There are many health benefits to eating carrots, but the problem is that not a lot of people like them. However, we’re willing to bet that if you don’t like carrots, you just haven’t prepared them correctly.
Carrots are full of natural flavor, and they are even tastier when cooked or paired correctly. If you want to have more carrots in your life, but aren’t such a fan, here’s how to make carrots taste good.
Grill Them
This certainly isn’t a groundbreaking suggestion, but it’s potentially one you haven’t thought of. If you are looking to make carrots taste a little bit better, try grilling them.
A grill brings out natural flavors in almost everything, and it is a delicious way to add some smokiness and improve the texture. Grilled carrots will have a softer texture than raw carrots, but they’ll still have some crispiness and a nice char. You can put whole carrots directly onto the grill grates or chopped carrots in a pan and grill them over indirect heat.
Along with all the options you have for your method, you also have choices for the charcoal or wood chips you use, which will change the flavor of the carrots even more. There are tons of options, and each one is tasty.
Roast Them
You can also roast or bake your carrots. Putting them in the oven will give them lots of great flavor and tons of tasty texture.
There are many ways to go about roasting carrots. You can pour a glaze over or spray with butter. You can drizzle olive oil or add some cloves of garlic alongside. Or you can just add salt and pepper.
No matter the method, roasting carrots will give them the most delightful texture, and you’re bound to have a new opinion of the vegetables after you’ve tasted them.
Sautee Them
You can also sauté your carrots. Chop your carrots up into little bite-size pieces and pop them in a pan on medium heat. It’s quick, easy, and delicious.
Sautéing carrots is also great if you want to control the texture. If you only want to soften them a little bit, just leave them on for a shorter amount of time than if you want them thoroughly softened. This is a great method if you’re picky about texture.
Sautéing is also great if you’re picky about flavor because you have lots of control. You can easily adjust the taste by adding spices as you’re cooking.
Make Them Sweet
Although carrots do have a distinct flavor, they’re also very versatile, and you can make them sweet if you’d like. Carrots pair very well with sweet spices like cinnamon and nutmeg and taste great with a maple glaze or brown sugar.
Think of carrots as sweet potatoes in that way. If you would put a particular spice or glaze on a sweet potato, try it on your carrots. They can marinate in the spices or just be added before you cook them using your preferred method.
Make Them Savory
As noted, carrots are very versatile, and if you don’t want to make them sweet, you can make them savory. Once again, think of your carrots like a sweet potato. What spicy spices and savory spices would you put on a sweet potato?
Aside from salt and pepper, you can use thyme, rosemary, or even a blend like herbs de Provence. There are so many options for a savory carrot, and if savory is up your alley, then this is a great route for you.
Mash Them
If you don’t want to eat carrots in a bite, try mashing them. Carrot mash is a great purée, and it’s easy to make if you have a food processor or an immersion blender.
Carrot mash is a great substitute for potato or parsnip mash, and it will taste delicious with salt, pepper, and butter, just as your mashed potatoes would. Remember, carrots are root vegetables, so if you would do something to a potato, there’s potential for you to do it to a carrot, and that includes mashing them.
Use the Best Part of the Carrot
If part of the reason you don’t like carrots is that you get an inconsistent bite – meaning sometimes they taste good to you, and other times they don’t – perhaps you are eating the wrong part of the carrot.
The flavor of a carrot changes a bit based on its anatomy. The closer to the tip, the sweeter the carrot will taste. If you are after that sweet taste from a carrot, make sure you are only using the narrow parts of the carrot and are discarding anything that is too wide or too close to the stem.
On the flip side, if you like that earthy flavor, only eat the top part of the carrot and save the bottom for something else, like making a face mask or tossing it in your smoothie.
Dip Your Carrots
Never discount the power of a good dip. Dips can be used to mask nearly any flavor, and it’s an especially great trick for carrots because they have a crispy texture. Carrots can simply be used as a vessel for getting a dip to your mouth, and you won’t miss using chips since carrots are already crunchy.
Cut your carrots into thin slices by using a mandolin, or just purchase carrot chips at the grocery store and pair them with your favorite tub of guacamole, hummus, salsa, or another dip.
Add Some Other Veggies
As always, if you don’t like the taste of one food, try pairing it with another food that you do like. Whether you are roasting, grilling, or just eating carrots plain, this is a great tip. This may be a great way to introduce you to carrots; before you know it, you’ll be eating them plain. Enjoy!