An Ode to the Oven — Sensational Sides

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Food Styling: Jamie Kimm
Prop Styling: Marina Malchin

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Food Styling: Jamie Kimm Prop Styling: Marina Malchin

Think about it — your oven has done a lot for you this season. It’s seen pies and casseroles, pot roasts and big birds. It’s gotten you through holidays and frosty nights. Let’s not even mention all the cookies and cakes. But soon enough, you’ll be trading your boots for shorts and your oven for the grill. It’s just how the cycle goes.

This week, as you get your hands on some of that fresh spring produce, keep that faithful oven of yours in mind. It roasts veggie after veggie to sheer perfection, making certain your sides are simply sensational.

When asparagus meets the oven, it doesn’t need much else. Food Network Magazine’s pristine Roasted Asparagus calls upon nothing more than toasted pine nuts and lemon to accentuate its earthy flavors. Ina Garten’s Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, on the other hand, is luxurious and the perfect mate to a sumptuous steak.

Food stylist: Cyd McDowell
Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

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Food stylist: Cyd McDowell Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

Photo by: Antonis Achilleos Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin 917 751 2855

Antonis Achilleos Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin 917 751 2855

Though Roasted Carrots may scream fall, this recipe by Food Network Magazine uses lemon, red onion, cilantro and spices to inject a seasonal flair.

Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm
Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks

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Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks

Photo by: Christopher Testani

Christopher Testani

Add a dose of green for Roasted Carrots and Peas , ensuring that the vibrancy of the season shines through. Here's a good tip: It’s a good idea to parboil hard veggies like carrots so the finished product comes down without a crunch.

Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell 
Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks

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Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks

Photo by: Yunhee Kim

Yunhee Kim

Nate Appleman’s Roasted Green Beans With Pancetta and Yogurt for Food Network Magazine will undoubtedly impress at any dinner party, while Bobby Flay’s Garlic-Roasted Green Beans With Shallots and Hazelnuts can serve as a side for any night of the week.

Even though Ina Garten’s Roasted Artichoke Salad calls for the frozen stuff, use fresh, in-season artichokes for a salad that’s brimming with Mediterranean goodness.

Roasted Fennel With Tomatoes

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Food stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Marina Malchin

Photo by: Antonis Achilleos

Antonis Achilleos

Fennel is at its peak from early autumn to spring, so now is the time to get it on the table. Food Network Magazine’s Roasted Fennel With Tomatoes (pictured above) fuses the bulb’s licorice-like quality with grape tomatoes literally bursting with sweetness. As a side, this recipe is super fresh and capable of doing any protein justice.

Preheat those ovens and get roasting!

More roasted side dish recipes from friends and family:

Virtually Homemade: Grilled Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

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