Roasted Carrots

Plan Z Phase: This is a Z3 (ZReboot) recipe.

Roasted carrots are easy to make and taste good every time. Our recipe roasts the carrots with fresh herbs, but you can just as easily use dried. If you’re using dried herbs, use half as much (honestly, you could even use a third as much) because the flavors are more intense when herbs are dried. Although in this recipe, if you can splurge on fresh herbs, it will be well worth it.

Serving Size: ½ cup

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds of carrots (the smaller the carrot, the better the taste)
  • 2 Tbl extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp fresh thyme (fresh lemon thyme is amazing if you can get it)
  • ½ tsp fresh oregano (if you’re using dried, use 1/4 tsp)
  • 2 Tbl fresh parsley
  • drizzle of honey (optional if you’re in ZReboot 3.5 and beyond)
  • sea salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Boil a large pot of water on the stove. While you’re waiting for it to boil, peel your carrots and remove the tops. Then cut them into finger-size sticks. Don’t cut them too small or they might crisp and burn when you roast them. Bigger is better.

Once your water is boiling, add the carrots to your boiling water for 5 minutes only. This will make them softer, and will reduce your cooking time. Drain your carrots and shake off the extra water.

Add your carrots to a bowl with olive oil, thyme, oregano, salt and pepper (and honey if you’re in ZReboot 3.5). Honestly, I don’t think the honey is necessary, but some people like that sweet glaze. If you’re using it, use a teaspoon or so, the carrots are so flavorful you don’t need much. And roasting adds to the sweetness. Gently toss everything together. Then put your carrots on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Cover with another piece of foil and roast for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, check on your carrots. Since you’ve par-boiled them, they won’t take long to roast, but their doneness depends on how big your pieces are. If your carrots are too firm for your taste after 20 minutes, take the foil off, turn your oven down to 375 degrees and let them continue cooking until they’re done the way you like them. They shouldn’t take long, maybe another 5-10 minutes.

Once they’re done, gently toss with fresh parsley while the carrots are hot.

Enjoy!

Cheers,