Carrots are one of the most abundant vegetables produced in New Zealand and are available year-round. They only cost around $2.50/kg ($0.38 per carrot) – which is budget-friendly in comparison to other root vegetables like parsnip costing $8.50/kg or beetroot costing $6.50/kg.
Carrots may not be thought of as a ‘superfood’ but if you take a closer look they are rich in vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight (we’ve all been told it helps us see in the dark and it’s no joke!), as well as fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K and potassium.
More than just a vessel for hummus, carrots can make impressive side dishes, creamy sauces or the star of the show in your next salad.
Roasted Carrots
Carrots are naturally sweet so when they are roasted this intensifies their sweetness even more! Roasted carrots are a perfect side to many dishes – but to make them a little special, serve them with a creamy sauce or feta and a sprinkle of nuts or seeds for some crunch.
Here is our recipe for Roasted Carrots with Cashew Cream. You can use regular carrots cut into batons or baby carrots. We’ve topped this dish with some roasted pistachios as we love their flavour and colour but for a more budget-friendly option, you can sprinkle over some toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
Add roasted carrots to a grain salad following our hearty salad formula from our free ebook – How to build the perfect salad. An example of a delicious grain salad is our Warm Brown Rice, Chickpea Salad with Roasted Pumpkin, Carrot and Feta – roasted vegetables, nutty brown rice and chickpeas tied together with our favourite creamy tahini, and mustard dressing, finished off with some creamy feta and tangy pickled onions.
Served Raw
We love adding grated carrot to coleslaws and salads and this Moroccan-Inspired Carrot and Quinoa Salad is one of our all time favourites! Serve it with some smoked salmon for a super easy, healthy mid-week meal.
