Description
These Roasted Carrots with Mint & Tahini Sauce are the perfect combination of sweet, savory, and creamy. Roasted carrots are drizzled with a smooth tahini sauce, garnished with toasted hazelnuts and fresh mint. It’s a simple yet elegant side dish or light main course that is bursting with flavor. The earthy sweetness of the carrots is complemented by the rich, nutty tahini sauce and the aromatic freshness of mint.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Carrots:
- 10–12 carrots
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
For the Sauce:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/3 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
- 1/2 tbsp honey (or 1 tbsp orange juice for Whole30)
- 3 tbsp water (add more if needed for consistency)
For Topping:
- 2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).
- Prepare the Carrots: Wash the carrots and pat them dry. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of salt. Toss to coat.
- Roast the Carrots: Roast in the oven for 15–20 minutes, or until tender but still slightly firm. You can check the doneness by pricking a carrot with a fork. If your carrots are thicker, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Make the Tahini Sauce: While the carrots are roasting, combine the tahini, garlic, lemon juice, chopped mint, water, and honey (or orange juice) in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Add more water if the sauce is too thick, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
- Toast the Hazelnuts: Toast the hazelnuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until fragrant. Let them cool, then roughly chop.
- Assemble the Dish: Arrange the roasted carrots on a serving plate. Drizzle the tahini sauce generously over the top. Sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts and chopped mint for garnish.
- Serve: Serve warm or at room temperature as a side dish or light main course. Enjoy!
Notes
- Carrot Size: For best results, choose medium-sized carrots to ensure even roasting. If you’re using thicker carrots, consider cutting them into halves or quarters.
- Tahini Sauce Consistency: If your tahini sauce is too thick, simply add a little more water to thin it out until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Hazelnuts: Toasting the hazelnuts will bring out their natural oils and flavor, so don’t skip this step! If you’re allergic to hazelnuts, try using walnuts, almonds, or pistachios as a substitute.
- Sweetener Options: You can substitute honey with maple syrup or agave for a vegan-friendly option.
- Make-Ahead: You can roast the carrots and prepare the tahini sauce ahead of time. Store separately in airtight containers in the fridge and assemble just before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 239 kcal
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg