnips, can be prepared in this way. Various types of cabbage, sweet potatoes, asparagus, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, artichokes, peppers, and tomatoes are also good when baked."

SSPDaily prepared a few secrets that will help improve the flavor of vegetables and achieve perfect browning. After reading our recommendations, you can easily turn an ordinary side dish into a real star of the dinner table.

How to make baked vegetables taste better

It is believed that when cooking baked vegetables, it is enough to add salt and pepper to them, and the job is done. But if you are serious about cooking, you should think about other flavoring substances, such as herbs and spices.

What is recommended to use as natural flavors?

First of all, these are onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, and ginger. These ingredients are roasted together with the vegetables and help to enhance their flavor.

Powdered versions, such as garlic and onion, also work well. Fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, parsley, and bay leaf, also effectively improve the flavor.

There are also many options for spices. Paprika, chili powder, red chili flakes, cumin, and even curry powder are commonly added. Some sweet vegetables, such as zucchini and sweet potatoes, go well with "warming" spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Tip: Don't stop with the basic seasonings. You can try other ways to flavor vegetables, such as brushing them with pesto, sprinkling them with shredded cheese (especially hard cheese), or pouring them with honey.

How to make vegetables taste delicate, savory, and tart

Roasting emphasizes the natural sweetness of vegetables, while adding sour or tart flavors helps balance the complexity and sharpen the overall flavor profile. There are several ways to add tartness to vegetables.

One option is to add vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is often used for sautéing vegetables because it is sweet and goes well with baked foods.

And if you're worried that vinegar will make the dish too sour, there are other ways to add tartness. Juice or zest of lemon (lime) will give vegetables a piquant and pleasant citrus flavor, or add sumac if citrus doesn't suit you.

Use the right oil

When you add seasonings, add oil. Not only will it help the vegetables become crispy, but it will also make the flavor of the seasonings more durable.

You can either drizzle the oil over the vegetables before adding the seasonings or add the seasonings directly to the oil.

When it comes to choosing the type of oil, choose one that enhances the flavor of your dish. At the same time, pay attention to the smoke point of the oil, unless you want the vegetables to be charred.

Good options in this case are ghee, sunflower, and refined coconut oil, all of which have a smoke point of 232 degrees Celsius.

If you want to use olive oil, focus on light olive oil with a smoke point of 240 degrees Celsius, rather than other varieties that reach this stage much earlier.