My honey harissa carrots recipe is a flavor-packed side dish that will level up your next dinner or gathering. It's loaded with sweet and savory flavors with a spicy kick from the combination of harissa paste, honey, and apple cider vinegar. Trust me, this easy recipe will be your new favorite way to eat carrots!
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If you've never tried harissa paste before, you're in for a surprise. It's a staple in North African cuisine, and it takes a simple ingredient like carrots and gives it a spicy, exciting twist. If you liked this recipe, you need to give my carrot noodles with harissa beef a try!
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📖Why My Recipe Works
- Homemade Harissa Paste- This recipe is based on my authentic Harissa recipe made with dried chilies, caraway, ground cumin, and coriander. It packs a lot of heat which complements the natural sweetness of the carrots.
- Vinegar- The dash of extra acid keeps a balance with the carrots and honey.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Carrots- Use any type of carrots that you like. If using baby carrots, you can slice them in half.
- Unsalted Butter- If you're using salted butter, you can adjust to reduce the salt. To make it vegan, substitute butter with olive oil.
- Harissa Paste- I made my own homemade harissa which I detailed in my recipe, but you can also easily find it in grocery stores. If you can't find it you can make a paste from harissa powder, a DIY spice mix.
- Honey- Swap it with maple syrup for a vegan version.
- Apple Cider Vinegar- You can also use white wine vinegar, minced preserved lemon, or lemon juice.
- Parsley- Use fresh parsley or cilantro for garnish.
⏲️How to Make Spicy Harissa Carrots
- I prefer to slice the carrots into 2-inch pieces because they easily become tender without cooking too quickly in the oven. You can also slice them in rounds or cut them into thinner pieces, but make sure to cut down the cooking time.
- When mixing the honey and harissa mixture in a small bowl, you can taste and adjust it before tossing the carrots in it. Make sure to fully coat each piece with the mixture to get the full flavor.
- Spread the carrots in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, leaving a little space between them and not overcrowding the pan.
- When baking the carrots, toss them halfway through to cook them evenly. This will result in fork-tender, golden-roasted carrots with caramelized edges.
🥗What to Serve with Roasted Carrots
There are so many ways to jazz up this roasted carrot recipe. You can top it with crumbled feta cheese or a dollop of Greek yogurt, labneh, avocado crema, or a tahini sauce. I like to drizzle mine with my yogurt dill sauce, poppy seed dressing, or vegan avocado sauce.
To make it a complete meal, my go-to main dishes to serve it with are a juicy Waygu burger, baked salmon, or citrus shredded beef. These spicy carrots pair well with a side of sauteed greens.
Expert Tips
- You can adjust the spiciness by adding a little pureed roasted red pepper to the harissa paste.
- You can use the remaining harissa mixture to drizzle on the carrots right before serving.
More Carrot Recipes
Common Recipe Questions
Can I make harissa less spicy?
Yes! You can make the harissa less spicy by blending it with roasted red peppers which are sweet and not spicy.
Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more FLAVORFUL recipes?
📖 Recipe Card
Honey Harissa Carrots
Ingredients
- 2 pounds carrots
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 Tablespoons harissa paste
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- fresh parlsey for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F degrees. Peel the carrots and slice into 2 inch pieces.2 pounds carrots
- In a bowl whisk together melted butter, harissa, honey vinegar, and salt ingredients. Toss the carrots to coat with the spice mixture. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet or in a large baking dish.3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 Tablespoons harissa paste, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Bake for 25 minutes until the carrots have started brown and are fork tender. Be sure to toss halfway through to ensure even cooking. Serve with a sprinkle of parsley.fresh parlsey
Notes
- If the honey begins to caramelize too much add a little water to the pan before it burns.
- Harissa paste varies in heat use between 1 and 3 Tablespoons depending on your heat preference.
- You can cut the carrots into thin strips or small rounds to reduce the cooking time.
- If you use salted butter reduce the salt by a ¼ teaspoon or so.
Vegan/ Dairy-Free Option
Replace the butter with olive oil (no need to warm) and substitute maple syrup for the honey.🌡️Storing Leftovers
To store leftover roasted carrots place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. For longer storage, freeze in a sealed container for up to 6-8 months. When ready to eat, reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.Equipment
- Baking sheet
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