Reboot Your Roast
A roast is a British classic, but why stop at meat and potatoes?
With super-simple veggie side hacks and tasty ideas from top chefs, it’s easy to pack more veg onto your roast with minimal effort and maximum flavour. Add a pop of colour, try a new side, or sneak in extra goodness, all without overthinking it!
A roast is a British classic, but why stop at meat and potatoes?
With super-simple veggie side hacks and tasty ideas from top chefs, it’s easy to pack more veg onto your roast with minimal effort and maximum flavour. Add a pop of colour, try a new side, or sneak in extra goodness, all without overthinking it!
Why are Roasts so great?
A roast isn’t just a meal, it’s a chance to slow down and eat together. It brings families around the table, helps kids feel more open to trying new foods, and makes mealtimes feel special.
And the best part? Small changes really add up.
If your roast usually has one veg, add another. Swap a familiar side for a new twist. Even a couple of extra spoonfuls can make a difference. With these easy, veg-packed ideas, rebooting your roast can be as simple as adding one new side at a time.
Our Easy Hacks
There’s nothing wrong with peas and carrots, they’ve earned their place! But if you fancy mixing things up, these easy sides are a great way to reboot your roast without extra fuss.
Garlicky green beans
Sauté defrosted (or frozen) green beans in olive oil until slightly browned. Add a splash of water, cover, and steam until tender. Finish with butter, garlic, and optional toasted almonds or lemon zest for extra flavor.
Roasted roots
We love potatoes, but they aren’t the only thing you can roast! Toss chopped root veg with oil, salt and pepper, then roast until golden and tender. Boost the flavour with harissa, pesto, balsamic, herbs or a little crumbled cheese. Short on time? Frozen root veg works brilliantly, too!
Creamy cabbage
Sauté shredded cabbage in butter with a little stock, cover, and cook gently until soft and buttery, adding more stock as needed. Simple, delicious, and fuss-free!
Sweet potato (S)mash
Roast whole sweet potatoes until soft, then peel and mash with butter, milk, and seasoning (plus a pinch of nutmeg if you like). Short on time? Boil peeled, chopped sweet potatoes instead for a quicker mash.
Simple slaw
Grate cabbage, carrot, and apple, and toss with mayo, lemon or lime juice, and seasoning. Finish with fresh herbs or seeds for extra crunch. Quick, fresh, and the perfect roast side!
Creamed leeks.
Melt butter in a pan, soften sliced leeks with a splash of water, then stir in cream and season to taste.
Easy frozen veggies
Steam or microwave mixed veg, roast a bag of Mediterranean veggies with olive oil or pesto, or simply serve buttery corn on the cob. For more frozen veg hacks, check out tips from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Charlotte Radcliffe here!
Roasted squash
Halve a butternut squash, scoop out the seeds, and roast alongside your main until soft and sweet. Or, toss cubed squash in oil and salt, then roast until golden. Short on time? Use pre-prepped fresh or frozen squash—or swap for sweet potato or pumpkin!
Cauli cheese
Indulgent and delicious. Grab a bag of frozen cauliflower cheese and cook according to the packet instructions or if you are feeling more ambitious, try making your own – we love this one…
Chef’s sides
Looking for more inspiration?
Our chefs and creators share their favourite veg-packed sides to help you reboot your roast with fresh flavours and easy twists.
Niki’s Warm Asparagus, Roast New Potato and Pea Salad
Niki Webster (Rebel Recipes)
Thomasina’s Diced Avocado with Mango, Black Beans and Pickled Jalapeno
Thomasina Miers
Thomasina’s Diced Avocado with Mango, Black Beans and Pickled Jalapeno
Thomasina Miers
Engaging kids
Get Kids Involved!
A roast is more than just a meal, it’s a time for family to come together and make memories. It’s the perfect opportunity engage kids in a fun and meaningful way. Give them a sense of ownership and pride, making it more likely they’ll enjoy the veggies on their plate!
Here are some simple ways to involve kids in rebooting your roast:
Little kitchen helpers
Give kids a small but important role, like washing veggies, pressing buttons on the microwave, pouring veg into a pan, stirring, weighing, or reading instructions on frozen veg packs.
Creative serving
Let them take charge of spooning veggies into serving bowls or adding tasty finishing touches like fresh herbs, breadcrumbs, crumbled cheese, citrus juice, or a swirl of pesto.
DIY menus
Encourage them to create a fun menu with drawings or playful names for the veg dishes—think “Level-Up Leeks” or “Super Sidekick Sprouts”!
Table setting fun
Have them lay the table and add a special touch, like a colourful centrepiece inspired by the veg on the menu or personalised place cards with artwork showing off the veg being served.
By making vegetables part of the fun, you’re setting the stage for a lifetime of veggie loving habits, one delicious roast at a time!
Family Favourite Recipes
Use our step-by-step methods to slowly improve these favourites, too…
Do you have a question you’d like one of our experts to help you with?
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