How to pimp my carrots?

[KY2021]

Has anybody got any simple but effective ways I can make my carrots a bit nicer for Christmas Day? I usually just boil them but fancy making more of an effort this year. I'm cooking for 9 but I'm no experienced chef 😄 TIA!

Jamie Oliver does some festive butter recipes that you just throw on top of boiled veg once drained. Quick and can be prepped ahead of time.

I do like a roast carrot though with a bit of honey drizzled over.

Once they are nearly cooked, add some orange juice and brown sugar, and simmer for 10 mins. Delicious!

We have this recipe every year:

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/caramelised-carrots-onions

You could add a knob of Stork, as per The Royle Family 😂

No sweet additions for me, they are almost too sweet as it is, but roasted with a bit of oil and ground cumin / coriander gives a nice savoury taste.

Vichy carrots this serves 3.
Slice or baton them.
Put in pan and add 1 large tsp of butter, 1 large tsp of brown sugar and half a stock cube (a nice one like knorr, chicken or veg)
Add water til just covering carrots but no more.
Pinch of salt.
Bring to boil and boil down til water evaporated and syrup covering the carrots.
Sprinkle finely chopped parsley over the top.
Takes about 7 mins from bringing onto boil and would be the last thing you do before the lunch/dinner starts.

Wonder why you ever did carrots differently before.

Boiled is easy to beat

Either roast in olive oil until quite well done or do garlic carrots - in a pot, loads of butter and crushed garlic

Either way there’ll be some caramelisation

I like them just boiled and then once drained add in some butter and lots of black pepper. A bit of honey or maple syrup as nice too.

Roast with honey and olive oil. Even better if you add parsnips and cook in the same way.

😂 I normally just roast them with the parsnips .

Grate the carrots on the large part of your grater. Put in a bowl, stir through some whole grain mustard, add a knob of butter, cover loosely and microwave for two or three minutes. Stir again before serving.

Chop carrots into discs, chop sticks of celery into one inch pieces. Prepare about equal amounts of the two vegetables. Place the veg on a large sheet of foil, add some knobs of butter and season. Make a well sealed parcel of the foil. Place in the oven for about 45 minutes, though timing is not critical. The result is very like braised carrot/celery.
You can prep and package the carrot & celery mix the night before, it can go anywhere in the oven which is handy if you are short of space, and there is no pan to wash up.

Aldi/Lidl often do three colour carrots which always look a bit more exciting. Glaze with honey or maple syrup if you like sweet.

Boiled carrots are lovely, tasty and healthy. A breath of freshness in a plate of rich food. Leave them alone!

I boil them while with water, butter sugar and star anise. Can cook them the night before and reheat.

This is really easy:

Cut the carrots lengthways and drizzle with olive oil, season
Do loads more than you think you'll need as they reduce down a lot with roasting

Put in the oven to roast
Make the dressing: white wine vinegar, olive oil, runny honey, a tiny bit of Dijon, squeeze of lemon juice. Keep tasking until it's nice
5 minutes before the carrots are done, not before, drizzle the dressing over and cook for another 5 minutes. Don't do any longer or it turns to sticky caramel

TASTING not tasking.

Just roast them with the parsnips. I love carrots, raw and roasted but absolutely hate boiled carrots!

Roast in oven with a bit of olive oil, 10 min before they are done drizzle a bit of honey over them - job done and delicious!

Cook them in brown sugar, butter, orange juice and star anise - if you Google carrots with those ingredients there’s a recipe somewhere. It’s the star anise that really makes them amazing

Chop into attractive shapes; barrels, batons, on the bias etc.

Simple but lovely - after boiling or steaming - drain and add butter and ground ginger. Or add orange zest with or without the ground ginger

Found it www.thetimes.co.uk/article/carrots-cooked-in-orange-juice-and-star-anise-skptc7thpvn

Bloody love The Royle Family! You've just reminded me I need to watch it asap.

We have them just boiled about 3 times a week and I 100% agree they're delicious but I always find they look naff on my Christmas dinner plate 😒

Yup, a vote for Vichy carrots, always do ours this way 👍

So many options to consider! Thank you all so much 🥕🥕🥕