Roast vegetables with pears and bacon
A warming autumnal dish of roasted root vegetables with eggplant, sweet pears and salty bacon. Roasting brings out the sweetness of the vegetables and, unlike boiling, retains all the goodness.
1 eggplant, cut into eight pieces lengthwise
3 orange sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into eight pieces lengthwise
3 parsnips, quartered lengthwise
150 grams (5 oz) baby leeks, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 firm pears, cored and quartered
8 slices back bacon1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1.Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the eggplant, sweet potatoes, parsnips and leeks in a single layer in a wide roasting pan. Use a pastry brush to coat them lightly with oil.
2.Sprinkle the thyme over the vegetables and season with freshly ground black pepper. Bake for 25–30 minutes until the vegetables are almost tender, then turn the vegetables and add the pear wedges, turning to coat lightly in oil. Arrange the bacon rashers over the vegetables.
3.Return the pan to the oven for 15–20 minutes until the vegetables and pears are tender and the bacon is lightly browned. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar over the roast vegetables and serve hot.
Cook’s tip• If you arrange all the vegetables parallel in the pan, they are easier and quicker to brush with oil. Variations• When quinces are in season, they can be used instead of the pears.• If baby leeks are not available, replace them with ordinary leeks, sliced on the diagonal or, alternatively, use wedges of red onion instead.
Serves 4
Preparation time 20 minutes
Cooking time 50 minutes
Each serving
19 g protein • 14 g fat of which 3 g saturates • 75 g carbohydrate • 13 g fibre • 522 Calories
