Maple Roasted Baby Carrots dressed with Carrot Top Pesto make a delicious sweet and savory side dish that complements any meal. This is a great recipe to have handy during the holiday season.
And with this post my tale or series of recipes made with homegrown produce concludes. As you may recall, it all started this summer while we were housesitting for my parents, who are avid gardeners.
I was a little behind with thinning out the newly sprouting root vegetables. I didn't want to throw them all out, so I started experimenting with ways to cook the greens I had pulled from the garden.
This resulted in yummy, garlicky sautéed beet greens and this delicious carrot top pesto. The newly sprouted carrot plants already had some super cute baby carrots attached (like I said I was a little behind), which of course I had to use as well.
Now, you don't have to use garden fresh produce for this glazed baby carrots recipe. Boy, that would mean you could only make it during a very short time frame each year. Which would be very sad.
No, you certainly can use bagged baby carrots, or full-grown carrots cut into spears or slices - whichever you prefer. Alright, now that we have the type of veggies covered, let's get on to how to roast carrots. This roasted carrots recipe is really super easy.
Last year, I made a honey glazed carrots and sweet potatoes side dish. But for these baked carrots I wanted a simple maple glaze.
You don't even need a separate bowl for the glaze. Just place your carrots onto a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil and maple syrup.
Then sprinkle on the seasoning. Use salt and pepper to taste and one other spice according to your preference or mood. Sometimes I use cinnamon for something almost like candied carrots. If I am in a spicy mood I use chili or cayenne, or cumin for more oriental-savory flavored glazed carrots.
Toss around to combine, spread out and roast in the oven. Toss once more halfway through roasting and done. Simple as that!
I am giving a ballpark time estimate of 25 minutes roasting time, but it will depend on the size and cut of carrots you use. And also on your texture preference. We like our roasted vegetables rather soft, while others prefer a little more bite or crunch.
I am using a similar approach when making my Roasted Green Beans.
After roasting, drizzle with pesto as the finishing touch. You can use any pesto you have or prefer, but I - very fittingly for a glazed carrots recipe - used this carrot top pesto. This vegan pesto would also be delicious.
Serve these as carrot side dish for any meal you want. They are also great as warm or cold salad toppers.
This maple roasted carrot recipe is perfect, if you end up on side dish duty for any of the upcoming holiday dinners. Sorry, I am posting this a few days too late for Canadian Thanksgiving this year, but I am sure you have plenty of other holiday dinners to attend still.
Common Questions
Parboiling carrots before roasting helps to soften them slightly and reduce the roasting time. It ensures that the carrots are cooked evenly and allows for better absorption of the glaze or seasoning.
The number of calories in maple-glazed carrots can vary depending on the serving size and the amount of maple syrup used. On average, a 1-cup serving of roasted carrots with maple glaze contains about 80-100 calories.
Consider incorporating them into various dishes, such as salads, soups, or roasted vegetable medleys. You can also use them as healthy snacks with dips or turn them into delicious side dishes like maple roasted baby carrots.
Tough roasted carrots may be a result of undercooking or roasting them at too high a temperature. Ensure that the carrots are properly parboiled before roasting and that the oven temperature is suitable for achieving the desired tenderness.
Yes, baby carrots are typically smaller and more tender than regular carrots. They are often shaped from larger carrots into bite-sized pieces, making them convenient for snacking and cooking.
Whether or not you should peel carrots before roasting depends on personal preference and the type of carrots you're using. For baby carrots or young, tender carrots, peeling may not be necessary. However, with larger, more mature carrots, peeling can improve the texture and appearance.
Baby carrots are often sold pre-peeled, making them convenient for snacking and cooking. However, whether you peel them further is a matter of preference. Some may choose to peel them for a more refined appearance, while others leave the peel on for added texture and nutrients.
Cooking the carrots before roasting, also known as parboiling, is important to partially soften them. This ensures that the carrots are fully cooked and tender after roasting, and it allows them to absorb the flavors of the glaze or seasoning for a delicious taste. Parboiling also helps reduce the overall roasting time.
Recipe
Maple Roasted Baby Carrots with Pesto
Ingredients
- ¾ pound baby carrots
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground spice of choice depending on mood I use cinnamon, cayenne, cumin, etc.
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- pesto to drizzle on top I used this homemade carrot top pesto
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425° F.
- Place the baby carrots on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and maple syrup. Sprinkle with spice of choice, salt and pepper.
- Toss everything to combine, then spread out and roast for about 25 minutes to desired doneness. Shake the sheet about halfway through to turn/flip the carrots.
- Drizzle the hot baby carrots with pesto and serve as side dish with your meal.
- Leftovers make great lunch salad toppers.
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Products I used for this Maple Roasted Baby Carrots Recipe:
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