Roasted Winter Vegetable Rice Bowl

Low-Carb Roasted Winter Vegetable Rice Bowl

Getting enough fiber-rich vegetables in your diet during the winter months is hard. There are many different veggies to choose from in spring, summer, and even fall. Come wintertime, it's literal slim pickings.

But not to worry. This sheet pan wonder is the perfect dish for getting more vegetables in your diet. A veggie bowl makes a delicious, healthy meal, and with It's Skinny Rice, you can enjoy it guilt-free! Whip up this simple, yummy, low-carb, roasted winter vegetable rice bowl tonight! Veggie rice bowls will quickly become one of your favorite ways to eat healthy!

All About Winter Veggies

Many of us don’t think of winter as a prime season for vegetables. Tender green peas, asparagus, and leafy lettuces are all out of season. Nightshades like tomatoes, tomatillos, and eggplant are also hard to find in grocery stores. Many of our favorite vegetables are out of season during this time. 

Winter can seem pretty sparse for vegetarians and those just looking for healthy ways to get extra fiber. But let's revisit a few classic winter and fall veggies that make this yummy rice bowl come alive with flavor and satisfaction.

First, we'll start with the humble butternut squash. Squash is high in fiber and has good-for-you antioxidants, including vitamin C and carotenoids. Butternut squash has plenty of vitamin A and other essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium and folate. It's also very low in calories but has a deliciously sweet flavor, making it the perfect go-to winter vegetable.

Another great thing about squash? It keeps for a long time! You can store squash in a cool, dark spot like your pantry for many weeks—sometimes even months. Of course, you can also take the shortcut of buying pre-cut butternut squash cubes in the freezer section of the grocery store.

Squash can be a little challenging to peel and dice, but a serrated vegetable peeler makes it simple. If you have a particularly tough squash, you can poke the skin with a fork and microwave it for 2-3 minutes to soften it slightly. Allow the squash to cool and it will be very easy to peel.

Another winter vegetable we use in this yummy recipe is the turnip. If you aren’t familiar with turnips, don’t be scared! These delicious little root vegetables are easy to work with and really yummy. Turnips are low in calories, and the leaves can be enjoyed along with the root.

Turnips are high in fiber, with calcium, magnesium, vitamin C, and folate. They are mild tasting, with a creamy white flesh that cooks up perfectly and is somewhat reminiscent of a potato.

Finally, in this yummy dish, we also include sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a starchy vegetable that's a little higher in carbohydrates than the other vegetables, but they have a lot of vitamins and nutrition, including vitamins A, C, B6, and manganese. Best of all, sweet potatoes have a small amount of natural sweetness and sugar that really helps them caramelize and rounds out the heartiness of this dish.

It’s Skinny Rice: The Trick to Low-Carb Dinner

While the roasted winter vegetables are the stars of this dish, the low-carb hack is all in the It’s Skinny Rice. If you want to make a yummy, satisfying rice (or pasta) dish, It’s Skinny can get you there guilt-free.

It’s Skinny has zero net carbs and only 9 calories per pack. We know that root vegetables are the star of winter dishes, but a lesser-known root vegetable is also what gives It’s Skinny its incredible stats. It’s Skinny is made of konjac root.

Somewhat turnip and radish-like, konjac has long been popular in Asian countries where it’s used as both food and medicine. But in the Western world, konjac has been under the radar until shirataki noodles arrived on the grocery scene a few years ago.

If you’ve tried “miracle” noodles or shirataki noodles in the past, you might have been a little uncertain about the results. The noodles often come packed in water. They can have a strong, almost fishy smell, a chewy texture, and an off-putting aftertaste. But with It’s Skinny, we’ve perfected the art of shirataki pasta.

Thanks to our formula, It's Skinny pasta and rice is easy to work with, delicious, and simple. The texture is spot-on, and there's no aftertaste (unlike cauliflower rice and spaghetti squash). Flavor-wise, It's Skinny works with your other ingredients just like its traditional counterparts. It takes on the flavors of the sauce, protein, herbs, and veggies for a tasty, satisfying, and company-worthy dish.

So, whether you're new to the shirataki world or have tried it in the past and been disappointed, prepare to have your world rocked by It's Skinny. It's Skinny is ready in three minutes flat. All you do is drain, rinse, and add your noodles or rice to your dish at the end of cooking. It heats through and it's ready to go! There's no rice cooker, no boiling water, no waiting for the perfect al dente texture.

Better still, It's Skinny is perfect for all sorts of lifestyles. It's plant-based/vegan, gluten-free, low-carb, keto, and paleo-friendly. It's kosher. We even have organic varieties in each unbeatable It's Skinny style. Try all the options, including:

• Spaghetti
• Fettuccine
• Angel Hair
• Rice

Remake any carb-forward dish you love with guilt-free and simple It's Skinny. It's the answer to lightening up any and every meal. In fact, It's Skinny has such great stats, that intermittent fasters can enjoy it without breaking their fast! Have a bowl of It's Skinny with some butter and salt, and you'll stay full without cheating!

Athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness buffs love It's Skinny because it's so satisfying. It doesn't weigh you down like traditional carbs. Even if you're the opposite of a gym rat, you'll love It's Skinny. It's the perfect food for getting into swimsuit shape. Get ready for that cruise, vacation, or class reunion with It's Skinny. By spring, you'll hit your weight loss goals and be ready to show it off!

Customizing Recipes with It’s Skinny

In our recipe database, you’ll find all kinds of great ideas for using It’s Skinny products in some of your favorite recipes. Make delicious spaghetti alla Bolognese, fabulous Pad Thai, or a yummy keto-friendly rice pudding. It’s all possible with It’s Skinny! It's Skinny products play well with all of your favorite ingredients. 

We encourage you to experiment in the kitchen, but here are some tips and tricks we've learned for customizing this delicious winter vegetable bowl.

What other vegetables work in this rice bowl?

Butternut squash pairs perfectly with turnip and sweet potato (and you can't beat the sunny colors of this bowl on a dreary day), but we always love adding vegetables to any recipe. If you're looking for a few ideas, we suggest roasting halved Brussels sprouts for a dash of green. Add baby spinach at the end, cooking to wilt.

Cauliflower is another veggie that roasts particularly well in the oven. You could also try chopped red cabbage, beets, or rutabagas. Red onion is a great choice; add a green bell pepper or mini red peppers. Fennel is another yummy option that adds a bit of sweetness to this yummy winter dish. For best results, stick with in-season vegetables if you’re using fresh. If you go with frozen veggies, then there’s no limit to your options!

Are there other herbs and spices that work well here?  

Thyme is an excellent choice because it really complements the squash and turnip. However, there are many choices when it comes to herbs for this recipe. Rosemary would be an excellent option in this dish. Sage would be another perfectly fall-ish selection.

Parsley is a great go-to for any recipe. If you can't find fresh thyme, it's a great swap. Dill would also go well here. You can ramp up the flavors in this meal with a little bit of onion powder, garlic powder, or seasoning salt. Try adding some paprika or even red pepper flakes for a bit of a kick. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar would complement the fresh herbs. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice always brightens things up and will enhance the flavor of the bowls.

Are there other ways to add protein to this vegetable bowl?

Protein is always essential! If you're trying to keep up your protein intake, this power bowl is a great base for your favorite protein option. It would be delicious (and on-point) with leftover turkey. You could add chopped or shredded rotisserie chicken to this dish, too. Diced chicken breasts work in almost any easy weeknight dinner.

As a side dish, veggies, and rice go well with pork chops and even steak. You could also enjoy this meal with a hearty piece of fish like salmon or a tuna steak. Keep it vegetarian with plant-based protein like lentils or black beans (just watch the carbohydrate count, especially if you're following keto).

How to Make Winter Root Vegetables with Low-Carb Rice

If you're ready to whip up a delicious, healthy, vegetable-forward meal, this recipe is it! It's so comforting on a cold day. Start roasting the vegetables, and it's a hands-off meal until the end. No stress meal prep—even on a weeknight! For a vegetarian option, switch out the chicken broth with veggie broth.

Watch Chef Michele whip up this hearty and savory Low Carb Winter Veggie Bowl on the It's Skinny YouTube channel!