Add this powerhouse veggie to your dishes this season!
Carrots are a humble yet mighty powerhouse of a vegetable that can be used in a variety of flavorful dishes. They’re packed with health-boosting nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and potassium. Plus, they’re a great source of dietary fiber, which is necessary for healthy digestion.
While many of us have heard about how eating carrots can improve your vision and eye health, did you know that hearing health is on the list too? Eating foods rich in beta-carotene can help reduce the risk of hearing loss, and orange vegetables like carrots are the best place to find it! (Don’t worry: if you want to make a gorgeous rainbow recipe, purple and yellow carrots have plenty too!)
So, what are some of the best healthy recipes with carrots to try this spring? Here are seven delicious and healthy recipes with carrots that you should consider adding to your meal plan:
- Roasted carrots
- Carrot soup
- Shredded carrot salad
- Sweet potato and carrot curry
- Healthy carrot cake
- Smoky carrot fries
- Carrot dogs
Let’s learn about these healthy carrot recipes to enjoy with this season’s harvest!
Roasted carrots
Roasting brings out the natural sweetness of carrots, making them a great side dish for a savory meal — and they’re actually quite easy to make. You can leave the carrots whole or cut them however you want. Toss the carrots with olive oil, a pinch of salt and pepper, and some herbs of your choice, like rosemary, thyme, and oregano. For extra sweetness, you can add a touch of maple syrup too. Then, line up the carrots on a baking sheet and roast them until they’re tender and browned.
Carrot soup
For those chilly or rainy spring days, carrot soup is the perfect recipe to warm your bones! The spices often used in carrot soup, such as ginger and turmeric, can help reduce inflammation and improve digestion. For an extra depth of flavor, roast the carrots first before adding them to your soup. You’ll need a blender or immersion blender to make the final result smooth, creamy, and ultra-sippable!
Shredded carrot salad
Grated or shredded carrots add a nice crunchy texture to any salad, so feel free to experiment! But if you want to make a super carrot-forward salad, try this sweet and tangy carrot salad. The shredded carrots meld with scallions, fresh parsley, and homemade dressing for a delicious French-inspired side dish.
Sweet potato and carrot curry
In this classic curry recipe, carrots don’t take center stage, but join the other ingredients as balanced equals. Sweet potatoes, onions, and spinach are the other main veggies in this recipe, but you can also feel free to add and swap any others you want, like cauliflower and peppers. Customize your spice level to taste, and serve over rice for a comforting and hearty spring dinner.
Healthy carrot cake
Carrot cake is a classic favorite, but traditional recipes are often full of refined sugar and unhealthy fats. However, it’s possible to make a healthier version of carrot cake using natural sweeteners and healthier fats. This healthy carrot cake recipe uses a base of oat flour (so it’s naturally gluten-free), uses applesauce instead of oil, is sweetened with coconut sugar, contains heart-healthy nuts, and includes all the spices that give carrot cake its classic flavor.
Smoky carrot fries
If you have an air fryer, put it to good use with these flavorful carrot fries! You’ll get a savory, smoky flavor from the smoked paprika, and you can also jazz them up with spices like cumin and onion powder. If you love sweet potato fries, chances are good that these will hit the same sweet spot for you.
Carrot dogs
Carrot dogs are a great plant-based alternative to traditional hot dogs. Carrots are naturally low in fat but high in fiber and antioxidants, making them a healthy and tasty choice for veggie dogs—perhaps an option to feature at your Memorial Day barbecue! All you have to do is boil the carrots, then soak them in a marinade for a few hours, and toss them on the grill before you add them to your bun with all the fixings.
Want something to go along with all these tasty and healthy recipes with carrots? Check out these eight spring side dishes and seasonal entrees!
