VEGETABLE BAKED RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have an oven-safe 12-inch deep skillet, you can cook the veggies and bake the pasta in it. If you do not, prepare a 3-quart baking dish by lightly greasing with olive oil.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and then cook the pasta. Check the package for cook time, but cook the pasta two minutes less than what is recommend on the box (it will continue to cook in the oven). Before draining the pasta, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
• While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Slice the onions and bell peppers into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Using a damp paper towel, brush all dirt from mushrooms. Cut away and discard any hard stems. Chop into 1/4-inch slices or, if there are larger mushrooms like portobello, cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
• Heat a wide skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil then add the mushrooms, in one layer, and cook until browned on one side, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir then add the onions and peppers. Cook another 3 to 5 minutes or until the veggies are starting to soften and have some browned edges. Season to taste with salt and black pepper (I usually add 1/4 teaspoon of each).
• Stir the fennel, marinara sauce, and basil into the vegetables. If your skillet is large enough, toss in the pasta and if the mixture seems dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water. If the skillet is too small, combine the sauce and pasta in a bowl. Adjust with pasta water, and then add to a baking dish.
• Taste the pasta and adjust with more salt and pepper. Tuck spoonfuls of ricotta around the pasta, and then top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake the pasta, uncovered, until the cheese melts and is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4.
  2. Scrub the sweet potatoes, pat dry, then rub with a little olive oil and a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Roast on a baking tray for about 40 minutes, or until cooked through (or prick with a fork and cook in the microwave for 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender).
  3. Finely grate the lemon zest into a small bowl and mix in the yoghurt, turmeric and cumin. Leave at room temperature until needed.
  4. Scrub the carrot, radishes and beetroot, peel the onion and core the apple. In this order, carefully push the carrot, radishes, red onion, apple and beetroot through the grating blade of your food processor, or coarsely grate by hand, then tip into a bowl.
  5. Mix the veg with the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper.
  6. A few minutes before your potatoes are ready, toast the seeds in a small frying pan on a medium heat for 2 minutes, or until smelling fantastic. At this point, add 1 tablespoon of maple syrup (if using) and let it bubble until it starts to thicken, then take off the heat. Carefully pour onto a sheet of greaseproof paper, leave to cool and don’t touch!
  7. Cut a cross in the top of your cooked potatoes and gently break them open with a fork, mashing a little of the inside as you go.
  8. Spoon over a good dollop of the spiced yoghurt, followed by the juicy grated salad, and the seeds. Serve with the rocket scattered over.