Description
Roasted spicy maple carrots blend sweet and heat with crispy chickpeas and cool yogurt sauce. Mediterranean-inspired flavors create a delightful side dish you will savor with each flavorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 Dutch carrots (scrubbed clean with tops trimmed, keep 2 cm/1 inch of tops for presentation)
- 600 g/1.2 lbs regular carrots (5 medium, peeled and cut into quarters)
- 400 g/14 oz can chickpeas (drained but not dried)
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tbsps maple syrup (or 2.5 tbsps honey)
- 2 tbsps sriracha
- 1.5 tbsps olive oil
- 3 tbsps toasted pistachios (finely chopped)
- 2 tbsps finely chopped coriander/cilantro leaves (or parsley)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
- 0.25 tsp garlic powder
- 0.25 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp cooking salt/kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp garlic (finely grated)
Instructions
- Preheating: Position oven racks for optimal circulation and set to high temperature.
- Carrot Preparation: Toss carrots in a vibrant blend of maple syrup, sriracha, olive oil, salt, and pepper on a baking tray. Place on upper oven rack.
- Chickpea Transformation: Drain chickpeas, spread on a separate tray, drizzle with olive oil, and season generously with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Thoroughly coat and mix.
- Roasting Technique: Simultaneously roast chickpeas and carrots. Shake chickpea tray periodically to achieve maximum crunchiness, listening for a distinctive rattling sound. Rotate carrot tray midway to ensure even caramelization.
- Yogurt Sauce Creation: Whisk yogurt with grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Allow flavors to meld for at least 20 minutes.
- Flavor Amplification: Optional maple-sriracha sauce can be prepared for extra zest.
- Plating Artistry: Spread yogurt sauce on serving plate, arrange roasted carrots, and scrape caramelized tray juices. Garnish with crispy chickpeas, fresh herbs, and toasted pistachios.
- Final Presentation: Drizzle with optional maple-sriracha sauce and serve immediately to capture the perfect balance of textures and flavors.
Notes
- Optimize Oven Spacing: Position racks for maximum air circulation, ensuring even roasting and caramelization of ingredients.
- Season Strategically: Remove chickpeas midway to add spices, guaranteeing a thorough and uniform flavor coating that creates maximum crunch.
- Rest and Infuse Sauce: Let yogurt sauce sit for 20 minutes, allowing ingredients to blend and develop a more complex, deeper taste profile.
- Garnish for Texture: Top dish with fresh herbs, toasted pistachios, and optional maple-sriracha drizzle to elevate sensory experience with contrasting textures and flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55-60 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg