Prep Ahead, Quick to Make, Recipes, Sides

Roasted Rainbow Carrots In 4 Easy Steps

roasted rainbow carrots

Looking for a colourful but simple side? Elevate the classic cooked carrot by using rainbow carrots, a beautiful aesthetic to any plate. In this dish of roasted rainbow carrots, I used simple honey balsamic vinaigrette to dress the carrots before roasting. The extra sugars caramelize, enriching the flavor. Carrots are the sweet addition to just about any main you can think of. Meats, poultry, fish, vegetables, beans and many more food ingredients and flavor combinations work well with carrot making this the side to select anytime!

Yields:

3 servings

Ingredients:

  • Rainbow carrots, 9 medium, cut lengthwise
  • Olive oil, 2 tbsp.
  • Balsamic vinegar, 2 tbsp.
  • Honey, 1 tbsp.
  • Coarse salt, 2 tsp
  • Black pepper, ½ tsp.
  • Garlic, 1-2 cloves, minced
  • Fresh thyme, a few sprigs, stems removed

What you’ll need:

  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Veg peeler
  • Mixing bowl
  • Sheet pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Tongs

What to do:

  1. Peel carrots and cut lengthwise in quarters. Make sure they are all of equal sizing for even cooking. Thinner carrots can be halved lengthwise whereas thicker carrots can be cut into 6 wedges lengthwise.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, garlic and thyme. Add in the carrots and stir to coat.
  3. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  4. Spread out in a single layer on a parchment paper lined sheet pan. It is important not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for approx. 12-15 minutes, until tender but still has a bite.

Tips for beautifully roasted rainbow carrots

  1. Minimal oil/ dressing on the pan because too much produces a greasy and eventually soggy carrot. (So let them marinate but pull the carrots out and lay them out, do not pour the entire contents of the mixing bowl onto the sheet pan.)
  1. Space them out and allow airflow between each piece. This will let them brown nicely and cook evenly.

Are you looking for flavor combos other than honey balsamic that go well on roasted carrots? These combos are just some of so many options.

  • Honey and cinnamon
  • Garlic and dill
  • Butter and herbs
  • Maple syrup, orange and thyme