Description
Maple pecan glazed carrots elevate humble root vegetables into a delectable side dish perfect for holiday tables. Sweet Canadian maple syrup and toasted pecans create a luxurious glaze that highlights carrots’ natural earthiness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally into ¼-inch thick pieces
- ½ cup (60 g) pecans, coarsely chopped
- ¼ cup (60 ml) pure maple syrup
- 2 tbsps (30 g) unsalted butter
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Blanch Carrots: Submerge sliced carrots in simmering water until tender-crisp, then drain and reserve, maintaining their vibrant appearance and textural integrity.
- Craft Maple Glaze: Melt butter in a skillet, introducing maple syrup and cinnamon to create a golden, fragrant reduction that promises rich, complex flavors.
- Combine and Caramelize: Gently fold carrots into the maple mixture, ensuring each piece is lavishly coated. Season with salt and pepper, allowing the ingredients to meld and caramelize over medium heat, intensifying their inherent sweetness and depth.
- Toast Pecans: Activate pecans in a dry skillet, stirring constantly until they release their nutty essence and transform into a delicate, bronzed delicacy. Monitor closely to prevent burning these delicate morsels.
- Plate and Garnish: Transfer the glossy, maple-infused carrots to a serving platter, generously adorning them with the freshly toasted pecans, whose golden-brown fragments will provide a satisfying crunch and earthy complexity to the dish.
Notes
- Preserve Carrot Texture: Avoid overcooking carrots by monitoring water temperature and cooking time, ensuring they remain crisp-tender and maintain their vibrant orange color.
- Control Maple Glaze Consistency: Simmer maple syrup mixture carefully to prevent burning, watching for a smooth, glossy coating that clings perfectly to the carrots without becoming too thick or runny.
- Toast Pecans Carefully: Roast nuts on low-medium heat, constantly stirring to prevent burning, and remove from skillet immediately when they release a rich, nutty fragrance to maintain their delicate flavor.
- Enhance Dietary Adaptability: Substitute butter with coconut oil for vegan options, or use alternatives like agave syrup for different flavor profiles while maintaining the dish’s core essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Side Dish
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 136
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 65 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg