Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle

5 from 2 votes

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Simply roasted vegetables get a salty pop from an olive dressing.

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle

If I had to pick one method for cooking vegetables to use for the rest of my life, it would be roasting. Olive oil, salt, and heat, and then those caramelized little edges and small bits. Just our favorite. When the kids were little it was absolutely the best and most effective way to get them to like new vegetables. The high heat brings out the natural sweetness in everything, vegetables in particular, and so it has always been one of my go to methods. You might also want to check out 7 Ways to Use Leftover Roasted Vegetables!

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle on a plate with greens and meat.

Every year around this time bunches of multi-colored carrots appear in the markets and I absolutely can’t resist. They are just so much cooler than regular carrots (which I already love). And I want to use them in recipes that show off the little colorful gig that they’ve got going on, so I’m not chopping them up and putting them in a chili or a soup, and certainly not pureeing them into a muddy mess.

Cauliflower and Carrots on a lined baking sheet.

Just peel them (unless you feel like a good scrub will suffice), and slice them not too thinly. Then cut the cauliflower into small florets. Onto a baking sheet (lined with foil or parchment if you like), drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and spread out in a single layer.

Into a preheated 400°F oven. (I repeat myself on this next sentence a bit—but it’s just so important especially if you are not a confident cook). IF YOUR OVEN IS SET TO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE, SAY 425°F OR EVEN 375° IT’S OK! You can still slide in these veggies, just check the to see if they are done to your liking a little earlier if the temp is higher, a little later if the temp is lower. 

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle on a lined baking sheet.

Don’t feel that you can’t make these small adjustments, or that you have to cook things separately. If you have more than one thing in the oven you may also have to add a smidge on to the cooking because the oven will be working harder to cook multiple foods. Not an exact science—but we knew that.

In this dish, they get sliced, roasted up with some cauliflower for textural and color contract, and drizzled with an olive vinaigrette. I am always pureeing up some version of olives with olive oil for drizzling. It makes everything from fish to vegetables to soups to a plain piece of roasted or grilled chicken or fish. Think of it like a salty pesto (two words that separately make me happy, and together make me a little giddy.)

Plate of meat, greens, and Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle.

Because there is this lovely sauce , you might just pair these roasted vegetables with a simply cooked chicken breast, and some sauteed spinach and spread the sauce love over the whole plate.

Other vegetables to try this olive drizzle with: Roasted PotatoesRoasted Asparagus….and instead of the basil oil in Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata and Basil Oil I think this drizzle would be amazing. Likewise on Roasted Pepper Crostini with Basil Oil.

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle on a large white plate.

Simply roasted vegetables get a salty pop from an olive dressing.

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Stirring it into some mayo and using that to accompany a steak?  Yes.

I am also going to beat some of this into mashed potatoes in the not too distant future. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle on a counter with other vegetable dishes.

More Roasted Vegetable Side Dish Recipes:

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5 from 2 votes

Roasted Cauliflower and Carrots with Olive Drizzle

Simply roasted vegetables get a salty pop from an olive dressing.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 People

Ingredients 

For the Roasted Vegetables

  • ½ head cauliflower cut into small florets
  • 1 pound carrots multicolored if possible, peeled and sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Coarse or kosher salt to taste

For the Olive-Rosemary Drizzle

  • 1 cup pitted mixed olives any kind you like
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  • ½ teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place the vegetables on the baking sheet, drizzle over the 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with salt and bake for about 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and just slightly golden.
  • While the vegetables are roasting, make the drizzle. Place the olives, shallots and rosemary in a blender or a food processor and blend to chop everything finely. Add the olive oil and the pepper and puree until it is fairly smooth (it won’t get all the way smooth; that’s fine).
  • Transfer the vegetables to a serving platter, and either drizzle over the olive sauce, or pass it on the side, or drizzle over a little and pass the rest (that’s what I usually do, but if you think some of your gang won’t go for it, leave it on the side). Serve hot, warm or room temperature.

Notes

You can use whatever color carrots (or cauliflower!) you can find. This is the perfect recipe to show off the colors instead of something you are pureeing.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Sodium: 417mg, Potassium: 395mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 12718IU, Vitamin C: 28mg, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 1mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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4 Comments

  1. Wow, I was a bit skeptical about the olives with the cauliflower and carrots but this was fantastic! The sweetness of the carrots and crispy cauliflower perfectly complimented the salty olives and lemon. Will definitely make again.

    1. sorry it just should have said drizzle not vinaigrette! though you could certainly add a tablespoon or so of the vinegar of your choice if you wanted to add a little tartness!