Herb-Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables with Goat Cheese

Herb-Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables with Goat Cheese

Mia

This vibrant Herb-Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables with Goat Cheese is a celebration of the sun-drenched flavors that define Mediterranean cuisine. Drawing inspiration from the rustic kitchens of Greece, Italy, and Southern France, this dish transforms humble seasonal vegetables into a stunning centerpiece worthy of any dinner table. The combination of zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and red onions creates a rainbow of colors while offering a variety of textures and natural sweetness that intensifies during roasting.

The magic happens in the oven, where high heat caramelizes the vegetables' natural sugars, creating crispy, golden edges while maintaining tender interiors. Fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme infuse every bite with aromatic complexity, while garlic adds its signature pungency. A generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil—a cornerstone of Mediterranean cooking—helps achieve that perfect roasted texture while contributing heart-healthy fats.

The crowning glory is the tangy goat cheese, which melts slightly when added to the warm vegetables, creating creamy pockets throughout the dish. Its bright, acidic notes perfectly balance the sweet, caramelized vegetables. A final sprinkle of fresh basil and a squeeze of lemon juice add brightness and freshness that tie everything together.

This recipe embodies the Mediterranean Diet's principles: plant-forward eating, quality olive oil, fresh herbs, and minimal processing. It's versatile enough to serve as a satisfying vegetarian main course, a hearty side dish, or even tossed with pasta or quinoa for added substance. Best of all, it's naturally gluten-free and can be prepared largely hands-off while the oven does the work.

Mia

Mia

Recipe Author: Welcome to Mia's Kitchen, where every recipe is plant-forward, anti-inflammatory, and full of flavor. Her meals make it easy to eat well, support gut health, and enjoy balanced, wholesome cooking at home.

Nutrition

50 minutes
None servings
245 calories
Fat 17.00g
Carbs 18.00g
Protein 8.00g

Ingredients

2 mediumzucchini, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 largered bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 largeyellow bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cupscherry tomatoes, halved
1 largered onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
1 mediumeggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
4 clovesgarlic cloves, minced
1/4 cupextra virgin olive oil
2 tspfresh rosemary, chopped
1 tbspfresh thyme, chopped
1 tspkosher salt
1/2 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
4 ozgoat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cupfresh basil, torn or chopped
1 mediumlemon, cut into wedges
1/4 tspred pepper flakes (optional)

Equipment

Cutting board
measuring spoons
measuring cups
wooden spoon or spatula
large mixing bowl
chef's knife
serving platter
large rimmed baking sheet
Second baking sheet

16:8 Diet

This recipe is excellent for the 16:8 eating window, providing nutrient-dense vegetables, healthy fats from olive oil, and protein from goat cheese that offer sustained energy and satiety. The fiber-rich vegetables and balanced macronutrients help maintain fullness during the fasting period.

80/20 Diet

This recipe perfectly fits the 80/20 principle with 100% of its ingredients being nutrient-dense whole foods: fresh vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, herbs, and goat cheese. It's anti-inflammatory, high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, with no processed components.

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

This recipe is excellent for an anti-inflammatory diet, featuring colorful antioxidant-rich vegetables, extra virgin olive oil with anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-inflammatory herbs like rosemary, thyme, and garlic. It avoids all processed foods, refined sugars, and inflammatory oils.

Clean Eating

This recipe exemplifies clean eating with its use of whole, unprocessed ingredients in their natural state: fresh vegetables, extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, and minimal processing. Every ingredient is recognizable and free from artificial additives, preservatives, or refined components.

Flexitarian Diet

This recipe exemplifies flexitarian eating with its plant-based foundation of roasted vegetables as the star, while including a small amount of goat cheese as a supporting ingredient for flavor and protein. The emphasis is clearly on whole, minimally processed plant foods.

Gluten-Free Diet

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, containing only fresh vegetables, olive oil, herbs, and goat cheese—all of which are free from wheat, barley, rye, and gluten-containing grains. It's a safe and delicious option for those avoiding gluten.

Heart-Healthy Diet

This recipe is heart-healthy with its emphasis on vegetables, extra virgin olive oil (rich in monounsaturated fats), and minimal saturated fat. The abundance of fiber, antioxidants, and heart-protective compounds from colorful vegetables supports cardiovascular health.

Intermittent Fasting

This nutrient-dense recipe is ideal for eating windows during intermittent fasting, providing sustained energy from complex carbohydrates in vegetables, healthy fats from olive oil, and protein from goat cheese. The high fiber content and balanced macronutrients help maintain satiety throughout fasting periods.

Intuitive Eating

This recipe supports intuitive eating principles by offering a satisfying, flavorful dish that honors both taste preferences and gentle nutrition. It provides variety in colors, textures, and flavors while being naturally nourishing, without restrictive language or guilt-inducing messaging.

Mediterranean Diet

This recipe is a quintessential Mediterranean dish that emphasizes extra virgin olive oil, abundant vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, onion), fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil), and moderate dairy from goat cheese. It perfectly embodies the Mediterranean Diet's principles of plant-forward eating with minimal processing and heart-healthy fats.

Mindful Eating

This recipe is ideal for mindful eating with its vibrant colors, varied textures (crispy edges and tender interiors), and aromatic herbs that engage multiple senses. The whole food ingredients and simple preparation encourage slow, conscious consumption and sensory appreciation.

Plant-Based Diet

This recipe is plant-based compliant when the goat cheese is omitted or replaced with a plant-based alternative. The dish showcases a rainbow of vegetables, whole food ingredients, and healthy fats from olive oil, making it a nutrient-rich plant-forward meal.

Vegan Diet

This recipe becomes fully vegan by simply omitting the goat cheese or substituting it with cashew cheese or nutritional yeast. The base recipe features exclusively plant-based whole foods including diverse vegetables, olive oil, and fresh herbs.

Vegetarian Diet

This recipe is perfectly vegetarian, featuring no meat, poultry, or fish while providing protein from goat cheese and fiber from abundant vegetables. It's a satisfying meatless meal that can serve as a main course or hearty side dish.

Weight Watchers

This recipe aligns with Weight Watchers principles by prioritizing non-starchy vegetables as the main component, using minimal added fats (olive oil in moderation), and incorporating a small amount of cheese for flavor. The dish is naturally low in calories while being filling and nutrient-dense.

Instructions

1

Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and position the rack in the middle of the oven.

2

Prepare all the vegetables by cutting the zucchini into 1-inch chunks, both bell peppers into 1-inch pieces, halving the cherry tomatoes, cutting the red onion into 1-inch wedges, and cubing the eggplant into 1-inch pieces.

10 min
3

Mince the garlic cloves finely and chop the fresh rosemary and thyme.

2 min
4

Place all the cut vegetables in a large mixing bowl. Add the minced garlic, chopped rosemary, and thyme.

1 min
5

Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables, then sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Add red pepper flakes if using. Toss everything together thoroughly with your hands or a large spoon until all vegetables are evenly coated with oil and seasonings.

2 min
6

Spread the seasoned vegetables in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Make sure vegetables aren't overcrowded—use two baking sheets if necessary to ensure proper roasting and caramelization.

1 min
7

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast for 30-35 minutes, stirring the vegetables halfway through cooking at the 15-minute mark. The vegetables should be tender and caramelized with golden-brown edges.

35 min
8

Remove the roasted vegetables from the oven and let them rest for 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a large serving platter or bowl.

3 min
9

While the vegetables are still warm, crumble the goat cheese over the top, distributing it evenly across the dish. The residual heat will slightly soften the cheese.

1 min
10

Sprinkle the fresh basil over the vegetables and goat cheese. Serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing over individual portions.

Frequently Asked Questions