Description
Honey-Glazed Carrots are a simple and delicious side dish featuring tender carrots coated in a sweet, buttery honey glaze with a hint of lemon and fresh parsley garnish. This recipe balances natural sweetness and savory flavors, making it the perfect accompaniment for a variety of meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced (1/4 to 1/2 inch thick)
Glaze
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Carrots: Begin by peeling the carrots and slicing them into equal-sized pieces, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick to ensure even cooking.
- Boil the Carrots: Place the sliced carrots into a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat to start the cooking process.
- Simmer Until Slightly Tender: Reduce the heat to medium and let the carrots simmer for about 10 minutes, until they are tender enough to pierce with a fork but not fully cooked through.
- Drain Carrots: Drain the water from the saucepan and return the carrots to the pan for glazing.
- Add Glaze Ingredients: Add the unsalted butter, honey, salt, and black pepper to the carrots. Toss everything together to coat the carrots evenly in the glaze mixture.
- Cook and Caramelize: Cook the carrots over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the honey and butter to caramelize slightly, forming a shiny glaze that coats the carrots beautifully.
- Add Lemon Juice: If using, drizzle fresh lemon juice over the glazed carrots and toss again to combine and add a bright contrast to the sweetness.
- Plate and Garnish: Remove the pan from heat and transfer the honey-glazed carrots to a serving dish. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- Slice carrots uniformly for even cooking.
- Simmering the carrots rather than boiling fully keeps their texture tender yet firm.
- The lemon juice adds a nice brightness but can be omitted according to taste.
- Fresh parsley garnish is optional but adds color and freshness.
- Can be served warm or at room temperature.
- For a vegan version, substitute butter with plant-based butter or olive oil.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling, simmering, glazing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (about 150g)
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
Keywords: honey glazed carrots, sweet carrots recipe, glazed vegetables, easy side dish, healthy carrot side
