Tray bake with pickled beetroot eggs

Sharing a NEW summer recipe created by Georgia McDermott (@georgeats), author of FODMAP Friendly, for Australian Eggs. The tray bake is designed to help Aussie families make the most of their leftover veggies

The colourful pesto and roasted vegetable tray bake with eggs is a great way to feed the whole family and is packed full of protein, fibre, antioxidants and important vitamins – perfect for lunch or dinner.

What are the nutritional benefits of eggs?

Eggs have long been controversial as a result of their high cholesterol content, however it is now widely accepted that cholesterol containing foods do not have a significant impact on blood cholesterol in most people. In fact, contrary to previous opinion that eggs should be off the menu for anyone with heart disease, it is now considered that the omega 3 content, as well as overall nutritional profile, make eggs beneficial for heart health., remembering that we advocate variety, so not every day.

Eggs are also known for their high protein count.  In fact, eggs are not only a complete protein food (meaning containing all essential amino acids) but also contain the highest level of bioavailable protein, meaning the amount of protein which is actually absorbed by the body. 

Eggs are very nutrient dense, with nutrients spread between yolk and white, supporting the view that for the majority of cases, the whole food is preferable.

For the beetroot pickled eggs

4-6 700g eggs
1 large fresh beetroot (about 150g)
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups water

Method

FOR THE BEETROOT PICKLED EGGS

1. Hard boil the eggs in their shells, and set aside to cool.
2. Grate the beetroot into a small saucepan (skin and all) and add the remaining ingredients for the pickle. Place the saucepan over a medium high heat, and allow to cook until the mixture is bubbling and has a vibrant pink colour.
3. Sterilize a jar to hold the eggs by washing it thoroughly in hot soapy water, and then placing it in a 110 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Ensure there are no plastic components and no cracks in the glass. If you’ve never sterilized glasses before, make sure you Google best practice first.
4. While the jar is sterilizing, peel the cooled eggs and place them into the beetroot liquid to begin picking. I don’t strain or discard the beetroot – it continues to add a deep colour to the eggs, and can be eaten afterwards – it tastes just like tinned beetroot.
5. Once the jar is thoroughly cool (if you place colder items in hot jars they will shatter, so don’t risk it!) pour the eggs, pickling liquid and beetroot gently into the jar. If the top egg is not covered in liquid, add some water until it is just covered. Leave the eggs in the pickling liquid for as long as you like – at least overnight is ideal to develop some colour. The eggs in the photo have been pickled for 3 or so days, hence their beautiful strong colour.

FOR THE PESTO:

1. Combine all the ingredients for the pesto in your food processor until it is blended to your liking. Adjust the pesto for salt, lemon, and your desired consistency – add more olive oil for a runnier pesto.

FOR THE VEGETABLES:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
   Chop the pumpkin and potatoes into small-ish bite sized pieces, and place them on a lined baking tray with 25g of butter blobbed evenly around the tray.
2. Generously sprinkle with sea salt, drizzle over 1/2 tablespoon of honey if you’re using it, and once the oven is ready, place them in for 20 minutes.
3. While the potatoes have started cooking, chop and arrange the zucchini on a lined baking tray. Follow this with washed Dutch baby carrots, butter, sea salt and remaining honey, if you’re using it.
4. Place these into the oven, along with your potatoes and pumpkin, for an additional 20-40 minutes, depending on how brown you like your vegetables.
5. Once the vegetables are done, I like to turn the grill on, and finish them with the oven door slightly ajar. This allows the steam to escape, creating a crispier, crunchier finish.
6. Once the veggies are done, remove them from the oven, and place the tomatoes underneath the grill for a couple of minutes. I like them very lightly cooked but starting to blister on top. Adjust the timing based on your preference.
7. To assemble, transfer all the vegetables onto the same tray or plate, and toss the handful of greens gently through the hot vegetables, allowing them to wilt slightly. Add generous blobs of pesto, additional seasoning (even an extra drizzle of honey) and your eggs of choice. If you are frying eggs, heat a non-stick frypan over a medium high heat, and add a knob of butter or oil olive. I like to season the cooking fat (with sea salt and pepper) so that both sides of the egg are crispy and salty.
8. Cook each egg to your liking, slide onto the tray, and serve.