Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. -Jim Davis, creator of Garfield
Vegetables may not sound all that exciting when you’re thinking about dinner recipes, but trust us - you really should be collecting and making as many carrot recipes as you can! You can do so much more with carrots than the soggy, steamed version you’ve avoided since you were a kid; all it takes is a little time in the kitchen and a good set of recipes to choose from.
But why carrots? Well, carrots are super healthy for you - they’re full of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron, along with lesser amounts of fiber, vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, vitamin E and zinc. They’re also full of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that some believe helps reduce cancer risks and which turns into vitamin A during digestion. Along with the health benefits, carrots are about to be in season (autumn) and will be in season again during the spring, and they keep well, meaning carrots are often available and fairly fresh. Not to mention delicious, on their own or in a prepared dish! So whether you’re already a carrot-aficionado or you’re just learning to love them, whip up any of these recipes and prepare to amaze your friends and family (and, potentially, yourself).
Glazed Grilled Carrots
If you can’t bear to put away the grill yet, why not take the carrots out with you? Try this summery side dish with your grilled burgers.
- Yield: 4 servings
- Time: 35 minutes
- Taste: sweet, tangy, and a little smokey
- Recipe: Glazed Grilled Carrots
Heart Carrots and Hummus
Ok, so not really a recipe, but who could resist these heart-shaped carrots?? Try them with this hummus recipe, or add these to a chicken noodle or other soup.
- Yield: as many pieces as carrots you have
- Time: 5 minutes
- Taste: fresh, crunchy, carroty goodness
- Method: Cut Your Carrots Into Hearts
Carrot Ginger Soup
Carrot ginger soup is a delicious, warming soup for the first chilly nights of autumn weather. Serve with your favorite rustic bread!
- Yield: 4 servings
- Time: 50 minutes
- Taste: bright, sweet with a little zest
- Recipe: Carrot Ginger Soup
Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Did you know that not all carrots are orange? Rainbow carrots are not only delicious but make for a beautiful dish with colors like purple, white, and yellow. You can often find rainbow carrots at farmers’ markets or even sometimes in your produce section.
- Yield: 6 servings
- Time: 45 minutes
- Taste: sweet and savory, with a little ginger bite
- Recipe: Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Ginger
Pumpkin Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
We couldn’t possibly create a collection of carrot recipes without including our favorite - anything that involved carrot cake! This recipe for pumpkin carrot cake cupcakes with a maple cream cheese frosting makes the perfects sweets to welcome the fall season. You can make a full cake rather than cupcakes, if you feel so inclined.
- Yield: 18 cupcakes
- Time: 1 hour
- Taste: sweet and moist cake, with tastes of pumpkin and maple
- Recipe: Pumpkin Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
