Get ready to elevate your side dish game with our Oven Roasted Carrots with Tahini! These vibrant carrots are bursting with sweet and savory flavors that even the pickiest eaters will devour. Perfect for any occasion, from holiday feasts to quick weeknight dinners, they’re sure to become a staple in your recipe repertoire.
These delicious carrots are simply roasted in the oven until tender and caramelized. Once they’re done, they’re drizzled with a creamy tahini sauce for an extra layer of flavor and mouthwatering richness.
The result? Absolutely amazing carrots with a hint of sweetness and a creamy tahini finish that’s simply irresistible. Whether you serve them as a side dish or enjoy them on their own, these roasted carrots are sure to be a hit at the dinner table.
Table of Contents
Carrots are one of our favorite veggies to serve as side dishes, and these roasted carrots with tahini dressing are a family favorite! Naturally sweet and given a boost of nutty, refreshing flavor, they’re loved by kids and adults alike.
Even better, they come together with minimal prep time and a quick cook time so you can focus on your main course. Go ahead and double the batch, because they don’t last long!
Ingredients You Need
These roasted carrots with tahini come together with several components. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below to find the complete ingredients and instructions!
Roasted Carrots
- Carrots – Use whole carrots, and make them extra festive with colored varieties.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – This helps the seasonings cling to the carrots and allows them to caramelize as they bake.
- Salt and Black Pepper – Adjust the amount used to taste.
Tahini Dressing
- Plain Yogurt – Use full-fat plain yogurt to create a creamy base.
- Tahini – Tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds that has a nutty, slightly bitter flavor.
- Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is best.
- White Vinegar – The acidity helps cut through some of the heaviness of the fats, creating a well-balanced taste.
- Seasonings – Ground cumin, salt, and black pepper create a savory flavor with just a touch of heat.
- Water – Use as little or as much as needed to achieve your desired consistency.
- Pomegranate Molasses – Technically optional, this Mediterranean staple adds a sweet, almost floral flavor that pairs fabulously with the natural sweetness of the carrots.
Toppings
- Mint Leaves – These add a bright, refreshing flavor that balances out the sweet and savory flavors.
- Chopped Pistachios – We love the subtle crunch pistachios add! However, you could swap them out for goat cheese crumbles if you prefer a creamy texture.
How to Make Tantalizing Tahini Carrots
This recipe requires a bit of multitasking, but everything comes together quickly.
Roast the Carrots
- Prepare. Preheat the oven, and trim the carrots.
- Season. Arrange the carrots in a single layer on a baking sheet, and drizzle the oil on top. Sprinkle the seasonings evenly across, and gently shake to roll and coat the carrots.
- Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven until the carrots are tender. Roll them around about halfway through to ensure even cooking!
Create the Tahini Dressing
- Combine. Add the yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, vinegar, and pomegranate molasses to a mixing bowl, and whisk to combine. Whisk in the seasonings.
- Adjust. Whisk in water as needed until your desired consistency is achieved.
NOTE: The dressing will likely be very thick at first. Just keep whisking until the ingredients combine and smooth out!
Assemble
- Spread. Spoon the tahini dressing evenly over a serving platter.
- Layer. Arrange the roasted carrots in an even layer on top, and garnish with the mint leaves, chopped pistachios, and/or goat cheese.
- Serve. Enjoy your roasted carrots with tahini dressing while warm!
Serving Suggestions
These roasted carrots with tahini dressing pair wonderfully with a variety of main courses! For example, some of our favorite pairings include Middle Eastern Chicken and Potatoes, Roasted Chicken, Slow Cooker Pot Roast, Brisket, and Honey Garlic Salmon.
Storage Options
This recipe is best served right away. However, if you have leftovers, you can store the carrots and tahini dressing in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for three to five days.
To serve, warm your carrots in the oven at around 400 degrees Fahrenheit just until they’re heated through. Then, give the dressing a good whisk, and assemble as usual.
Common Questions about Oven Roasted Whole Carrots with Tahini Dressing
The magic ingredient for thinning tahini dressing is ice-cold water! Add it gradually, whisking continuously, and watch as your tahini transforms from a thick paste into a smooth, pourable sauce. Remember that the dressing will continue to thicken as it sits, so you might want to make it slightly thinner than your target consistency.
While you technically can use baby carrots, whole carrots are really the way to go for this dish – they have more natural sweetness and a better texture when roasted. Plus, whole carrots look so much more impressive on the plate and tend to retain their moisture better during roasting.
This is totally up to personal preference! As long as you give them a good scrub, unpeeled carrots are perfectly safe to eat and actually pack extra nutrients in their skin. Plus, leaving the peel on gives them a rustic look that’s absolutely stunning on a dinner table.
The key to achieving those crispy edges is giving your carrots plenty of space on the baking sheet – they need room to breathe! Overcrowding leads to steaming instead of roasting, so be sure to spread them out in a single layer.
More Side Dish Recipes
- Parmesan Oven Roasted Carrots
- Oven Roasted Parmesan Brussel Sprouts
- Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Easy Shirazi Salad Recipe
Oven Roasted Whole Carrots with Tahini Dressing
Ingredients
Roasted Carrots:
- 2 pounds whole colorful or regular carrots scrubbed and trimmed
- 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt more or less to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper more or less to taste
Tahini Dressing:
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1/4 cup tahini stirred
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- Optional: 2 Tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt more or less to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoon water
Toppings:
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1/2 cup toasted chopped pistachios or optional topping, goat cheese
Instructions
Roasted Carrots:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius).
- Trim the greens off the carrots, and lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet.2 pounds whole colorful or regular carrots
- Drizzle the carrots with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. Give the pan a good shake to roll the carrots in the seasoning and ensure it spreads evenly.3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Bake the carrots in the center rack of the oven for 30-35 minutes or until tender. About halfway through the cooking time, give the pan another shake to let the carrots roll around a bit. This will help prevent them from sticking.
Tahini Dressing:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine 3/4 cup plain yogurt, 1/4 cup tahini (stirred), the juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, and pomegranate molasses, if using.3/4 cup plain yogurt, 1/4 cup tahini, Juice of 1/2 a lemon, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, Optional: 2 Tablespoons pomegranate molasses
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of ground cumin to the mixture. Adjust the seasonings to taste.1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Add 2 tablespoons of water, and whisk together until the texture is smooth. Note: The dressing may seem thick, but don’t panic! Keep whisking until it smoothes out. If it’s too thick, add 1 more tablespoon of water, and whisk again. Feel free to adjust the seasonings, lemon juice, or water to achieve the taste texture desired.2 Tablespoon water
Assembly:
- Spread the tahini dressing on a serving platter.
- Arrange the carrots on top.
- Sprinkle fresh mint leave on top followed by mint and toasted chopped pistachios or crumbled goat cheese, if desired.1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, 1/2 cup toasted chopped pistachios
Video
Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
