This trick for roasting carrots is a total game changer and will get the best results on your plate each and every time – and it shows many people may have been doing it wrong altogether
Roasted carrots are an impeccable side dish – whether that’s for a cosy weeknight tea, as part of a larger Sunday roast, or a grand christmas-dinner>Christmas dinner. When you get this dish right, there is nothing quite like it, but when it ends up on your plate not quite right, it can be a serious disappointment.
Carrots are well worth incorporating into your weekly meal plans, and roasting them is one of the most delicious ways you can enjoy them because they come with a lot of health benefits. They are an important source of carotenoids, which play a crucial role in keeping up a healthy immune system and eyesight, the root vegetable is also rich in fibre, and is said to support heart health and potentially lower cholesterol levels.
There are a couple of common mistakes people make when roasting up their carrots. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is overcrowding your roasting dish – which can leave you with soggy, unpleasant, and unevenly cooked carrots. This is because too many in the pan can stop the hot air in your oven from circulating properly throughout the veggies, stopping their outsides from crisping up and causing the internal parts to cook at different paces – leaving some hard and other bits soggy.
As explained in Mashed “Crowding the pan impedes air circulation, and the trapped steam can make the carrots soggy instead of achieving the desired roasted texture. But roasting isn’t just about cooking the vegetables; it’s also about achieving caramelization on the surface for enhanced flavor. Crowding the pan can prevent proper caramelization due to the moisture released by the vegetables.”
There is a simple fix for this one though – all you need to do is ensure that your carrots are in one single layer across the pan and that they aren’t touching, making sure that air gets to every part of the carrots. You should also make sure that you turn the carrots during the roasting process too, to ensure every side of them is deliciously caramelised and crispy.
Don’t forget to season your carrots when roasting them to enhance their naturally sweet flavour, fresh dill or coriander are great options, as are rosemary and thyme. Honey-roasted carrots are also a delicious option, and adding some lemon juice into the mix will help offset the sweet flavours.
If you are opting to roast your carrots whole then bear in mind that they will take longer to cook then if you have chopped them into halves, sticks, or rounds.
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