17 Veggie-Packed Dinner Recipes to Welcome Dutch Oven Season (2024)

FAQs

Can you roast vegetables in a Dutch oven? ›

Lightly oil or spray dutch oven. Place all vegetables in prepared oven, drizzle with olive oil; add garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper and toss to coat. Roast at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until vegetables are tender and browned, stirring once.

On the stovetop

Place a steamer basket in a large saucepan or Dutch oven with about an inch of water, so that it comes almost up to the steamer basket but not past it. Bring the water up to a boil, add your vegetables to the steamer basket, cover and steam until crisp-tender.

But one of the wonderful things about a Dutch oven is that because it's cast iron, you can get it smoking hot on the stovetop and brown your meat directly in it, then add your liquid (after draining off any excess fat) and other ingredients, cover it, lower the heat and continue braising at a low temperature.

This Dutch oven tip applies more to a seasoned cast iron Dutch oven than one with an enamel coating, but every Dutch oven user should be aware nonetheless: When you cook acidic ingredients—like tomatoes, wine-based sauces, and citrus—for longer than 30 minutes, the protective coating built up on the cast iron starts to ...

Not every roastable vegetable will have the same cooking time, but for those that do, this is no problem. From time to time I cook 'roasted roots' all together in one tray. Chop potatoes, onions, carrots, swede, parsnip, celeriac, turnip, leeks, celery or any combination, into equally sized pieces.

Veg to avoid steaming:

Any large chunks of hard veg, such as potatoes, squash or celeriac.

Why steaming is healthier than baking. If you're looking to get the most possible nutrients out of the veggies you're eating, Davis says steaming is the way to go. "Steaming is a healthier way to cook vegetables," she says.

Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, asparagus, artichokes, zucchini and green beans are great choices because they're sturdier and won't turn to mush too easily. Leafy greens — baby bok choy, spinach and Chinese broccoli — also steam up nicely but take less time.

A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven. It can also be used for soup and more simple tasks like boiling pasta. It's often used to make bread as well.

What is a good use for a Dutch oven and why? ›

Dutch Oven Uses

Soups and stews: Dutch ovens are ideal for cooking things low and slow, which makes them perfect for hearty soups and stews. And they're typically generously sized, which means they can hold a lot of liquid.

Because enameled Dutch ovens are typically made out of cast iron, they can get scorching hot and retain that heat well, meaning they're great for searing all kinds of foods, including meats and veggies. A Dutch oven can stand in for a deep fryer when you need a large amount of oil.

Haring or 'Hollandse Nieuwe' (Dutch new herring) is probably the most famous Dutch food. If you like fish you should at least try it once. The raw herring is served together with chopped raw onions and gherkins.