Copper Penny Roasted Vegetables (Printer View)

Warm layers of roasted sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots, cheddar, and toasted pecans in copper ramekins.

# What you'll need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
06 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Fruits & Nuts

07 - ½ cup dried apricots, sliced
08 - ½ cup pecan halves, lightly toasted

→ Cheese

09 - 1 cup aged cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

→ Garnish

10 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped (optional)

# Method:

01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F and allow it to reach temperature.
02 - In a large bowl, toss sweet potato and carrot slices with olive oil, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange sweet potato and carrot slices in overlapping layers inside four copper ramekins, alternating with dried apricot slices and pecan halves.
04 - Cover ramekins loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
05 - Remove foil, evenly top each ramekin with grated aged cheddar, then bake an additional 5 minutes until cheese melts and browns slightly.
06 - Allow ramekins to cool briefly before garnishing with chopped fresh chives; serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks far more complicated than it actually is, making you feel like a culinary genius when friends ask for the recipe
  • The natural sweetness of the roasted vegetables and apricots means you don't need any added sugar, just pure comfort
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, but feels like you've been cooking all day
02 -
  • Don't skip the foil covering step. I learned this the hard way when my vegetables dried out and the cheese browned too quickly. The foil traps steam and ensures the vegetables soften while the cheese stays creamy.
  • Slice your vegetables consistently thin. Uneven slices mean uneven cooking, and you'll end up with some hard pieces mixed with overcooked soft ones. A mandoline is your friend here if you have one.
  • The aged cheddar really does make a difference. Younger cheeses won't have the same depth and may become greasy rather than creating that beautiful golden top.
03 -
  • Toast your own pecans instead of buying pre-toasted. Raw pecans take just 5 minutes in a 350°F oven and the difference in flavor is remarkable—deeper, more complex, more alive.
  • Use a sharp knife or mandoline to slice vegetables consistently. Uneven slices are the enemy. Consistent thickness means consistent cooking and even more beautiful layers.
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