Parmesan Crusted Carrots Are So Good, Your Friends Will Demand the Recipe (2024)

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James Park is a food content creator, food personality, and social media strategist based in Brooklyn. He was professionally trained at the International Culinary Center. He loves to share his love and passion for Korean cuisine and culture, fried chicken, and all things noodles. He’s currently working on his debut cookbook that’s all about chile crisp.

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published Jan 13, 2024

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Parmesan Crusted Carrots Are So Good, Your Friends Will Demand the Recipe (1)

Sweet, jammy roasted carrots get a salty, crispy Parmesan crust.

Serves4 to 6Prep15 minutesCook15 minutes to 20 minutes

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Parmesan Crusted Carrots Are So Good, Your Friends Will Demand the Recipe (2)

Roasting carrots is one of the best ways to coax out the naturally sweet flavors of the vegetable. After a stint in a hot oven, the results are jammy, slightly caramelized, and delicious.

What makes them even better? Roasting carrots on a bed of salty Parmesan cheese. Inspired by several viral recipes like these Parmesan sweet potatoes and the “World’s Best potatoes,” these crispy Parmesan crusted carrots are a sweet-and-salty side dish that will steal the show. And if carrots aren’t your thing, this same method works well with many other vegetables.

Key Ingredients in Parmesan Crusted Carrots

  • Carrots: Colored carrots or regular orange carrots both work here. Colored carrots have a slightly different texture and flavor when roasted.
  • Herbs: My recipe calls for fresh (or dried) rosemary and dried oregano, but you can introduce different types of spices and herbs, such as tarragon or smoked paprika, to switch things up.
  • Parmesan cheese: Creates a beautiful crust when baked in the oven. It not only seasons the carrots, but also creates a delightfully salty, crispy edge.

How to Make Parmesan Crusted Carrots

  1. Prepare and season the carrots. Cut carrots into square sticks for maximum surface area. Then, toss with oil and seasonings to flavor them.
  2. Place the carrots on a bed of Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the Parmesan on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then add seasoned carrots on top cut-side down.
  3. Roast them until the cheese crust forms. Bake the carrots at a high temperature so the edges come out crispy.

If You’re Making Parmesan Crusted Carrots, a Few Tips

  • Have fun with spices. You can add some heat (red pepper flakes or smoked paprika), or other spices like turmeric or ground ginger to add more flavor to your carrots.
  • Cool down for a few minutes before serving. The Parmesan crust will harden and become crispier once it cools down.

What to Serve with Parmesan Crusted Carrots

  • Galbi Jjim (Korean Braised Short Ribs)
  • Italian Meatloaf
  • Easy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken
  • Pan-Fried Pork Chops
  • Canned Salmon Cakes
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Parmesan Crusted Carrots Recipe

Sweet, jammy roasted carrots get a salty, crispy Parmesan crust.

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 15 minutes to 20 minutes

Serves 4 to 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 3 ounces

    Parmesan cheese (3/4 packed cup freshly grated or 1 cup store-bought grated)

  • 1 pound

    medium carrots (5 to 6)

  • 1 sprig

    fresh rosemary or 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

  • 1 tablespoon

    olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon

    freshly ground black pepper

  • Chopped fresh parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 425°F. Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Finely grate 3 ounces Parmesan cheese on the smallest holes of a box grater (about 3/4 packed cup), or measure out 1 cup store-bought grated. Transfer to the baking sheet and spread into an even layer.

  2. Peel 1 pound medium carrots and trim the ends. Halve crosswise, then halve or quarter each piece lengthwise so they are all about the same size. Place in a large bowl. Pick the leaves from 1 fresh rosemary sprig and finely chop until you have 1 1/2 teaspoons, or measure out 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary. Add to the bowl.

  3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Toss until the carrots are evenly coated. Arrange the carrots cut-side down in a single layer on the cheese, spacing them evenly apart.

  4. Roast until most of the cheese is dark golden-brown and the carrots are tender, rotating the baking sheet as needed, 15 to 20 minutes total. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley leaves if desired.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Filed in:

Vegetables

vegetarian

Gluten-Free

dairy

Cheese

Root Vegetables

Parmesan Crusted Carrots Are So Good, Your Friends Will Demand the Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What enhances the flavor of carrots? ›

Flavor Enhancements

Use spearmint, marjoram, a small bay leaf, thyme, grated ginger root, chopped chives, dill or parsley.

What is Parmesan cheese used for? ›

Parmesan cheese made outside of the European Union is a family of hard grating cheeses made from cow's milk and inspired by the original Italian cheese. They are generally pale yellow in color and usually used grated on dishes such as pasta, Caesar salad, and pizza.

What carrots have the best flavor? ›

Favorite Flavorful Carrot Varieties
  • 'Danvers'
  • 'Purple Haze'
  • 'Cosmic Purple'
  • 'Dragon'
  • 'Scarlet Nantes'
  • 'Paris Market'

How can I enhance the flavor of my vegetables? ›

Grilling and roasting are excellent ways to heighten the natural flavor of vegetables. Ingredients like carrots, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, and beets become sweeter and caramelized after roasting, while throwing slices of eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper on the grill will bring out a smokier taste.

Why is Parmesan so tasty? ›

It is one of the very highest naturally produced foods of any kind in Glutamate content, which is why it has a very strong umami characteristic or savory taste. This explains why even though it is delicious on its own, it also elevates almost any dish to which it is added, cooked or uncooked.

Why is Parmesan so healthy? ›

Its high amount of calcium can support good bone health and help prevent osteoporosis (a condition that weakens your bones). If you don't eat meat, then you know it can sometimes be a challenge to get enough protein. Dairy products, especially cheese, can be a rich protein source.

What is the healthiest Parmesan cheese? ›

And so if you're worried about exactly what you're consuming, choosing Parmigiano-Reggiano instead is the way to go. “Parmigiano-Reggiano is a very safe cheese,” Supan says. “It's actually probably a little bit safer than most people even realize. It really can be a great cheese for everyone.”

How do you balance carrot flavor? ›

Carrots do have a unique sweetness thats difficult to hide. A splash of dry white wine in the soup may help as well. If your soup is too sweet, you could try adding an acidic ingredient such as lemon juice or vinegar to balance out the sweetness of the carrots.

Can you perk up carrots? ›

But if your carrot has gone limp, it can easily be revived by soaking it in water. Research by the University of Otago found that carrots will last 10 times longer if you store them in the fridge in an airtight container with a paper towel on the bottom.

Why do my carrots have no flavor? ›

Improper soil pH--you might want to have a soil test done, to check pH, available phosphorus, and potassium. If you need to raise pH and magnesium levels are low, use dolomitic limestone. 4. Low soil organic matter--add lots of compost to the bed to increase soil humus.

What brings out the sweetness in carrots? ›

When the vegetable is cut, its cells rupture and release sugars and volatile hydrocarbons, the sources of the vegetables' sweetness and aroma,” he writes. "The more cells you rupture, the better the taste.”

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