Roasted Carrots With Sesame Herb Crunch (Printable Version)
Sweet roasted carrots topped with savory, nutty sesame and fresh herb crunch—perfect as a vibrant side or light vegetarian main.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 lbs carrots, peeled and halved lengthwise
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - ½ tsp kosher salt
04 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Sesame Herb Crunch
05 - 2 tbsp sesame seeds (white or mixed)
06 - 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
07 - 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
10 - 1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
11 - 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
12 - Zest of 1 lemon
13 - 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
14 - ½ tsp flaky sea salt
→ To Serve
15 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
16 - Extra herbs for garnish (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss the carrots with olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper. Arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast for 25–30 minutes, turning once halfway through, until the carrots are golden and fork-tender.
04 - While the carrots roast, toast the sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and lightly golden. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.
05 - Stir the chopped parsley, dill, mint, minced garlic, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, and flaky sea salt into the toasted seed mixture until well combined.
06 - Transfer the roasted carrots to a serving platter. Drizzle with lemon juice and spoon the sesame herb crunch generously over the top. Garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired.
07 - Serve warm or at room temperature as a side dish or light main.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sesame herb crunch is the kind of topping you will want to put on everything from roasted cauliflower to grilled flatbread.
- It looks like you spent far more effort than the fifteen minutes of actual hands on time.
- These carrots taste equally good warm from the oven or sitting at room temperature an hour later, which makes them a dream for entertaining.
02 -
- Do not skip the seed toasting step because raw seeds taste flat and waxy compared to the rich, fragrant version that makes this dish memorable.
- Crowding the carrots on the pan will cause them to steam instead of roast, so use two sheets if needed and give them room to breathe.
03 -
- Make a double batch of the sesame herb crunch and store the extra in a jar in the fridge for up to a week because it elevates everything from scrambled eggs to avocado toast.
- Use carrots of similar thickness so they all finish roasting at the same time instead of some turning mushy while others stay firm.