Candied Carrots

Candied carrots are sweet, tasteful, and super easy to make. These are a perfect snack or a side dish. Because of its unique flavor, it is an ideal dish for the holiday season. Try this easy candied carrot recipe, and I am sure you will love it!

What Are Candied Carrots?

Candied carrots are a sweet and savory dish that goes well as a snack or a side to main courses. It is particularly a perfect dish for the holiday season, especially for Thanksgiving and Christmas side dishes. Candied carrots are not just tasteful but are also super easy to make. You will also love Vegan Baked Candied Yams and Candied Pumpkin.

Why Make Candied Carrots?

There are several reasons you should try this delicious and super simple candied carrots recipe. Here are a few to name:

• Candied carrots are super easy to make. These take just 15 minutes. Therefore, it is a perfect snack.
• Because these are sweet, candied carrots are perfect for satisfying your sugar craving any time of the day.
• You can turn them savory as well. Garnish with fresh parsley and season with black pepper to make this savory. Thus, it is a versatile dish.
• Because we are using vegan-friendly ingredients, the candied carrots recipe is a VEGAN recipe. What more can you ask for?

Benefits Of Carrots

Carrots are super rich in nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, and they are very healthy vegetables. You can eat carrots raw and cooked as well. Either way, they are tasteful and jam-packed with health benefits and nutrients.

• Carrots are among those foods that are low in glycemic index. As a result, it is specifically healthy for people who have diabetes.
• It is also rich in fiber. As a result, it helps in lowering the blood sugar level in the body.
• Because it is high in fiber, it aids in regular bowel movement, reduces the risks of constipation, and promotes a healthy digestive system.
• Carrots provide a feed to the good bacteria in the gut. As a result, it promotes a healthy body and protects against diseases.
• Carrots are rich in vitamins like vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin K1.
• Vitamin A is responsible for healthy vision, growth, and development, and improved immune function.
• Vitamin K1 is carrot promotes bone health.
• It is also rich in biotin. Biotin is also known as vitamin H and plays a vital role in metabolism.
• Furthermore, carrots are also rich in minerals like potassium which helps in controlling blood pressure.
• It also contains antioxidants that help in reducing the risks of cancer.
• It is very low in calories and makes you feel full for longer. As a result, it aids in weight loss.

What To Look For When Buying Carrots?

Carrots are readily available at every grocery store or farmers’ market. But despite their availability all over the year, you need to look for certain things to ensure they are fresh and taste perfect. Here are a few things you should keep in mind when buying carrots:

• Colour: Carrots have bright orange to red color. The freshest of the products will have a vibrant and fresh color. The old or withered carrots will either have a dark brownish color, or there will be brown spots. Avoid buying such carrots.
• Texture: Carrots are hard vegetables. So, choose the ones that are firm. If you find carrots that are a bit mushy or soft to touch or seem rubbery to touch, avoid those.
• Rootlets: If you find carrots have rootlets coming out of the eyes, don’t get them.
• Fresh: Carrots that have the green part attached are usually fresh. You can get an idea about how fresh they are by checking the color of their reens. Dark brown reens mean the carrots are old.

Ingredient Breakdown

Candied carrots require simple ingredients that are always available at home. So, you don’t have to go out to buy them. The ingredients are basic and a compulsory part of every vegan pantry.

• Carrot: Carrots are the main hero of this dish. You will need fresh produce, so make sure they are not rotten. Although the recipe calls for grown carrots, you can also use baby carrots for this recipe. Because baby carrots are small in size, you won’t have to spend time cutting, slicing, or preparing them. So, baby carrots are perfect for lazy souls.                                                                                                                                                        
• Vegan butter: Because we are making a vegan dish, you will need vegan butter instead of dairy butter. You can use any vegan or nut butter for this recipe.
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup is rich, sweet, and has a complex flavor. It resembles caramel, prunes, and vanilla. It adds a depth of flavor to the candied carrots.
• Organic cane sugar: Organic cane sugar is an unrefined sugar that is more natural and full of sweet flavors. You can also use coconut sugar instead of organic cane sugar. However, remember that coconut sugar is less sweet as compared to organic cane sugar. So, you might have to adjust it according to your taste.
• Ginger: Ginger is not just good for health, but it also has a sweet and slightly peppery flavor. Furthermore, it also has a strong aroma. Adding ginger to the candied carrots adds a new depth of flavor to them.
• Cinnamon: Cinnamon is an aromatic, sweet, woody, slightly spicy, and slightly citrusy spice with a refreshing yet complex flavor. It brightens up candied carrots in terms of flavors.
• Salt: A pinch of salt brings out the flavors of every other ingredient.

How To Make Candied Carrots?

Making candied carrots is super easy. It takes only 15 minutes to get them on a plate. The cooking time alone is just 10 minutes. So, if you are craving something sweet, you can get these candied carrots in less th3n 15 minutes. Here are easy steps on how to make candied carrots:

Step 1: The first step is to prepare the carrots. For this, you have to wash them to get rid of the dirt. Next, you have to remove the head and peel the carrots. Once they are peeled, cut them in equal slices about half an inch thick.

Step 2: In a saucepan, pour water, and place it on medium heat. Once the water starts to boil, add carrots. Let them boil for about 5 minutes or until they are tender. Strain the carrots and run cold water over them.

Step 3: Put the carrots back into the saucepan, add vegan butter, organic cane sugar, maple syrup, grated ginger, salt, and cinnamon.

Step 4: Stirring constantly, let them cook for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the glaze bubbles away.

Step 5: Remove them from heat, let them cool and serve.

Other Vegan Thanksgiving Sides

1. Vegan Cornbread
2. Vegan Butternut Squash Stuffing
3. Cranberry Sauce
4. Purple Mashed Potatoes
5. Vegan Brown Gravy
6. Vegan Mac And Cheese
7. Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Sweet Potatoes
8. Roasted Brussel Sprouts Stalk

Vegan Thanksgiving Main

1. Vegan Tofu Turkey
2. Lentil Meatballs
3. Whole Roasted Cauliflower
4. Vegan Lentil Loaf
5. Vegan Lasagna
6. Black Bean Butternut Squash Stew

Tips And Tricks For Perfect Candied Carrots

Here are a few things you have to keep in mind when making candied carrots so that they are cooked perfectly:

• Make sure all the carrots are sliced evenly. This way, they will cook evenly as well.
• Although I have sliced the carrots, you can also cut them in juliennes or any other shape.
• When boiling the carrots, don’t add too much water. Just add enough water to submerge the carrots.
• Keep an eye on the carrots when boiling them. They should be tender but not overcooked.
• Rinse the cooked carrots with cold water. This will stop cooking.
• If you don’t want to peel the carrots, you can scrub the skin as well.

How To Store Candied Carrots?

You can store the leftover candied carrots by storing them in the refrigerator. They will last for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

If you are thinking to freeze the candied carrots, I recommend you don’t. That’s because they tend to get mushy upon defrosting. So, go from making a fresh batch every time.

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