Description
Maple brown butter glazed carrots bring sweet and nutty elegance to any dinner table. Simple ingredients combine for a delightful side dish that elevates seasonal vegetables with rich, caramelized flavors you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 3 tbsps (45 mL) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 425F (220C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating an ideal roasting environment for the carrots.
- Brown Butter Creation: Melt butter in a saucepan, carefully monitoring its transformation into a golden, nutty liquid. Swirl continuously until the butter develops a deep amber hue and releases a rich, toasted aroma, avoiding any burning.
- Flavor Infusion: Remove butter from heat and delicately blend in maple syrup and thyme leaves, crafting a luxurious glaze that will enhance the carrots’ inherent sweetness.
- Coating Process: Introduce carrots to a large mixing bowl, drench with the warm brown butter-maple mixture. Season thoroughly with salt and pepper, massaging the glaze to ensure complete and even coverage of each carrot.
- Roasting Technique: Distribute carrots in a single, uncrowded layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, pausing midway to rotate and redistribute, promoting uniform caramelization and ensuring tender, perfectly roasted vegetables.
- Finishing Touch: Extract carrots from the oven when they display a beautifully caramelized exterior and tender interior. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with freshly chopped parsley, presenting a vibrant and flavorful vegetable creation.
Notes
- Prevent Burning Butter: Watch the butter carefully during browning, swirling constantly to achieve a golden-brown color without scorching, which can turn the flavor bitter and ruin the entire glaze.
- Uniform Carrot Sizing: Cut carrots into similar-sized pieces to ensure even roasting and consistent cooking, preventing some pieces from becoming mushy while others remain undercooked.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Space carrots separately on the baking sheet to allow proper heat circulation, ensuring crisp edges and beautiful caramelization instead of steaming the vegetables.
- Adjust Sweetness Levels: Modify maple syrup quantity based on carrot sweetness and personal preference – younger, fresher carrots might require less sweetener compared to mature, starchier varieties.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 132
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg