Description
Sweet brown sugar caramelizes tender carrots in this classic side dish that elevates simple vegetables with rich, buttery warmth. Southern comfort meets elegant simplicity, promising a delightful complement to your main course that you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) carrots (peeled and uniformly sliced)
Sweeteners and Spices:
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) brown sugar (dark or light, packed)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Fats and Oils:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) butter (unsalted, melted)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) olive oil (light tasting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F, creating an ideal environment for roasting and caramelizing carrots.
- Carefully peel carrots and slice into uniform one-inch segments to guarantee consistent cooking.
- Briefly blanch carrots in salted water for approximately 5 minutes, interrupting cooking process with cold water rinse to maintain crisp texture.
- Craft glaze by whisking melted butter, olive oil, brown sugar, salt, and optional cinnamon until smooth and glossy.
- Thoroughly coat par-boiled carrots in prepared glaze, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Arrange glazed carrots in single layer within baking dish, roasting for initial 10 minutes, then gently redistribute for balanced caramelization.
- Continue roasting additional 5-10 minutes until carrots reach desired tenderness with rich caramelized edges.
- Remove from oven and allow brief cooling period before transferring to serving platter, optionally garnishing with fresh parsley for visual appeal.
Notes
- Adjust sugar levels carefully to prevent burning, as brown sugar caramelizes quickly and can turn bitter if overcooked.
- Choose medium-sized carrots with uniform thickness to ensure even roasting and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Consider using different spices like nutmeg or ginger to add complexity and enhance the natural sweetness of the carrots.
- For a healthier version, swap brown sugar with honey or maple syrup, which provide natural sweetness and additional depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 157
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 63 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg