For roasted carrots that are super-sweet and almost meltingly tender, we borrow a trick from barbecue—low and slow cooking in a moderately hot oven. We start them coated with olive oil, but drizzle them with melted butter partway through roasting. The milk solids in the butter caramelize in the oven, adding a rich, nutty fragrance and flavor. Za’atar, a Middle Eastern seed and spice blend, and orange zest and juice bring complexity to the dish. Pistachios and sweet-tart pomegranate molasses add meaty crunch and bright, tart balancing notes.
SHOPPING
Bunch carrots—the type sold with their greens attached—are especially good here because they’re slender and fresh. If using carrots with especially thick upper portions, after halving them lengthwise, halve them again to create uniform pieces.
TIP
Be certain not to season the carrots with the za’atar until after 30 minutes of roasting. Staggering the cooking in this way gives the vegetable the time it needs to roast without the risk of burning the more delicate seeds and herbs.
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November - December 2023
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