These roasted carrots combine both the spiciness of the harissa and the sweetness of the carrots for a delicious, healthy side dish that you can pair with any meal.
Who knew you needed few ingredients could combine for such a tasty side dish?
The balance of sweet and spicy works really well – they’re a little indulgent, but they are a fantastic way to get more veggies into your meals. Kids will love them too!
They are a great accompaniment for any meat, poultry or veggie dish you have.
We’ve used standard carrots and cut them up, but if you only have baby carrots, feel free to use those too.
Why Try These Harissa Honey Roasted Carrots?
- Perfect as a healthy, yet slightly indulgent side dish: Of course, the extra sugar from the honey isn’t the best. But it is a fantastic way to flavor the carrots. If you have any kids that aren’t big fans, this is a great recipe to get them eating more veggies.
- Easy to make: It’s simply a case of preparing the carrots and marinade, then mixing them together and roasting. You can simply leave to cook whilst you prepare the main dish.
- Great flavors: You see honey harissa chicken made often and for good reason – it’s one of the tastiest marinades you’ll eat. The sweetness and spiciness combine together for a classic combination – it’s instead with the carrots here instead.
Is it Spicy?
If you haven’t cooked with harissa paste before, you might be wondering if these carrots are spicy?
Since harissa is a chili paste, it does have some heat, but in reality, it isn’t that spicy. It is somewhat peppery and smoky, with some garlic undertones.
However, different harissa brands have different spiciness levels. Try a mild harissa brand or use a little less.
The sweetness of the honey does balance the harissa, so it’s great for those who are a little more spice-avert.
Ingredients (+ Substitutions)
- Carrots: Regular carrots have a bit more flavor than baby carrots, but if they are all you have on hand, then they will work. You’ll need to slice them in half and adjust the roasting time (about 15 minutes).
- Harissa: Harissa is a spicy and aromatic chili paste originating from North Africa, primarily made from a blend of roasted red peppers, garlic, spices, and herbs. It’s commonly used in Middle Eastern and North African cuisine to add heat and flavor to dishes. Different harissa brands have different levels of heat, so if you can try tasting them first before using them within the recipe, you should.
- Honey: The honey balances with the harissa to bring both spice and sweetness to the carrots.
- Olive Oil: We’re big fans of olive oil on a Mediterranean diet and a good quality olive oil like extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) to really bring out those great flavors.
- Cumin: You don’t need to add extra spices to the honey harissa combo, but I love the earthiness that cumin brings.
- Cilantro: The citrusy, earthy, mildly spicy notes of cilantro pairs well with other strong flavors, like the harissa in this dish.
How to Make These Harissa Honey Roasted Carrots
Making these harissa honey carrots is super simple!
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare Carrots: If your carrots are very large, you can cut them in half lengthwise or even into smaller pieces. If they’re small and thin, they can be roasted whole.
- Mix Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, honey, harissa paste, salt, and pepper. Mix until everything is well incorporated.
- Toss the Carrots: Add the carrots to the mixing bowl, ensuring they get coated with the honey harissa mixture. Toss them well so they’re evenly covered.
- Roast: Transfer the carrots to a baking sheet, ensuring they’re spaced out evenly and not piled on top of each other. Sprinkle over the cumin, then roast for about 20-25 minutes, or until they’re tender and have a nice caramelized look. The exact time can vary based on the thickness and size of your carrots.
- Serve: Once roasted, remove the carrots from the oven. Transfer them to a serving dish and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
Honey Harissa Roasted Carrots
These honey harissa roasted carrots are the perfect balance between spicy and sweet. They are full of flavor and make for a healthy side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp harissa paste
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp carrots
- 1 lb (450g) carrots, cut into sticks
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, to serve
- ¼ tsp salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Cut any large carrots in half lengthways, or roast whole if using smaller-sized carrots like baby carrots.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the olive oil, honey, harissa paste, salt, and pepper. Mix until everything is well incorporated, then add the carrots and coat with the mixture. Toss well so they are evenly coated
- Transfer the carrots to a baking sheet, ensuring they're spaced out evenly and not piled on top of each other. Sprinkle over the cumin, then roast for about 20-25 minutes, or until they're tender and have a nice caramelized look.
- Once roasted, transfer to a dish, garnish with freshly chopped cilantro, and serve.
Notes
- The exact cooking time of the carrots can vary based on the thickness and size of your carrots.
- Harissa paste's spiciness can vary based on the brand or if you're using homemade. Adjust the quantity as per your preference. If you're not a fan of too much heat, start with a smaller amount, and you can always add more later.
- You can also sprinkle some feta cheese or toasted nuts like almonds or pine nuts on top for some extra flavor.
Nutrition Information
Yield
4Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 31Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 2gCholesterol 0mgSodium 204mgCarbohydrates 3gFiber 1gSugar 1gProtein 0g
Want More Delicious, Mediterranean-Style Recipes?
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- Find more Mediterranean-style recipes on our website.
- Try our free 7 day Mediterranean diet plan with 20 recipes.
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