Roast Tandoori Carrots on Butter Bean & Tomato Dip | Rebel Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why do you have to parboil carrots before roasting? ›

Roasting Tips

Parboiling skin-on carrots and parsnips lets you soften them without them losing too much moisture. Follow up by browning in a 375°F (190°C) oven for about 40 minutes.

Roasting really brings out carrots' best qualities. To make them, just toss carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake until they're golden on the edges and tender throughout. Serve these simple roasted carrots with traditional or heavy main dishes, like standard Thanksgiving fare, lasagna or mac and cheese.

Next, put the garlic cloves and salt in the mortar, crush to a purée, then whisk in the oil. Now toss this mixture around with the carrots and spices, then spread it out on the baking tray. Pop it into the oven on a high shelf and roast until the carrots are tender when tested with a skewer – 30-40 minutes.

Editor: Coating vegetables in oil does a few things. For one, it helps prevent vegetables from sticking to the baking sheet or roasting pan. (But since you're using a Silpat, it looks like that isn't an issue here.) Roasting vegetables with oil also encourages extra browning and creates a richer, more toasty flavor.

There is, however, a trick to getting roasted carrots right. Undercook them, and the texture is tough and dense. Overcook them, and they're dry and wrinkled. The secret is to soften the carrots slightly by boiling them briefly before roasting.

As they cook, vegetables give off moisture, and when arranged too close together it results in a soggy outcome. Follow this tip: To achieve beautiful browning and crisp, roasted perfection, vegetables need some breathing room. Arrange vegetables in a single layer and don't overcrowd the pan.

Method. Preheat your oven to 200°C/400°F/gas 6. Toss your carrots with a good lug of olive oil, a splash of vinegar, salt and pepper, the thyme sprigs and the garlic cloves. Place in a roasting tray or earthenware dish, cover tightly with tinfoil and cook for 30 to 40 minutes until just tender.

If your carrots are still hard, then they are likely undercooked. They should be good to go with somewhere between 20-30 minutes of roasting time, but add time as needed so that they're nice and soft.

Cooking instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan, then add the carrots and parsnips and toss to coat in the oil. Add the thyme, cinnamon, star anise and some seasoning. Cook over a medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning the vegetables frequently, until golden brown and almost cooked through.

The reason this hack works is because carrots are a very dense root vegetable that doesn't have a ton of moisture. Since it has a lack of moisture, roasting it will just burn the item before the inside can cook. This is the same for things like broccoli – the top part burns before the stem can cook.

What happens if you don't peel carrots before roasting? ›

That's likely because carrot skins can turn bitter and dry when they're cooked. For some, the flavor difference is barely noticeable, but for others, the earthiness is a complete turn-off. Carrots' glossy exteriors may also turn dusty and dry in the heat of an oven.

I trim them, cut them to size and par-cook them in boiling water. Then refresh them in ice water to stop the cooking process. Add them to the roasting pan around the last 15-minute mark. Yes, you do have to par-cook them, or they'll be hard and uninteresting.

Some nutrients are lost into the boiling water, but they're not all destroyed and your body actually absorbs more of the carotenoids when carrots are cooked. You can minimize the nutrients lost by using the least amount of water and enjoy your boiled carrots.