Name: Caramelized Baby Carrots
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cups baby carrots; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 tsp Italian herbs; 5 cloves garlic; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1 tsp sugar

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Roasted baby carrots are more than just a quick and healthy snacking, it is a plate with a flavorful aroma truly sweet and tender. A great weeknight side dish that needs no prepping due to their convenience of being baked.

I can’t say that carrots are my favorite veggies, yet I have to admit that raw carrots are very healthy and useful. When I have made this type of recipe for the first time in my life, I got in love with how quick it was done and how delicious it turned out to be. Definitely, herbs and some dressing saves this dish, as well as make it look and taste amazing. The tender texture, an outstanding flavor, and the caramelized bits make this easy dish one of the best appetizers to add to your dinner table.

I always try to convince my daughter to eat as many raw carrots as possible, especially in the early years of life. She adores them, but have to say that she is not too fond of the baked ones. Still, she appreciates my advice and tries to please me. However, roasted carrots are definitely not her type of food. But, I found out how great it completes one of the main dishes I use to make. Sometimes, I am out of ideas and don’t know what to prepare as a side dish to some meat or fish. This easy and quick recipe saves a lot of my time and my imagination.

These sweet and savory baby carrots are coated in one of the best dressings. Italian herbs, vinegar, and olive oil will make this roasted baby carrots tender and soft.

Generally speaking, carrots by themselves taste sweet and woody-like, but roasted ones will taste spicy/sweet and delicious. These roasted garlic baby carrots are a healthy and delicious side dish to please your family dinner.

Are baby carrots healthy?

Carrots, as well as baby carrots, are one of the healthiest veggies containing few calories and lots of vitamins and good nutrients. I do remember when my mom was convincing me to eat more carrots to have a good vision. This is a true effect as it contains iron, vitamins A and C. Also, carrots, as well as baby carrots, contain mostly water, fibers, and very very little fat.

For note: aside from keeping your eyes healthy, it is important that they contain lots of antioxidants and lots of vitamins that are beneficial to our health.

Also, it is important not to peel off the skin of the carrots while using it. Both peeled and unpeeled carrots are healthy to eat, however, baby carrots are mostly used with their skin on.

Sometimes, some of the carrots may not look pretty or have nice shapes, but they are tasty, sweet, and delicious.

What are baby carrots?

A baby carrot is a carrot before reaching its maturity. They are smaller and almost all of them have ideal shapes. A small baby carrot is the one cut from the large carrot with the same health benefits. For example, I adore these small shaped baby carrots, as they are easy to prepare for lunch-boxes. I try to give 2-3 pieces of baby carrots to my daughter when she goes to school.

How many calories in baby carrots?

Baby carrots are low-calorie veggies, truly healthy, and sweet. If you eat them raw, they contain 30-35 calories, which indicates a low and healthy veggie. Many diets include this type of vegetable in their menu, as well as freshly squeezed carrot juice mixed with other ingredients. My all-time favorite fresh juice is apple mixed with carrots. I like these sweet/sour balance and the way it refreshes my mood and feelings. I rarely drink fresh orange juices as they are too acidic and sour to me.

How to bake baby carrots?

You will find how easy you will bake these best baby carrots. If you use refrigerated carrots then you have to take them out of the freezer and let them defrost at room temperature. Wash them properly before adding them to the baking tray. Toss baby carrots in all the herbs you like, drizzle some olive oil, sugar, and add some cloves of garlic for a better flavor and taste. Bake them, in the preheated oven at 180 °C (350 °F) for about 20 minutes until tender, juicy and rich flavor. Serve them immediately, or cooled down, as one of the best side dishes. These small baby carrots I use with their skin on, I rarely peel it from the big ones, either. However, there are cases when the skin looks horrible and untasty, so I peel it off to have a nice aspect.

What do you serve baby carrots with?

Baby carrots can be an ideal appetizer next to many dishes. It makes one of the best go-to baked salmon, pork loin, filet mignons, roasted lamb or chicken, and even seafood recipes. The sweet/caramel recipe nicely completes other meals, due to its easy, light, and flavorful aroma.

Recipe tips:

Use, either fresh or frozen carrots.
You can add brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey if you want more caramelized carrots.
Add butter, balsamic vinegar, or rosemary optional.
You can add more cloves of garlic if you want it more pronounced.
Grease some parmesan over the baked baby carrots before serving.

These roasted baked baby carrots is a simple recipe, yet so complex in flavor and with truly yummy taste. This is a healthy side dish to make your main course complete and savory.