Where are my veggie lovers? You must try this recipe for Greek vegetables. Incorporating herbs and spices like oregano, parsley, basil, and thyme, each bite will transport you from your dining room table to the turquoise waters of Greece. For this Greek vegetable recipe, nightshade vegetables are used, however, you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand – no need to make another trip to the grocery store. 

Let’s talk about how these Greek vegetables are prepared.

Methods of preparation

To anyone who isn’t a fan of vegetables, I always ask, “How were they prepared?” Let’s face it, boiled and steamed vegetables aren’t that flavorful. While boiling or steaming may be needed as a step (ex. steaming Brussels sprouts before roasting, or boiling potatoes before mashing) in preparing vegetables, in my opinion, it should not be the final step. In this recipe for Greek vegetables, the vegetables are roasted, which allows the sugars in them to begin to caramelize; this creates an even sweeter taste! Plus, the addition of the seasoning and lemon juice really bring that extra umph to the vegetables. 

While roasting is my favorite method of preparation for any vegetable, you can also grill veggies, saute them, or enjoy them raw with a fun dipping sauce (try my Avocado Sauce or my Tahini Yogurt Sauce). 

Mediterranean Diet

This dish is one that can fit into the category of the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is rated the best diet by the US News and World Report.1 There is a reason for that, but first, what does the Mediterranean diet consist of?

The Mediterranean diet is made up of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish and unsaturated fat (olive oil) – meat and dairy products are consumed less frequently.2 

Studies have shown that following the Mediterranean diet can be beneficial in terms of reducing the risk of chronic diseases (ex. heart disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), as well as reducing inflammation throughout the body.3 Given that the American diet is filled with ultra-processed food, returning to the kitchen, and preparing a dish like these Greek vegetables, is a great step to achieving a healthier you!

For more recipes that follow the Mediterranean diet, check out my latest cookbook, The Mediterranean DASH Diet Cookbook: Lower Your Blood Pressure and Improve Your Health. Click here to place your order!

Health benefits of the Greek vegetables

Aside from the benefits of following the patterns of the Mediterranean diet, the vegetables featured in this dish also provide us with specific nutrients that impart additional benefits.

The three main vegetables in the Greek vegetables are sweet potato, eggplant and bell peppers. These three vegetables contain nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants. These nutrients help to keep eyes, skin and cells healthy, as well as aid in digestion.4,5 

These Greek vegetables can’t get any better!

If you try these Greek vegetables, be sure to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram @ChefAbbieGellman!

Similar Pages

If you liked these Greek vegetables, check out my Mediterranean Salad Skewers, my Crispy Mediterranean Chicken Thighs, and my Spicy Olives! 

Resources

1. Mediterranean diet. U.S. News & World Report. https://health.usnews.com/best-diet/mediterranean-diet. Accessed May 7, 2021.
2. What is a mediterranean diet? NHS Choices. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/what-is-a-mediterranean-diet/#:~:text=The Mediterranean diet varies by,of meat and dairy foods. Accessed May 7, 2021.
3. Romagnolo DF, Selmin OI. Mediterranean Diet and Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Nutr Today. 2017;52(5):208-222. doi:10.1097/NT.0000000000000228
4. Vitamin A. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/. Accessed May 7, 2021.
5. Vitamin C. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/.Accessed May 7, 2021.

Greek vegetables

4 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish, vegetables

Keyword: mediterranean

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Chef Abbie Gellman RD

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant one-inch dice
• 1 red onion cut into 8 wedges
• 1 sweet potato one-inch dice
• 1 bell pepper quartered
• 4 cloves garlic smashed and peeled
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• Juice of ½ lemon

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line 1 or 2 baking sheets with foil or parchment paper.
• Place eggplant, onion, potato, bell pepper, and garlic on baking sheet. Add oil, salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, basil, and thyme and toss together well.
• Place in oven and roast 40 to 45 minutes, mixing halfway through.
• Remove from oven, drizzle with lemon juice, and mix well.

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