This summer, I’ve been volunteering most Saturday mornings at Sustainable Nantucket’s Farmer’s and Artisan’s Market. Some weeks they have me taking photos of the purveyors while other times I play bouncer, making sure everyone enters and exits the market where they’re supposed to (and wears a mask, of course)! After my shift, I shop, and the one item I can’t seem to get enough of lately is beautiful bunches of carrots with their frilly leaves intact. They are gorgeous … not to mention, delicious. And clearly as you’ll see in this roundup of 46 Carrot and Carrot Greens recipes, I’m not the only one obsessed with carrots.
Carrots are crunchy and slightly sweet and they’re versatile, making their way into everything from kid-friendly muffins and sophisticated baked oatmeal to unusual sauteed carrot greens. And they are nutrition superstars. One medium carrot has about 25 calories, 6 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. Carrots are rich in vitamin as well as beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which get converted in the body to make even more vitamin A. Carrots also contain potassium, vitamins C and K, calcium, and phosphorus. And the carrot tops (AKA greens, AKA leaves) have a similar nutritional profile to carrots; they are rich in vitamin A, C, K, and potassium.
Don’t toss those greens. Reduce food waste by using the whole carrots and their leafy tops. Carrot tops can be used in soups, salads, and pesto, and you can also saute them. I’ve got a bunch of recipes below, so keep on reading!
A word about rainbow carrots:
Rainbow carrots get their color from different antioxidant compounds, so the health benefits vary by color. Orange carrots are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant good for eye health and vision; purple carrots contain anthocyanin, an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties and immune support; yellow carrots contain lutein, which is also good for eye health; and red-colored carrots have lycopene, which may help to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Carrots are available year round nationwide, and their seasonality varies by region. Here in New England, we find locally-grown carrots as early as April, but they are at their peak in the spring and summer months.
Raise your hand if you’re also obsessed with this humble vegetable?
Beverages
Carrot Juice from Shahzadi at Desi-licious RD (shown above)
Carrot Ginger Turmeric Mimosa from Ginger at Champagne Nutrition
Oatmeal
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats from Sharon at The Plant-Powered Dietitian (shown above)
Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal from Chelsey at Chelsey Amer Nutrition
Tropical Carrot Cake Oatmeal from Laura at Being Nutritious
Carrot Cake Overnight Oats from Kara Lydon, RD
Carrot Cake Oatmeal from Jenna at Manitoba Milling Co.
Bites, Muffins, Waffles, Cookies, and Cupcakes
Carrot Cake Energy Bites from Sarah at Bucket List Tummy (shown above)
Morning Glory Veggie Muffins from Jenna at Make Healthy Easy
Soft & Fluffy Banana Carrot Muffins from Colleen at Colleen Christensen Nutrition
Carrot Cake Muffins from Jenny at My Cape Cod Kitchen (shown above)
Dairy-Free Carrot Cake Waffles from Maria at Halsa Nutrition
Carrot Spice Cupcakes from Sharon at The Plant-Powered Dietitian (shown above)
Oatmeal Toddler Cookies from Josten at Muscle and Manna
Roasted Carrots
Extra Gingery Roasted Rainbow Carrots from Emily at Sinful Nutrition (shown above)
Roasted Beets & Carrots with Creamy Garlic Dill Sauce from Laura at Being Nutritious
Ginger Maple Mustard & Herb Roasted Carrots from Andrea at Beautiful Eats & Things
Roasted Carrots with Carrot Top Pesto from Stacie at The Real Food RDs (shown above)
Cumin behavior from Lisa at Sound Bites Nutrition
Sweet and Spicy Turmeric Roasted Carrots from Leanne Ray, RDN
Roasted Orange Ginger Carrots from Sharon at The Plant-Powered Dietitian (shown above)
Roasted Carrots from Heather Mangieri, RDN
Carrot Tops (AKA carrot greens)
Sauteed Carrot Greens from Kristina at Fork in the Road (shown above)
Carrot Top Pesto from Chrissy at Snacking in Sneakers
Italian Pesto from Laura at My Family Fork
Nutty Carrot Top Pesto from Liz at Liz’s Healthy Table (shown above)
Soups
Carrot Ginger Soup from Julie at The Gourmet RD (shown above)
Turmeric, Ginger and Roasted Carrot Soup from Brittany at Your Choice Nutrition
Creamy Roasted Carrot Soup by Kristine at Veg Girl RD
The BEST Pressure Cooker Vegetable Soup from Laurel at Laurel Ann Nutrition
Spicy Cauliflower Soup with Carrots from Amy at Amy Gorin Nutrition
Salads
Simple Shaved Carrot and Fennel Salad from Lizzie at It’s a Veg World After All (shown above)
Carrot, Chickpea & Raisin Salad from Julie at The Gourmet RD
Balsamic Carrot Salad from Judy at LiveBest
Rainbow Vegetable Slaw Salad from Heather Mangieri, RDN
Easy Vinegar Coleslaw from Laura at Being Nutritious
Hummus and Dips
Roasted Carrots and Ranch Hummus from Jenna at Make Healthy Easy (shown above)
Red Lentil and Carrot Hummus from Lindsey at Tasty Balance Nutrition
Harissa-Roasted Carrot and Bean Dip from Liz at Liz’s Healthy Table (shown above)
Dinner Entrees
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie from Rebecca at Rebecca Bitzer and Associates
Roasted Chicken with Fennel, Carrots, & Dried Plums from Jessica Levinson, RD
Fries and Fritters
Easy Air Fryer Carrot Fries from Mary Ellen at Milk and Honey Nutrition (shown above)
Crispy Oven Fries from Laura at Being Nutritious
Carrot Hummus Fritters from Brittany at Your Choice Nutrition
Parmesan Carrot ‘Fries’ from Jennifer at Jennifer Hunt Nutrition
Zucchini Kohlrabi Carrot Fritters with Herb Yogurt Sauce from Kara Lydon, RD
Tell me about your favorite carrot recipes.
Leave a comment!