Carrots are essential for a Christmas dinner, but simply steaming them in a pan can make them soggy and bland rather than a mouthwatering side dish.
Kathryne Taylor, a cook and founder of Cookie and Kate has shared that steamed carrots are often dull, but if roasted properly they are a “welcome jolt of colour” to a holiday meal.
She said: “Move over, sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts! I have a new favourite vegetable side dish—roasted carrots.
“Like those other vegetables, carrots develop deep, concentrated flavour and golden, caramelised edges as they roast in the oven. So delicious! Carrots are also affordable and easy to keep on hand.”
While roasting carrots may seem basic, it brings out their best qualities. It allows the vegetable’s natural sugars to caramelise, resulting in a richer flavour and a crispier texture.
It is incredibly easy to simply toss carrots in some olive oil and stick them in the oven, but cooking them in a honey butter sauce takes less than five minutes and is the perfect way to elevate them.
Kathryne said: “If you aren’t sold on roasted carrots yet, these honey butter carrots will convert you. They’re sweet and salty and irresistibly buttery.”
How to make honey butter roasted carrots
Ingredients
- Two pounds of carrots
- Two tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
- One tablespoon of unsalted butter
- One tablespoon of honey
- Salt and pepper
- Two teaspoons of chopped chives, green onions, parsley or dill (optional for garnish)
Method
To begin, preheat the oven to 200C and line a large baking sheet with baking paper.
Next, prepare your carrots. Wash and peel them, and then cut them diagonally. Diagonal cuts expose more surface area, so the carrots will caramelise better when cooked.
Place the carrots on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
Toss the carrots until all of them are coated in both the oil and seasoning, then arrange them in a single layer.
Cook the carrots in the oven until the edges are caramelised and they are easily pieced through with a fork, Make sure to toss them halfway through cooking to make sure each side is evenly cooked.
The time it takes to cook the carrots will depend on their size, but they should take 25 to 40 minutes.
Once the carrots are nearly done cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
When the butter finishes melting, cover it with a lid to avoid splattering and continue to let it cook for two more minutes or until you see golden flecks at the bottom.
Then, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the honey.
Take the carrots out of the oven and sprinkle fresh herbs over them if you are using any. Then, pour the honey butter sauce over them, and your tasty carrots will be ready to serve.
