Exclusive Recipe from Justine Drake: Curried Root Vegetable Tray Bake

We’re thrilled to feature an exclusive recipe from the amazing Justine Drake in our MOM & WOW Diaries 2026! Each month, we’ll share one of her favourite recipes – simple, wholesome, and perfect for busy days. This month, it’s a Curried Root Vegetable Tray Bake that is cozy, easy, and full of flavour.

It’s the kind of recipe you can make with whatever vegetables you have in your fridge, or if you’re short on time, ready-chopped vegetables work too. Just remember to cook denser vegetables like butternut first if you’re mixing different textures.

Ingredients

• 1 small (about 800g) butternut, peeled and chopped

• 2 onions, peeled and sliced into crescents

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped

• 1 sweet potato, chopped

• 3 regular potatoes, chopped

• 2–3 Tbsp (30–45 ml) curry powder

• 2 tsp (10 ml) freshly grated ginger

• 3 cloves garlic, crushed

• 2 sprigs curry leaves, optional

• Glug olive and seed oil blend

• Salt and milled pepper

• 1 can (400 g) chickpeas, drained

• 1/2 cup (125 ml) Greek yoghurt or coconut milk

• 2 Tbsp (30 ml) chutney

• 3 large handfuls (about 125 g) English spinach

• Fresh coriander

• Rotis or rice to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200 C.

2. Toss vegetables, curry powder, ginger, garlic, curry leaves, and oil in a large roasting pan. If using vegetables with different cooking times, do it in two batches.

3. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and switch oven off.

5. Stir in chickpeas, yoghurt (or coconut milk), chutney, and spinach. Pop back in oven to heat through in residual heat for 5 minutes.

6. Serve with fresh coriander and rotis or rice.

Tips from Justine Drake

• Pre-chopped vegetables are convenient but less nutritious – cutting, storing, and packaging reduce antioxidants and vitamins. Always try to use fresh vegetables that look like vegetables, not unidentifiable chunks of colour.

• Mix textures carefully: denser vegetables like butternut or carrots take longer than softer ones like baby marrow or spinach.

• This dish works beautifully for batch cooking, leftovers taste amazing reheated.

Why We Love This Recipe

Justine’s recipes are practical, wholesome, and full of flavour, which is why we are so excited to share them in our MOM & WOW Diaries 2026. Each recipe is designed to make cooking easier, healthier, and more enjoyable for busy families.

✨ Make it Your Own
Pair this tray bake with your favourite sides, enjoy it for lunch or dinner, or add your own seasonal twists. And don’t forget to share your version with us – we love seeing your creations!

Want more recipes from Justine Drake? Each month we’ll post a new recipe straight from our MOM & WOW Diaries 2026. Check back on our blog and keep cooking with love and joy!