Seasonal recipes: carrots

The carrot is quite an underrated vegetable. After being boiled to death, frozen with peas and corn or over sugared across the globe for years, the carrot is a forgotten favourite. The humble carrot is currently in season and we love what’s fresh, readily available, cost effective and delicious. This month we share how to bring carrots back into the fore with these 3 easy to do recipes:

CARROT PUREÉ (30 Mins)

Ingredients:

• 5 x Carrots
• Water to boil or steam
• Salt
• Pepper
• Butter
• Nutmeg
• Sprigs of Thyme
• 1 clove of garlic

Preparing:

1. Peel the carrots (the skin can be bitter once cooked).

2. Cut the ends off each carrot (no need for hard bits in your pureé).

3. Cut the carrots into 3 parts (for easy cooking). 

Method:

Boil or steam your carrots depending on what appliances you have at home.

Boil (15 mins): Boil them in water with a pinch of salt, springs of thyme and a garlic clove.

Steaming (5 mins): Use your vegetable steamer or place then in a glass bowl with a lid in the microwave and steam until soft (5 minutes).

Blend (5 mins): Once the carrots are soft, pop them into a blender with your soft clove of garlic. Add 50 grams of butter, grate nutmeg into the pureé and add a touch of salt and pepper to taste. If the pureé is a bit thick, add a touch of olive oil or water to loosen.

To Serve:

Serve underneath chicken, fish or steak.

GRILLED CARROTS (40 mins)

Carrots are great for barbeques or grilling indoors on the stove hob with a grill pan. The dark charcoal grid lines make add a delicious texture to the carrots for great flavour.

Ingredients:

• Carrots (1 large carrot per person).
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Optional: honey and balsamic vinegar.

Prepare:

1. Peel the carrots

2. Cut off the crazy green tops but leave a few green shoots for aesthetics

3. Brush in olive oil

4. Season with salt and pepper

Method:

Grill your carrots for 10 – 25 minutes (depending on their size) or until al dente.

 

ROASTED CHUNKS (30 mins)

If you need some time away from the kitchen while you’re busy with something else, this is the easiest way to make delicious roasted carrots.

Ingredients:

• Carrots (3 small carrots per person)
• Olive Oil
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh Parsley or Dill

Prepare:

1. Peel your carrots

2. Sprinkle with olive oil

3. Dice into quarters (if you use large carrots)

Method:

Place in a bowl, in the oven at 200 degrees for 20 minutes.

To Serve:

One removed, sprinkle with fresh dill (chopped) and parsley.

Don’t let the humble carrot be boiled and pushed around plates any longer. Give them life with these easy cooking methods and enjoy tasty, nutritional vegetables while they are in season.