ROASTED PARSNIPS AND SWEET POTATOES WITH CAPER VINAIGRETTE

Capers come from the Island of Pantelleria, located in the strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean ocean. A native to the region, the caper itself is the bud of the unformed flower, picked at just the right time, then sundried and brined or salted; simply rinse well before adding them to your dish. Capers bring a joyous, tart, briny tone and act as a bright highlight to even a simple dish. This vinaigrette will become a firm favourite!

Prep:
15 minutes
Cook:
80 minutes
Serves:
4

Ingredients

4 parsnips

4 red onions

150 ml olive oil

4 thyme sprigs

2 rosemary sprigs1 head of garlic, halved horizontally 2 Sweet potatoes

30 cherry tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted

For the vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons lemon juice

4 tablespoons capers, roughly chopped

1/2 teaspoon maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard

Salt and pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C

Peel the parsnips and cut into pieces roughly 5cm long and 1

5cm wide. Peel the onions and cut into 6 wedges

Place parsnips and onions in a large mixing bowl and add 120ml of the olive oil, the thyme, rosemary, garlic and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and spread out in a large roasting tin. Roast for 20 mins

While the parsnips are cooking, top and tail the sweet potatoes. Cut them widthways in half, then each half into six wedges. Add to the roasting tin and stir well. Return to the oven and roast for a further 40-50 mins

When all the vegetables are cooked through and have taken on a golden colour, stir in the halved tomatoes. Roast for 10 more minutes

Meanwhile, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and season well

Pour the dressing over the roasted vegetables as soon as you take them out of the oven. Stir well and season to taste. Scatter the sesame seeds over the vegetables and serve at the table in the roasting tin