According to new research by Compare the Market, 27% of UK adults think about sorting out their life admin when picturing a productive Sunday morning. But when it comes down to real priorities, 34% admit that prepping a Sunday roast might take precedence. Who, after all, doesn’t love a Sunday roast? But why not take on both?
This spring, Compare the Market launched Sunday Switch – an initiative to show everyone just how easy it is to switch energy. The people at Compare the Market believe the average person will find out how much they could be saving in just two minutes. Once that’s all sorted, you can move on to getting that roast ready! Here are five simple sides to accompany the ultimate Sunday roast.
Green beans and asparagus
This super-easy recipe really brings some freshness to your table, says food blogger Meliz Berg.
200g fine green beans
125g fine asparagus
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
The juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper
A few fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
1 Bring a large pan of water to a gentle boil, then add the veg and cook for four minutes.
2 Drain immediately and run a little cold water over them to stop the cooking.
3 Drizzle over the oil and lemon juice, add the mint leaves, season well and gently stir.
4 Serve.
Charred broccoli
We’ve found this recipe converts even the most die-hard broccoli haters. Don’t be fooled into thinking your broccoli’s burnt; those dark, charred, crispy bits are what make it divine.
A head of broccoli
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 Chop the broccoli into small florets and little batons of stalk. Discard the woody bits (or save for a broccoli and stilton soup).
2 Toss the broccoli in oil, and add a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
3 Spread over a large baking tray, and roast for 25 minutes on 180°C/350F/gas 4.
4 Serve.
Roasted glazed carrots
The humble carrot can be seen as a bland, boiled disc of disappointment. Not any more. This recipe will make your carrots sing.
6 thick carrots
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and white pepper
1 tsp of honey
1 Slice the tops and ends off your carrots. No need to peel.
2 Boil whole for approximately 10-15 minutes, so they soften slightly. Then drain.
3 Toss with the olive oil, honey, salt and white pepper.
4 Spread evenly in a roasting dish, and cook for 35 minutes on 180°C/350F/gas 4.
5 Serve.
Killer roasties
This is a foolproof recipe for crunchy, golden, crowd-pleasing roast potatoes. Feel free to jazz them up by throwing in a few stems of rosemary, especially if you’re cooking lamb.
1kg maris piper or red-skinned potatoes
1 tbsp onion granules
Salt and white pepper
3 tbsp light olive oil
1 Peel and cut up your potatoes (to roughly the size of a golf ball).
2 Place the spuds in a large saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to the boil for 5-10 minutes. You know they’re done when you can just slide a knife in.
3 Drain your potatoes in a colander and shake them about, so the outsides rough up.
4 Put the potatoes back into the pan you boiled them in, add the light olive oil, onion granules, and a generous helping of salt and white pepper. Toss with a lid on, so the potatoes get coated in seasoning.
5 Empty your potatoes on to a baking tray, making sure they’re not touching or overcrowded, and roast at 180C/350F/gas 4 for 45 minutes.
6 Serve.
Yorkshire puds
It wouldn’t be a proper roast without a yorkshire pudding, and homemade yorkies are super-impressive – to watch them rise is to witness a thing of beauty. For best results, make this mixture early afternoon, as there’s a little standing time required.
8 tbsp plain flour
Pinch of salt
2 beaten eggs
100ml cold water
100ml milk
Sunflower oil for greasing
1 Place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl, and whisk together until smooth.
2 Leave to stand for 1 hour.
3 Preheat your oven to high – around 230C/450F/gas 8.
4 Grease a four- to eight-hole muffin tin (or make giant yorkshires using a deep baking dish) and place in the oven, so the fat gets super-hot.
5 Divide your mix into the tin and cook for 15-20 minutes if using a muffin tin, or 25-30 minutes if making giant yorkies.
6 Serve.
Compare the Market’s #SundaySwitch is a nationwide initiative to show people how easy it is to switch energy with comparethemarket.com. Why not find a few spare minutes this Sunday to see how much you could save? T&Cs apply
