If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious vegetable meal-prep dish then, you’ve found it. These rainbow Mediterranean roasted vegetables are tender, flavorful, and a delicious combination of slightly sweet and savory flavors combined with simple oregano and thyme seasoning. Having recently shared a simple salad recipe using roasted peppers and red onion, I couldn’t wait to share this mixed roasted Mediterranean vegetables meal-prep. The roasting begins to caramelize and sweeten the vegetables for a wonderful depth of flavor. The combination of vegetables is also one of my favorites: peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and red onion. In fact, these veggies appear practically monthly in my recipes: with this eggplant red pepper dip (ajvar), baba ganoush (smoky eggplant dip), rainbow stuffed zucchini boats, and more! When combined, these Mediterranean roasted vegetables make for a perfect addition or side dish to tons of meals, including salads, grain bowls, during grill season, and more!
The Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables Ingredients
Zucchini: I used two smaller zucchini, though you can use one larger if preferred. You can also use yellow summer squash. Bell peppers: a combination of peppers is best between green, yellow, orange, and red. Swap them out based on which you prefer. Eggplant: one medium eggplant is usually more than enough. Onions: I used small red onions – I love this addition to my meal prep as peeling and dicing onions for individual meals is one of my least favorite tasks. This way, they’re roasted and slightly caramelized for tons of flavor. Oil: I used extra virgin olive oil – however, feel free to use another neutral cooking oil such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil. Seasonings: I used a combination of oregano and thyme with salt and pepper.
Optional add-ins and variations
There are several ways you can adapt this recipe for Mediterranean vegetables, including additional veggies, seasonings, and more!
Other seasonings: feel free to swap out the seasonings based on how you plan to serve them. Za’atar, sumac, rosemary, Italian Seasoning, and even a little cumin would all work. Garlic: add as much or as little as you like; I like adding a lot! Balsamic: a little drizzle of balsamic over the Mediterranean veg before roasting helps to add a sweet and tart depth of flavor to the dish. For spice: add a little chili or cayenne powder. This isn’t traditional for Mediterranean roast vegetables but tastes delicious. Tomatoes: because of how much they soften while roasting, I don’t always include tomatoes. However, if you do, I recommend using cherry/grape tomatoes. I roast them on the vine, so they hold their shape better. Lemon: there are a couple of ways you can introduce lemon to this Mediterranean recipe. First, you can add lemon slices to the pan while roasting – they will caramelize wonderfully and make for a perfect garnish to tons of meals. You could also (or alternatively) add lemon juice and zest to help season the vegetables. Other vegetables: whether you want to remain authentically Mediterranean with your veg selection or not, feel free to use other vegetables with similar roasting times: mushrooms, carrots, artichoke, even new potatoes (par-boiled first).
How to Make Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables
Step 1: Wash and chop the vegetables
First, wash the mixed vegetables well and pat them dry. After washing the vegetables, preheat the oven to 410ºF/210ºC. Then, it’s time to chop the Mediterranean veg. Chop the zucchini into ½-inch (in thickness) rounds. If the zucchini is particularly large, then you can first chop it in half lengthwise, then slice. Next, chop the eggplant into ½-inch wedges. To do this, first slice the eggplant in half lengthwise, then chop each of those sections in half once more, then slice across to make the wedges. For the peppers, I chop around the stem first to pull that out and de-seed them. Then roughly slice into pieces that are around 1-inch in size. Finally, for the onions, I simply chop them into rough wedges (skin still on) for roasting. If you prefer, you can peel the skin before roasting – just make sure they’re in fairly large pieces; otherwise, they’ll brown too quickly.
Step 2: Season the vegetables
Spread the chopped vegetables across a large baking tray in a single layer (you may need multiple trays). Then drizzle over the olive oil and add the seasonings. Using your hands, toss the vegetables to coat them in the oil and seasoning mixture.
Step 3: Roast the Mediterranean vegetables
Roast the vegetables in the oven for between 25-30 minutes, or until they are softened and lightly browned on top. You can toss/turn them once halfway if preferred, though I’ve found I love the results regardless, without adding that extra step. Then remove from the oven and allow to cool just enough until you’re able to handle them. Peel off the skin from the onion and then either use them immediately or save for later.
How to Store Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables
Make ahead: feel free to marinate the chopped vegetables in the seasonings and oil for several hours (up to 6), covered, in the refrigerator before roasting. Fridge: allow the vegetables to cool, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to a week. Freezer: it’s best to freeze the (cooled) vegetables in a single layer on a large tray until solid before transferring to a freezer-safe container/bag – in this way, they won’t freeze in a single clump of veggies. Once frozen, store for up to two months. Reheat: you can add the vegetables directly into your dish (pasta and bakes, etc.) to heat up, or heat them first on the stovetop or in the microwave.
How to Serve
These Mediterranean roast vegetables are one of my current favorite veggie meal-prep elements because of how versatile they are.
Add to pasta – like this roasted pepper pasta, roasted tomato pasta, and with the homemade pasta of your choice (vegan, oat, red lentil, egg, etc.). Mix into salads and salad bowls, or add to buddha bowls and grain bowls – like a donburi bowl. As a filling for tacos. Sandwiches/wraps (like this halloumi eggplant wrap or Mediterranean vegetable lettuce wraps). Eggs – added to a vegetable omelette, into scrambled eggs (or tofu scramble), baked into an egg casserole, added to frittatas and this tortilla quiche. As a side dish – for example, with your protein (like salmon or crispy tofu) and grain of choice (like brown rice or quinoa). To top dips – like this creamy hummus, baba ganoush, roasted garlic white bean dip, or herby labneh dip. To top large crackers and rice cakes with cream cheese and the Mediterranean roasted vegetables.
The possibilities are practically endless! Let me know in the comments what your favorite ways to enjoy these roasted Mediterranean vegetables are!
Recipe Notes & Variations
Chop the veggies evenly: try to chop the veggies fairly evenly in size, so they roast evenly. You can use a mandoline to make sure all your pieces are the same thickness. For smaller pieces: feel free to slice the veggies slightly thinner if preferred. However, adjust the roasting time accordingly. I don’t recommend slicing the zucchini or eggplant too thin (below ¼-inch), though, or they can become ‘floppy’/mushy. Check on the veggies: depending on how you’ve sliced them and your particular oven, the roasting time can vary. For that reason, I recommend checking on them at the 20-minute mark. Using a grill: during the summer months, grilled Mediterranean vegetables are a delicious way to continue enjoying this dish. However, you may need to slice lengthwise with the zucchini/eggplant or use a grill pan (so they don’t fall through the grill). This method can take between 7-15 minutes. Cook in a single layer: it’s best to cook the Mediterranean roast veg in a single layer (not overlapping); otherwise, they can end up quite soggy and won’t have slightly crispy edges. Using fresh herbs: if you plan on serving the Mediterranean roasted vegetables immediately, then the addition of finely chopped fresh herbs is delicious when paired with this selection of veggies. You can use basil, mint, parsley, etc.
Other Mediterranean-Inspired Recipes
How to Roast Beets in the Oven (Whole Roasted Beets) How To Cook Eggplant (Baked, Broiled & Air Fryer Eggplant) Roasted Vegetable Salad with Grains (Mediterranean Buddha Bowl) How to Make Eggplant Parmesan (Eggplant Parmigiana) How to Desalt and Cook Salted Cod Crispy Eggplant Chips with Honey (Berenjenas con Miel| Vegan)
If you try this roasted Mediterranean vegetable recipe, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. Also, I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below, and feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
