Level Up - Roast
Level Up Your Cooking Skills with Roasting
Level Up is a new series from Bon Appétit Management Company focused on cooking techniques that our chefs use every day to elevate their from-scratch dishes — and you can, too! Read the tips, watch the video, and try the recipes. We’re collecting all of the Level Up installments here.
Roasting is fundamental — take food, apply fire, and wait. But the results of roasting are anything but elementary: big, complex flavors, mouthwatering aromas, and browning that adds tons of eye appeal.
There’s science behind what makes roasted foods so irresistible.The intense, dry heat of a fire (or heat captured in an oven) can raise the surface temperature of meats or vegetables above the boiling point of water. Why does this matter? Because raising the heat above 212℉ means the food is hot enough to trigger Maillard or browning reactions, which create a delicious, intensely flavored crust. In fact, according to acclaimed food science author Harold McGee, several hundred aromatic compounds have been found in roasted meats.
Our Recipes for Roasting
Smoky Roasted Eggplant Garlic Dip
The glory of this luscious dip is the dual hit of smoky roasted eggplant and sweet-but-savory roasted garlic. Best of all? They both roast in the oven at the same time!
Roasted Kabocha Wrap with Sage, Goat Cheese, and Kale
Roasting intensifies the natural sweetness of kabocha squash, which is a perfect counterpoint to the earthy kale and tangy goat cheese in this healthy but indulgent-tasting wrap.
Andrea Nguyen’s Roasted Cauliflower “Wings”
This plant-based version of wings has all of the crisp umami personality of the regular fried chicken version. High-heat roasting gives them their irresistible crunch.
Links We Love
- Roasting can save your sanity on a busy weeknight. It’s the fundamental technique for a successful sheetpan supper. Get our pro tips here.
- Got veg but no plan? Here’s The Kitchn’s guide for roasting any vegetable in any combination. Seriously. Any.
- Battle of celebrity chef roast chicken recipes. Who’s the winner? Get the four famous roasted chicken recipes from The Kitchn (along with the chefs’ roasting tips) and decide for yourself.