As holiday meal planning commences, vegetables tend to be near to last on a long list of must-haves. But what if you could make the veggie on your menu something special, so it isn’t just like a dish you might serve any other night of the year? Here’s one answer — our dressed-up version of a dinner-table mainstay: carrots. These gorgeous carrots are roasted with flavorful Indian spices, drizzled with a creamy dressing, then topped off with toasted, chopped walnuts and parsley.
There’s no question whether you should serve vegetable side dishes such as roasted carrots — especially when they supply so many healthful benefits. It’s just a matter of how to prepare them.
Whether boiled, steamed or roasted, carrots add a delicious and beautiful splash of color to a holiday table — especially if you can find multicolored heirloom carrots as we used here! Just by adding some unique flavoring, you can make them the talk of the table! We spiced them up with both cumin and coriander — two aromatic spices that have been used in India for centuries. More: Best basic glazed carrots plus 15 ingenious variations
This recipe also brings a bit of crunch to roasted carrots with a sprinkling of toasted walnuts. The mix of warm spices and creamy dressing make this a must-make dish.
1 vote Courses Sides
1 teaspoon ground cumin1 teaspoon ground ginger1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes1/3 cup orange juice3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1-1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar2 tablespoons honey2 pounds assorted carrots in various colors, peeled and trimmed with partial tops and stems left intactSalt and pepper to taste1/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped1/4 cup Italian parsley, roughly chopped
Creamy dressing
3/4 cup plain French or Greek yogurt1 cup parsley1 garlic clove, minced1 tablespoon lemon juice1/2 teaspoon ground corianderSaltBlack pepper
Creamy walnut dressing Carrots provide nutrients and minerals that can help improve numerous health issues, such as lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as helping to boost the immune system. Raw carrots are a great way to satisfy a snack craving while supplying us with these helpful health benefits, but it’s easier to take in those nutrients and minerals when eating carrots that have been cooked.
