How to make vegetables the centrepiece of your Sunday Lunch

You might be used to have plates of meats and spring lamb on the table for your Sunday lunch, making the vegetables more of a necessity than anything else.

Boil a few carrots and broccoli and you’re good to go, right?

What if you knew more creative and delicious ways to make vegetables the centrepiece of your Sunday spread? Would you and your family be more inclined to get them a go?

Here are 10 simple spring themed veg dishes that will have you diving for more.

1.     Roasted root vegetables

This is so simple; get yourself potatoes, parsnips, sweet potatoes, butternut squash or any other root vegetables you can get your hands on and chop into chunks.

Cover in olive oil, mixed herbs and roast in the oven until crispy and golden. The mix of sweet and savoury flavours together will really work for this dish!

2.     Marinated cauliflower

Cauliflowers may look white and plain, but they can punch a big flavour and make a great centrepiece if done right.

Perhaps marinade in turmeric or paprika, a good twist of salt and pepper and roast in the oven for around 20 minutes. Delicious!

3.     Baked aubergines

Versatile, sweet and quick. Slice an aubergine (or eggplant) in half; score the middle and season with soya sauce and honey, or garlic and chilli.

Cover in olive oil and bake in the oven for around 20 minutes. You can even add a bit of cheese to melt if you fancy!

4.     Lime and chilli broccoli

Tender stem broccoli works best for this. Simply squeeze lemon juice and chopped fresh chilli into a bowl and dress the raw broccoli.

To cook the dressed veg, either roast in the oven or sauté in a pan. Add a squeeze of lime to the dish afterwards.

5.     Sweet potato and turmeric mash

A Middle East twist on a homely mash!

Steam your sweet potatoes, before mashing with a creamy butter or spread. Add a pinch of turmeric and mash until smooth. Add a little black pepper to make sure you absorb the turmeric goodness!

6.     Courgette fritters

Essentially a courgette patty. Grate up a courgette, add some paprika, season and then mix with a small amount of plain flour to bind.

Mix together and form burger shaped patties. Fry in a pan with some olive oil until crispy and browning on both sides. Serve with a little chilli relish for a kick.

7.     Tomato and sweet corn salsa

A refreshing side or dip – just mix together plum tomatoes with sweetcorn, olive oil, lime juice, seasoning and fresh coriander.

8.     Cheesy broccoli and cauliflower

A classic but a crowd pleaser!

Combine broccoli and cauliflower in your cheesy bake for a different twist.

9.     Maple syrup carrots

A sweet twist on your boiled carrots. Marinade in seasoning, a small amount of maple syrup and garlic and roast in the oven.

Will you ever boil carrots again?

10.     New potato salad

All you need for a gorgeous warm potato salad is new potatoes, olive oil, roasted garlic, chives and pumpkin seeds. Mix together and enjoy!