savory herb roasted sweet potatoes and beets for winter family dinners

savory herb roasted sweet potatoes and beets for winter family dinners

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes (about 1.5 lbs), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 medium beets (about 1 lb), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon fresh sage, chopped (or 1/2 tsp dried)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped (optional)
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat oven: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 425°F (220°C). Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. Prepare vegetables: In a large bowl, combine cubed sweet potatoes and beets. Keep them separate if you want to prevent beet color bleeding, or mix them together for gorgeous ruby-stained sweet potatoes.
3. Make herb oil: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, sage, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper.
4. Coat vegetables: Pour herb oil over vegetables and toss until every piece is evenly coated. Use your hands for best results.
5. Arrange on pans: Spread vegetables in a single layer on prepared baking sheets, ensuring pieces don't touch (this creates caramelization). Add onion wedges tucked between vegetables.
6. Roast: Roast for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and flip vegetables with a spatula. Rotate pans and roast another 20-25 minutes until vegetables are tender and edges are caramelized.
7. Add finishing touch: During the last 5 minutes of roasting, drizzle balsamic vinegar over vegetables and return to oven.
8. Garnish and serve: Transfer to serving platter, sprinkle with toasted nuts if using, and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot or warm.