Carrots, you have to love them! They can be enjoyed raw, baked, grilled, pureed, stewed , juiced – oh yes, in cakes and so much more. They contain betacarotene and fibre. Wait – putting my science hat on, the betacarotene – is converted to vitamin A, and is attributable to healthy skin and may protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease. I’m not a scientist (phew, glad that i took that hat off, damn near put myself to sleep!) so that’s as much as I will say from a scientific perspective. Read up on additional health benefits from reputable websites or better yet, ask your local dietitian. Most grocery stores have in-store dietitians and they are just waiting to see you and answer any questions you have about healthy eating.
They come in all kinds of colors nowadays – purple, yellow, red, white and of course orange. I love the colored ones especially when doing a more formal style dinner or buffet. They look terrific. But be careful if you buy the colored ones, they do lose their color if blanched or parboiled. Best way for them to retain color is to bake, roast or steam them.
With this recipe, you have a great side dish. Roasted Carrots with Maple Tahini drizzle. The drizzle can also be used as a dipping sauce for other raw vegetables or salads. My love for tahini and maple syrup is reflected in this recipe. This is a simple, super tasty and great way to enjoy carrots or any other type of vegetable, raw or cooked. As always – enjoy!
2 lbs whole carrots, multi-colored or just one color, preferably whole with an inch of greenery
2 tbsp. olive oil
Salt/pepper to taste
For the drizzle
1/3 cup tahini
2 – 4 tbsp. water
1 tbsp. maple syrup
Salt/pepper to taste
1 lemon, zested and juiced
Heat your oven to 350f
Place carrots on a rimmed parchment lined baking tray
Pour olive oil, salt and pepper – toss to coat evenly
Roast in the oven for 20 – 30 minutes (yes that is a wide band but carrots vary in thickness and size so test at 20 minutes and gage how much additional time is needed, check every 5 minutes) – they should have a slight bite to them
In the meantime, make the drizzle
Combine all ingredients – taste and adjust seasoning – salt, pepper, water if too thick – set aside
Remove from the oven, place on a platter and drizzle the tahini maple sauce over the carrots
Serve immediately
