Lemon Cumin Roasted Carrots

Lemon Cumin Roasted Vegetables

They say desperation is the mother of creation… Wait, do they? Well, I say limitations (and a hint of desperate hunger) is the seed for simple and great recipe creation. Here I present to you a simple but flavourful, colourful, and delicious roasted root medley of lemon cumin roasted carrots, which falls perfectly in line with all that makes this UnDiet life so vibrant.

Roasted Root Vegetables

My regular routine involves meal planning, recipe and vegetable prep, and using up all the bits in my fridge so nothing gets wasted. I first created this recipe a number of years ago after a busy winter of travel, filming for the Culinary Nutrition Expert Program, and shooting my second cookbook. During that time, most of what we ate were leftovers from photo and film shoots!

Then, after a late night, I opened the fridge and all we had was a bag of parsnips and carrots and one little lemon, sitting all alone. And I thought – I can work with this.

Roasted Carrot Recipe

Since then, we make this recipe frequently. It’s incredibly delicious and like most of my recipes, it’s flexible – meaning you can swap in seasonal vegetables or adjust the herbs and spices to your liking.

The Health Benefits of Carrots (and Root Vegetables)

Carrots receive their bright pigments from beta-carotene, which our bodies convert into Vitamin A for skin and immune health, as well as for vision.

Aside from its antioxidants, carrots contain a wealth of vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, potassium and Vitamin K1. They’re also a great source of fibre for digestion and heart health.

Carrots come in a variety of cheerful colours, though we typically think of carrots as orange as that’s the most common hue we see at the grocery store. And there’s nothing wrong with that!

The root vegetable family is usually quite sweet (and can satisfy sweet cravings for those who are sugar-free or low-sugar) and are wonderful for comfort food-style meals.

When using root veggies, give them a good scrub down but keep the skin on. Root veggies grow underground and soak up their minerals from the soil. If we opt for organic root veggies grown in mineral-rich soil, that outer area of the vegetable is where the highest concentration of mineral power will be found.

Parsnips and Carrots

Root Vegetable Options for This Recipe

Roasted carrots are a simple, convenient choice. You can also try:

  • Parsnips
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Celery root
  • Beets
  • Rutabaga
  • Turnip
  • Winter squash
  • Potatoes

Or use a mix of a bunch of different root veg! Ensure you cut everything approximately the same size so all of the veggies cook evenly.

Flavour Variations for Roasted Carrots

I flavoured the carrots and parsnips with fresh ground cumin and coriander seeds, drizzled on the juice of a whole lemon, tossed in some olive and sea salt and then popped them in to roast for 45 minutes. Other seasoning options are:

  • Garam masala
  • 5-spice powder
  • Turmeric
  • Ginger
  • Parsley
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Cinnamon
  • Allspice

Lemon juice vegetable marinade

A key trick is that I toss the vegetables in a bowl and then lay them out on parchment. Any leftover lemon/olive oil in the bowl gets poured over the roots once they’re already laid out. This lends to a little more tasty caramelizing.

Roasted carrots recipe

These roasted carrots are a perfect way to enjoy root vegetable season!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Lemon Cumin Roasted Carrots Recipe

Lemon Cumin Roasted Carrots


  • Author: Meghan Telpner
  • Total Time: 55 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Description

A simple roasted vegetable side dish to accompany any protein or be added to a salad.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 dozen carrots, parsnips or mix of both
  • 1 lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup lemon juice)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil or ghee
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds, ground
  • 1/2 tsp coriander seeds, ground
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt (or more to taste)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Cut off tips and ends of carrots/parsnips and slice in half lengthwise. Place in mixing bowl.
  3. In a small bowl, stir together lemon juice, oil, ground cumin and coriander, and sea salt.
  4. Pour marinade over vegetables and toss.
  5. Lay vegetables out in a single row on a parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle any remaining marinade over top of them.
  6. Place in the oven and roast for 40-50 minutes, until veggies are lightly browned and crispy at the edges.
  7. Serve warm or at room temperature.
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Category: Side Dish

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star