Description
Deliciously roasted carrots elevated with a creamy mint and tahini sauce, garnished with toasted hazelnuts for a perfect blend of textures and flavors. This easy-to-make side dish or light main combines the natural sweetness of carrots with refreshing mint and a nutty tahini dressing for a delightful and healthy meal option.
Ingredients
Scale
Carrots
- 10–12 carrots
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
Tahini Sauce
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/3 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
- 1/2 tbsp honey (or 1 tbsp orange juice for Whole30)
- 3 tbsp water (add more if needed for consistency)
Garnish
- 2/3 cup hazelnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F) to get it ready for roasting the carrots.
- Prepare the Carrots: Wash the carrots thoroughly and pat them dry. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and toss gently to coat them evenly.
- Roast the Carrots: Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast the carrots for 15–20 minutes, or until they are tender but still have a slight firmness when pierced with a fork. Adjust the cooking time if the carrots are thicker or thinner.
- Make the Tahini Sauce: While the carrots roast, combine tahini, crushed garlic, lemon juice, roughly chopped mint, water, and honey or orange juice in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add more water one tablespoon at a time if the sauce is too thick, until you reach your preferred consistency.
- Toast the Hazelnuts: Heat a dry pan over medium heat and toast the hazelnuts for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned. Allow them to cool before roughly chopping.
- Assemble the Dish: Arrange the roasted carrots on a serving plate. Generously drizzle the tahini sauce over the top. Sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts and chopped fresh mint as garnish.
- Serve: Serve the dish warm or at room temperature as a flavorful side or a light main course. Enjoy the rich and refreshing combination of roasted carrots with the mint tahini sauce and crunchy hazelnuts.
Notes
- You can substitute orange juice in place of honey for a Whole30-compliant version.
- Adjust water in the tahini sauce to achieve desired consistency.
- Ensure carrots are not overcooked to maintain a slight firmness.
- Toast hazelnuts carefully to avoid burning and maintain optimal flavor.
- This dish can be served warm or at room temperature.
