Carrots are the Most Underrated Vegetable. And here’s why

If you grew up in England then chances are carrots were a staple part of your diet. Root vegetables are about the only thing we can successfully grow in the UK year on year, so we have to rely on them in meals.

That being said, carrots never take centre stage in a meal. They are always an afterthought,  or just one of several vegetables you feel obliged to add to a roast dinner. Quite frankly, I don’t think we are giving carrots enough justice for how delicious and versatile they really are. So, this is just a short article to tickle your tastebuds and enlighten you on the various ways you can help carrots stand in the spotlight from now on.

Carrot cake

How many of you won’t even try carrot cake because the thought of carrot in a dessert is totally not right? I understand and I was exactly the same. The same goes for avocado in chocolate and chickpea brownies. But I promise if you give it a go then you will be surprised and overwhelmed. The secret to a good carrot cake is a healthy dose of cinnamon and nutmeg. Against all odds, the flavour combination is incredible and sweet. If you are really put off by the thought of carrots, ensure you grate them as finely as possible so that you don’t get too much of the texture.

Carrot soups

Carrot and coriander soup you’ve probably heard of, but this isn’t the only variety of carrot soup out there. Carrots are so versatile, the subtle sweet and earthy flavours mean that they go with several flavours. Even creamy carrot soup on its own is good enough for me, but if you fancy some other flavours then check out this list of ideas:

• Turmeric and ginger
• Creamy coconut and red curry paste
• Red lentils
• Orange

Check out these Carrot soup recipes

Glazed carrots

The classic way to season carrots would be salt, pepper and butter, but where’s the fun in that? No, glazed carrots should definitely be on your list of meals this week because they bring a whole new flavour sensation to the game. Remember how I said that carrots have a sweet/earthy tone? Well glazing carrots with sweet stuff will accentuate this and bring out the best in the vegetable. You can then add the carrots to a salad, serve them as a side with a tender piece of meat or push into puff pastry and serve as a tart. The best things to glaze your carrots in include:

• Honey
• Sugar
• Maple syrup
• Balsamic vinegar

Are you convinced yet? Carrots can be an incredible little vegetable and if you usually take them for granted them you sure won’t anymore. Found your own favourite ways of cooking carrots? Then let us know and bless the world with your orange recipes.