Miso Glazed Carrots

Roasting root vegetables brings out an incredible sweetness that balances out their earthiness just right. Instead of the usual potato, I’m using carrots. Their natural sugars caramelize in the oven during a slow roasting while a blend of garlic, white miso, maple syrup, and chili flakes add umami, spice, and caramel undertones.

An Impressive Yet Easy Side Dish

While this might sound fancy, it’s all really easy and straightforward. In the first part of the baking process, the carrots are cooked with olive oil and salt to soften them and get them ready for the glaze. Adding the glaze right away risks burning it before the carrots are ready, which is why it is added later.

All in all, most of the work is completely hands-off, giving you time to cook the main dish! Miso Glazed Carrots go really well with roasted chicken, a grilled steak, or even steamed salmon. 

What Carrots to Use and Avoid

If you can get fresh carrots at the farmers market, go for it. Slender and crisp, and often picked that very day, they will give you the best results. If store-bought is your only option, look for local varieties, or those with the greens still on.

Long, slender ones (often called “baby carrots” but are completely different from the bagged ones marketed for kids and snack time) are better than older, mature carrots which can be tough and more bitter. Still, if those are your only option, just peel and halve them lengthwise. You’ll still have a delicious side dish!

White Miso For a Deep, Umami Flavor

There are many different types of miso, from robust red miso to milder chickpea miso. White miso is still made from fermented soybeans but has a milder flavor, using rice as part of the process rather than barley or other stronger grains. The saltiness of miso is balanced out with the sweetness of maple syrup, while garlic and chili flakes add spice to really hit all the taste buds.

Do you need to make Miso Glazed Carrots ahead of time? Simply refrigerate them in a sealed container, and reheat them on the stove with a little water.