I think whole-roasted vegetables are beautiful. Keeping the stems/greens on are a perfect way to highlight the notion that root to tip are edible. Carrots are one my favorite vegetables to do this with but I've found over the years that I much prefer to quarter the carrots. Serving someone a whole carrot to cut seems a bit more overwhelming than if the carrots are in thinner, asparagus-size strips.
These harissa roasted carrots are a solid lunch for me. However, I've also served them with a poached egg and toast for a beautiful breakfast. Also, you can make extra of the the beans. They are great tossed with a simple salad or grains.
Harissa Roasted Carrots with White Beans
A vibrant spring bean salad featuring harissa roasted carrots tossed with white beans, pepitas, and a handful of herbs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
Carrots
½ pound small carrots (with part of greens still intact)
2 teaspoons harissa powder blend (see note)
2 teaspoons olive oil
Beans
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup cooked Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed if using canned
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro and flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons toasted pepitas
Instructions
- Preheat oven the oven to 400˚F. Rinse carrots well and trim greens so that about ½” of the stems are left. Quarter the carrots lengthwise, through the green stem. Place on a sheet tray along with the harissa powder and olive oil. Roast until browning and tender; 25 minutes or so.
- When the carrots are almost done, a small pan over medium-low heat and add olive oil. Add garlic and cook until golden; 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the beans, herbs, and lemon juice.
- Remove the carrots from the oven and scrap beans on top of carrots. Add the pepitas and toss well to combine.
Notes
Tips and Tricks: Many spice companies make a harissa blend. However, if you can't find the blend, use a premade or homemade harissa paste (I typically adjust based on how spicy the paste is- add about 2 tablespoons for more mild paste).
If the carrot greens look good- chop them up and add to the bean mix along with the cilantro and parsley.
Harissa Roasted Carrots
variations
Beans: I love the small white beans for this dish but you could easily use chickpeas are even black lentils.
Spice Mixture: Harissa typically has a solid kick to it and even though I only use a small amount, it's there. If you want to make this without the heat, use 1 teaspoon smoked paprika with about ½ teaspoon of cumin and coriander.
Seeds: Try using toasted sunflower seeds in place of the pepitas. Slivered almonds would also work well.
Explore Carrots
I find myself always pairing carrots with grains. The combination of the earthy/sweet carrots works well with most grains and can come together to form a wholesome meal. Plus, carrots work with minimal (or no) cooking- a big plus in my kitchen. Also, I recommend looking for different varieties of carrots- they all have different flavors. A few of my favorite easy carrot recipes:
Cumin Braised Carrots with Chickpeas
Pickled Carrot and Hummus Sandwich
Roasted Carrots with Couscous and Gremolata
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