Saturday, May 11, 2013

Roast vegetables and chickpeas, with apple

You provided me with some excellent pumpkin ideas when I requested inspiration in my pumpkin cookies post. Over winter, I now hope to work through pumpkin in scone, curry, bread, and cake form. I also foresee lots of roast vegetable mixes.


This easy meal is of the roast vegetable variety. To complement the pumpkin and cauliflower, I threw some apple in too. It might not be conventional, but I highly recommend it. The soft sweet apple pieces paired wonderfully with the vegetables, and made eating chickpeas even more enjoyable than usual.

This is a dish you can put together quite quickly, and then pop in the oven while you get on with other things. I didn't roast my chickpeas, on account of cooking them from dry, but you might decide to roast yours. There are also all sorts of options for tweaking the seasonings. I used apple cider vinegar and dried oregano, with a drizzle of maple syrup. Nutritional yeast would be a nice addition (of course), and balsamic vinegar could be swapped in for the apple cider variety. There are no limits on herbs. Basically, you can do what you like! Just don't forget the apple...I'm deeming that essential.



Roast vegetables and chickpeas, with apple
Serves 2 to 3 as a main, or 4 to 6 as a side dish
Vegan; low fat


Ingredients
1 medium butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into chunks
1/2 head cauliflower, in florets
1 medium apple, peeled and cut into chunks
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp maple syrup
1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas

Method
Preheat your oven to moderately hot, 180'C. 

Place the chopped pumpkin, cauliflower and apple in a large baking dish. Combine the vinegar, oregano and maple syrup, drizzle over the vegetable mix, and stir to mix through.

Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, checking after 30 minutes. Heat the chickpeas and add at the end before serving.


I'm always a fan of recipes with simple ingredient lists, and this dish is one I anticipate repeating. Adding apple to roast vegetables is something I will definitely be repeating. I can't believe I haven't done it before!

What is your favourite roast vegetable combination? This is the second time in two months that I've paired pumpkin and cauliflower, so I seem to be displaying a penchant for that mix.

Submitted to Healthy Vegan Friday #42 and Anyone Can Cook Vegetarian Food, Legume Challenge, at Cate's Cates.


25 comments:

  1. Mmm, apples + squash is a good combo, especially granny smiths. But I would put those apples in anything. It's been a while since I've roasted veggies - Texas doesn't really have a winter, I feel like it's been hot the entire five months I've been here. It almost makes me look forward to good ol' Canadian winters. Almost. :) (that's a long way of saying this meal sounds amazing.)

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    1. Roast vegetables definitely need cooler weather. I imagine they are perfect in Canada for a good portion of the year! I am sure Canadians would call our winters mild but I am glad to have cooling temperatures make this sort of meal possible for me again :)

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  2. I still just can't understand that Sylvia doesn't love roast pumpkin - it is food of the gods! Have you tried adding the chickpeas while the vegies are roasting - I have done that before but I can't remember if I added them at the start or halfway through but it really gives them some yummy flavour.

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    1. I do love roasting chickpeas - you are right, the flavour is fantastic. Usually when I do that I put them in at the start with everything else, but use a bit more liquid in the marinade / roasting dish to avoid them drying out. I would have roasted them for this but I was cooking from dry, and wasn't organised enough! I only put the raw soaked chickpeas in to cook on the stove top as the vegetables were going in the oven.

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  3. I could live on roast vegetables and add apple and I could do it twice :)

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    Replies
    1. I think it would be a great way to live :)

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  4. Oh, yum! That looks really gorgeous, especially as, like you, I'm a bit proponent of 'fling it all in the oven then go do something else' recipes!

    I'd love it if you'd submit this to my Let there be Legumes challenge this month (http://www.catescates.com.au/anyone-can-cook-vegetarian-food-let-there-be-legumes/).

    Catherine

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  5. I actually love adding apple into more savoury dishes so this is right up my alley. And roasted cauliflower is the BEST.

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    1. I have long enjoyed dried fruit in savoury dishes but I think apple is going to take the fruit relationship to a whole new level! And yes - roasted cauliflower is excellent :)

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  6. Mmmm, I'm just about to roast up some veggies and chicken (smothered in hummus) and now I'm thinking I should throw in some apple too. Sounds great.

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    1. Roasting vegetables in hummus sounds wonderful! Now I want to do that too - definitely with the apple ;)

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  7. I love how this has apple cider vinegar in it. It would be a very tasty dish and very good for you too xx

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    1. Thanks Charlie - I've taken to throwing apple cider vinegar into all sorts of things at the moment!

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  8. I love to add sweet potatoes to anything... I bet apples added to them would be great! :)

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  9. Pumpkin scones are soooo good!
    I recently tried a recipe with chickpeas and apple together - couldn't believe how good it was - they really compliment each other so much!

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    Replies
    1. It's quite amazing isn't it? I'll be having them again soon I suspect!

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  10. Yum! This looks awesome Kari. So healthy too. It reminds me of how Tylers brother bakes a whole pumpkin and just eats it!

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  11. Pumpkin banana "soft serve" with mini chocolate chips or coconut. You're welcome.

    P.S. Heathy threw in apple when we roasted Brussels sprouts at her place. Nice, but I don't think I'm convinced. I like my dad's baked apples.. i.e. stuffed with dates and walnuts and brown sugar. ;)

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    Replies
    1. Ooh. Yes! Thank you :-)

      Oddly, I have never gone for traditional baked apples like you describe, but after loving this so much I think I have to try them again. Stuffed with dates is a variation I hadn't heard of but love the sound of!

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  12. Ohhh I love roasted veggies for autumn but never thought of putting apples in them :) Great idea thanks for sharing!

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    1. I'm glad you like the sound of it Daisy!

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  13. I adore anything with pumpkin!

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