Friday, May 25, 2012

Honey Roasted Carrot Salad


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Years ago, I’ve tried some honey roasted carrots at a restaurant.  I believe it was from a buffet restaurant when my Hubby and I visited Las Vegas.  Those honey roasted carrots were amazing.  Perfectly sweet and got a hint of the caramelized aroma from the honey along with the freshness from the carrot.  They were tender and succulent.  I’m surprised that those carrots didn’t help on my cognitive wellness for better memories!

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Anyhow, I’m just glad that I was able to recreate those honey roasted carrots right at home. Maybe that was the reason why I forgot which restaurant I first had them.  Because nowadays, I can enjoy them at home any time I want without the long drive to L.V.  Of course, I still enjoy a trip to L.V. every once in a while, but not just for the purpose of consuming carrots.

Carrot Double

The Honey Roasted Carrots are perfect as is if you serve them as a side dish. But since I was roasting them for lunch, I included other root vegetables such as parsnips and radishes.  The salad was dressed in Meyer Lemon and Herb Vinaigrette, so refreshing!

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Now that we’re done talking about the salad, it’s time for a confession.  I used to dislike radishes.  I guess it’s the strong peppery aroma that I dislike the most.  It’s only recently that I started to appreciate them, especially so when I serve them in salad.  Now, I adore radishes.  Ironically, it’s also that peppery aroma and flavor that makes me fall in love with the radish.  I can’t resist their lovely crunchy and crispy texture either.  I guess our palates and taste do change as we grow.  Boy, that makes me feel old.  Let’s just say, my palates gets more sophisticated as time goes by, like a bottle of fine wine.  Okay, that sounds more elegant, but I still feel O.L.D.!  Nevermind.

Radish Double

Is there a vegetable, or any type of food that you dislike at first but love them now?  I have quite a long list.  What are some of yours, if any?  I would love to know. 

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By the way, this salad is perfect if you serve them in individual glasses for gatherings as a healthy appetizer or side dish (such as your upcoming Memorial Day Grilling).  All you need to do is to chop the root vegetables in smaller pieces to fit into the serving glasses.  For a pretty presentation, simply layer each ingredients on top of each other and drizzle the vinaigrette on top.  But for me, the big bowl such as the one in the picture below is more of my type... for a substantial lunch.  Wish you all a Happy Memorial Weekend.  Happy roasting and grilling!   

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Honey Roasted Carrot Salad: (Printable Recipe)Serves: 4 (as entrée)

1 pound carrot, washed and peeled
1 pound parsnip, peeled and cut into 1x2-inch logs
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided
3 to 4 teaspoons honey, divided
3 to 4 radishes, thinly slices
a handful of micro greens
1 Meyer lemon, zest and juiced (use regular lemon if you can’t find one)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon fresh oregano leaves, chopped
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degree F. 

Line a baking sheet with a piece of foil, shinny side down (for easy clean up later on).  Place carrots and parsnips on the baking sheet and drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil, 2 teaspoon of honey and sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste.  Gently toss to coat all vegetables.  Roast for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring once in the middle of roasting with a heat proof spatula.  When the carrots and parsnips are slightly golden brown and the honey caramelized around the edges, remove from the oven and let cool slightly.

To prepare the Meyer lemon and herb vinaigrette:

In a small bowl, stir together the zest and juice of a Meyer lemon, 1 to 2 teaspoon of honey (depending how sweet you like), mustard, thyme, and oregano.  While whisking, slowly drizzle the remaining 3 tablespoon of olive oil into the mixture.

When ready to serve divide vegetables into serving plate/bowl, drizzle just enjoy vinaigrette to moisten the salad.  Serve with extra dressing on the side.



17 comments:

  1. HPS! 4th Year!!!


    Fabulous salad! I will be checking your other recipes! Thanks so much for sharing!


    Gabriela

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    1. Thank you for stopping by Gabriela. You have a wonderful blog yourself. I'll be checking out your craft projects and other fun thing happening on your blog. Have a wonderful week.

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  2. They are so fresh and gorgeous, like little glasses of art!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Belinda. Glad you like them. :)

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  3. Thank you for stopping by. I love your blog. There are so many fun things going on. :) I'll be browsing around more after this message. Have a wonderful week.

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  4. Hi Amy! Sorry I've been MIA lately but I just went through missed posts. I'm so inspired by your gorgeous photos and beautiful food styling! And this post also.... so pretty!!! Absolutely love the girlie feeling from this post. Roasted veggies are so delicious. Very lovely salad~~~! Have a great long weekend!

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    1. There's no need to apologize, Nami. I bet you must be busy catching up after the trip so I totally understand. :)

      Thank you for your sweet comment on my post. Glad you enjoyed the girlie pictures. Have a wonderful weened too! Take care.

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  5. That carrot salad sounds and looks delicious, Amy! You have my mouth watering this morning:)

    Hope that you are enjoying the sunny holiday weekend!

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    1. Thank you, Cinderella. It's always nice hear from you. I had a wonderful long weekend...yes, lots of sunshine and suntan as I went to the pool with the kiddos, BBQ, etc. Hope yours was just as fun.

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  6. This salad looks fantastic! I cannot wait to make it. Wonderful pictures as always. Come and visit. We have some wonderful recipes to share this week.

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    1. Thank you, Carolina. I know you'll love it. It's so refreshing and just perfect for summer time. I'm going to stop by your site right after this message. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  7. Oh My... STUNNING photos! Me, I HATED peaches as an ignorant youth, but can not get enough of them now! Love this post, thanks for sharing

    Dave at erecipeCards.com

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    1. Thank you, Dave. Oh, my kids dislike peaches as well. I hope that's just a phrase then because I adore ripe and juicy peaches. Can't wait to serve more and enjoy them with my kids. :) Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  8. I stumbled across your blog today and am glad I did! Stunning food shots! And this salad looks delicious. I love the idea of roasting parsnips and perfect timing as the vegan cafe I work for has a bag of parsnips that need to be used creatively. Love the inspiration. Thanks!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I'm glad you like this salad. :)

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  10. Amy, your photos always look amazing.
    Kristy

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