What is caramelization?

Name: Sheet pan roasted vegetables
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: north-american
Ingredients: 300 g zucchini; 2 unit bell pepper; 400 g sweet potato; 45 ml olive oil; 5 ml Italian herbs; 5 ml salt

Caramelization is the browning of sugars when exposed to high heat (above 160°C). As sugars break down, they form hundreds of new flavor compounds — nutty, sweet, slightly bitter, complex. It's why a roasted Brussels sprout tastes nothing like a boiled one, even though it's the same vegetable.

Oven Beginner 35 min

Sheet pan roasted vegetables

Zucchini, bell peppers, and sweet potato tossed in herbs and roasted on one pan at 220°C — caramelized in 25 minutes.

Steps

01
Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F). Cut all vegetables into similar-sized pieces (3-4 cm).
02
Toss vegetables with olive oil, herbs, and salt in a large bowl.
03
Spread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Don't crowd the pan.
04
Roast 25 minutes, turning halfway through.

Sheet pan roasted vegetables

What is caramelization?

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