Grilled Root Vegetables with Cilantro Dressing
Winter veggies done right! Grill thinly sliced root vegetables, like beets, turnips and sweet potatoes and drizzle with a cilantro dressing. ~ by Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD
Do you hoard cookbooks?
I have been guilty of this in the past - along with holding onto many, many back issues of Cooking Light, Gourmet, Saveur and Cook's Illustrated.
But nowadays, I rarely buy new cookbooks (and the magazine pile is much thinner) - thanks to the abundance of recipes available at our fingers tips online. And if I do purchase a cookbook, it's gotta be one that really speaks to me.
Enter Plenty.
I'm a bit late to the Ottolenghi party. I had heard about Plenty for years (Plenty More just came out a few months ago) but it wasn't until the release of Jerusalem when I realized how special Yotam Ottolenghi's cuisine and recipes are.
It's like he's breathed new life into basic foods, relying on his Israeli upbringing and throwing Syrian, Turkish, Lebanese, Iranian and Armenian flavors into the mix while making recipes not too daunting for us Westerners.
After flipping through Plenty, I wanted to make just about every recipe in the book and this "mixed veggie grill" rose to the top when I had some root veggies from my fall CSA on hand.
I put my own spin on Ottolengh's original recipe - he featured zucchini, kohlrabi and eggplant while I went with sweet potatoes and beets. You could also use parsnips, turnips, potatoes, rutabagas - just about any sturdy vegetable you can slice thinly.
I also used cilantro instead of parsley for the oil drizzle but I have to say, it's delicious either way.
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Grilled Root Vegetables with Cilantro Dressing
- Yield: 4 - 6 servings 1x
Description
Winter veggies done right! Grill thinly sliced root vegetables, like beets, turnips and sweet potatoes and drizzle with a cilantro dressing.
Ingredients
For grilled vegetables:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 sweet potatoes, sliced thinly (leave skins on)
- 2 root vegetables (like beets, turnips, parsnips, rutabagas), peeled and sliced thinly
For dressing:
- 1 cup cilantro
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- Zest and juice from one small orange or large lemon
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 -2 tablespoons water
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 ounces gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To grill the vegetables, coat grill pan with olive oil and place over medium high heat. Layer vegetables (cook in batches) on grill and cook for 2 - 3 minutes per side (5 minutes per side for sweet potatoes.) Place on ovenproof serving plate.
- When all vegetables are grilled, put plate in the oven and cook for another 5 - 10 minutes or until vegetables are cooked through.
- While vegetables are in the oven, make dressing by adding cilantro, ¼ cup olive oil, garlic, orange (or lemon) zest, orange (or lemon) juice and honey into a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth, adding a tablespoon or two of water to get the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper and blend one final time.
- Remove vegetables from oven and drizzle with dressing. Sprinkle gorgonzola on top and serve hot or warm.
Notes
Adapted from "Mixed Grill" with Parsley Oil found in Ottolenghi's Plenty cookbook
This is one of those vegetable recipes that's going to get me through the winter along with these dishes that I cook when the wind chill kicks in:
Asian Style Winter Greens
Cheesy Broccoli Greens Soup
Rutabaga Carrot Mash
Do you own any Ottolenghi cookbooks? What are your go-to winter recipes once the cold weather kicks in?
I got Jerusalem for Christmas and love it. I can't wait to get his other cookbooks as well.This looks delicious
Ahhh, Jerusalem is next on my list to buy. It's such a gorgeous book just to look at, let alone cook from.
mmm this looks so good! Love sweet Potatoes! They look especially divine with that cilantro dressing! Another great way to enjoy your veg!
So simple and so perfect! My husband and I LOVE cilantro so I'm digging your substitution- that dressing looks so yummy!
I'm a cilantro freak too! And it might sound strange but it brightens up these winter days for me (perhaps because I'm dreaming of warmer places like Mexico...)
Happy New Year, Deanna! Love the recipes you are starting out with this year! I can so relate to this post; trying to wean myself from hoarding cookbooks and magazines. I even vowed to not buy another. But then..Ottelenghi's cookbooks.
I know! I vowed no more cookbooks too, but any Ottolenghi one is so worth it. I donated a bunch of older cookbooks to my library and also purged my old dietitian/personal file folders too last week. SO much paper for recycling and the shredder....and so cathartic.
I've actually been hearing a lot more about Ottolenghi and now I know - new cookbook is out! I feel like I'm living in a cave now. At least you've entered the party ;). I grill veggies all the time, and I'm def going to drizzle them in this beautiful, creamy dressing. Pinned!!
It's never too late to join the Ottolenghi party 🙂 Let me know know what veggies you grill with this dressing - always looking for new veggie combos for inspiration! And this Italian girl can't wait to make your Cabonara.
I love how these roasted vegetables are dressed up! The cilantro dressing is genius!
I was using the leftover dressing for everything from turkey burgers to rice 🙂
Oh wow - I am so intrigued by that cilantro dressing - it sounds insanely delish! I love finidng recipes online and regret not having bought a recipe book in way too long - I might need to check out "Plenty"!
I don't think you'd be disappointed with Plenty or any of Ottolenghi's book for that matter 🙂
I just got Ottolenghi's Plenty More for Christmas and it is by far my favorite cookbook of his! I've already started making a few recipes out of it and am blown away by his flavor combos.
I got that for Serena for Christmas and now I think I need to treat myself 🙂
Yum! I have family members that swear by that cookbook! I can see why! I'm excited to try your version.
I am a HUGE cookbook hoarder! I just love them and their beauty! Jerusalem is beautiful and Plenty look amazing!
You are so right - some cookbooks are just beautiful books (regardless of if you make many of the recipes or not.) And some just bring back wonderful memories from a time and place in your life.
Mmm I do love my grilled root vegetables! That cilantro dressing looks amazing though, mm!
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
I'm a big Ottolenghi fan. I love how he's helped the rest of us, especially chefs and others in the culinary community, elevate vegetables more to the center of the plate, giving them as much care as animal protein, etc. Pinning and putting that dressing on my weekend cooking menu. Thank you!
I'm so glad you commented. I loved loved your post from last year when you got to meet him and when you shared his tips on feeding kids along with your adapted advice since his kid is still in the toddler stage. Dying to get my hands on Plenty More now 🙂
I've browsed through Plenty at the bookstore, along with Plenty More and they are beyond gorgeous! I'm also late to the party but now you've officially convinced me to hop on the train! I tend to roast tons of winter veggies when it's cold and I will be adding this to my meals 🙂
I don't think you'll be disappointed with any of his books. Hardest decision? Which one to buy first! Let me know if you do 🙂
Buying the book now- thank you! I make a similar recipe in the summer with a basil puree/dressing over roasted bell peppers, but I love the use of cilantro in this recipe. I also like how this looks like a carpaccio, but is vegetarian! Yum.
Oooh - that pepper recipe sound lovely - will have to remember that one. Let me know what you make first from Plenty 🙂
Great recipe! I actually picked up a sweet potato for the hubby to grill tomorrow to post on! I have a little cilantro dressing of my own that pairs perfectly with the sweet potato... such a great combo! Yum!!
Sounds perfect - let me know what you think!
LOVE Plenty! I bought it just for the photos and find veggie inspiration every time I open it! Must try that cilantro dressing - yum 🙂
I've been drooling over this recipe since I first saw it! Especially the cilantro sauce-yum!! I would never have imagined it had Gorgonzola in it. Super yum! I do have Jerusalem which I purchased last year, and, sadly, still haven't cooked anything in it. On my 2015 list to do!!!
Yes - dust off Jerusalem and let us all know what you cook from it 🙂