Name: Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: NA
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs or panko (note 1); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley plus a few sprigs set aside as a garnish; 12 ounces of feta from a block (not crumbles), broken into pieces (note 2); 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil plus more, to taste; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 pounds rainbow carrots, peeled (or orange carrots); 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Description

These Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta are stunning as a side dish to complement a holiday roast and they also make a fantastic vegetarian appetizer for potlucks, game days, or elegant dinner parties.

Ingredients

Units Scale

For The Breadcrumbs:

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs or panko (note 1)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley plus a few sprigs set aside as a garnish

For The Whipped Feta:

12 ounces of feta from a block (not crumbles), broken into pieces (note 2)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil plus more, to taste
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For The Roasted Carrots:

2 pounds rainbow carrots, peeled (or orange carrots)
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

Equipment: sheet pan, food processor fitted with the chopping blade

Preheat the oven to 425ºF/220ºC and arrange an oven rack in the center position.
To toast the breadcrumbs, heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and toast, tossing and stirring frequently until crispy and golden brown, about 4-6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool for 10-15 minutes, then toss with parsley.
Add whipped feta ingredients to the bowl of a food processor and process until creamy. Adjust the flavor and texture with more lemon juice or oil, if needed.
To prepare the carrots trim off the ends and slice the carrots in half through the middle, separating the thicker top portion from the thinner bottom. Slice the thick pieces into quarters lengthwise (in half lengthwise and then half again lengthwise). Slice the thinner parts in half lengthwise. The idea is to get carrot sticks that are about equal in thickness so they cook evenly.
Add carrots, oil and spices to a mixing bowl and toss thoroughly. Arrange carrots on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer and roast for 15-20 minutes or until starting to brown on the bottom and crisp-tender, checking for doneness after 15 minutes.(note 3)
To serve, arrange the carrots on a large platter in two rows leaving space between the rows for the feta. Spoon the whipped feta in the center of your platter and sprinkle toasted breadcrumbs on top. Decorate the edges of platter with reserved parsley sprigs. Serve carrots with small appetizer plates and forks or simply let people grab and dip.

Notes

Homemade breadcrumbs: You can make your own homemade breadcrumbs by pulsing slightly stale dry bread in a food processor. Cut it into cubes first and then pulse until you have fine crumbs. Or if you only have fresh bread, cut it into cubes, spread it out on a sheet pan and lightly toast it in the oven at 250ºF to dry it out, and then pulse it into crumbs in the food processor.
Selecting Feta: For best results use the type of feta sold in blocks (not crumbles). Blocks of feta have fewer additives and tend to be higher quality than crumbled feta. I have a slight preference for sheep and goat feta which tends to be creamier and tangier than cow's milk feta.
Perfectly Roasted Carrots: Nobody likes mushy carrots so check them for doneness early. Keep in mind that roasting times can vary depending on oven temperature and carrot sizes.
Gluten Free: To make this dish gluten-free either use gluten-free breadcrumbs or skip the breadcrumbs all together and top the whipped feta with chopped parsley or chopped toasted almonds or pecans.
Make Ahead Strategies: Toasted breadcrumbs can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.Bring to room temperature before using and re-crisp, if necessary, by tossing in a hot pan for a minute or two. Whipped feta can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before using. Whipped feta tends to thicken as it sets. You can loosen it up by re-whisking it with a fork until creamy.
Nutrition Disclaimer: We do our best to provide accurate nutrition values using an online nutrition calculator however our nutrition information should only be used as an approximation.

Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Category: appetizer, side dish
Method: Roast
Cuisine: NA