Cumin maple Roasted carrots with whipped feta, pomegranate arils and fresh dill! This easy and delicious vegetable side dish is perfect for your next dinner party, holiday table or weeknight meal!
I swear I could make a whole meal out of this dish! It's so hearty, filling and addicting. Beautiful rainbow carrots are roasted with fresh thyme, ground cumin and pure maple syrup and served on a bed of creamy, zesty and garlicky whipped feta. Wait till you see how quick and easily it all comes together!
For more easy weeknight dinner ideas, try my One-Pot Cheesy Pumpkin Rigatoni or One-Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Tortellini!
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♡ Why You Will Love Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta
- Incredible flavors. The flavors are firing on all cylinders with this side dish! It's a little sweet, a little salty, tangy, garlicky, lemony, herbaceous, fresh and absolutely delicious. If you love bold flavors, you will also love my Spring Orzo Pasta Salad!
- Ready in about 30 minutes. The whipped feta whips up in minutes and the roasted carrots are ready in less than 30 minutes.
- A crowd pleaser. With the holidays around the corner, this is the perfect side dish for meat-eaters, vegetarians and those who are gluten-free.
Ingredient Notes
Here are some notes about all the ingredients used for this Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta dish. Quantities and full instructions are in the recipe card below!
Cumin Maple Roasted Carrots
- Carrots - I'm using skinny rainbow carrots (aka heirloom carrots), but you can roast any kind. If your carrots are on the larger size, I would suggest cutting them into smaller pieces or slicing lengthwise.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Use your favorite Extra-virgin olive oil.
- Thyme - Thyme works so well with the sweetness of the carrots and maple syrup.
- Cumin - I love pairing a warm spice, such as cumin, with carrots.
- Salt + Pepper - For flavor.
- Pure Maple Syrup - Adds a lovely savory sweetness.
Whipped Feta
- Feta Cheese - For the best flavor, I recommend using a block of feta that is packaged in brine, rather than pre-crumbled feta cheese.
- Plain Full-Fat Greek Yogurt - Makes the whipped feta super creamy.
- Fresh Garlic - I love garlic, so I used 2 cloves, but you can use less if you'd like.
- Lemon Zest - The lemon zest adds a lovely brightness.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil - Use your favorite Extra-virgin olive oil.
*See recipe card for quantities.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step photos and instructions on how to make Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta! Please find detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Step 1. Roast the Carrots - Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Evenly toss the carrots in extra-virgin olive oil, thyme, cumin, salt and pepper. Bake in a preheated oven at 450ºF (232ºC).
Step 2. After 16 to 2o minutes of roasting, remove from the oven and evenly toss with the carrots with maple syrup. Continue roasting for 5 minutes or until tender.
Step 3. While Carrots are Roasting, Make Whipped Feta - In the bowl of a food processor fitted with an 'S' blade, add crumbled feta cheese, Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic cloves and lemon zest.
Step 4. Blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer whipped feta to a bowl and place in the fridge until needed.
Step 5. Assemble & Serve - Spread whipped feta onto a large serving platter, followed by the roasted carrots, pomegranate seeds and fresh dill. If you'd like, you can drizzle extra-virgin olive oil and a little bit of maple syrup over the top. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Substitutions
🧀 For the Whipped Feta
- Feta Cheese - You can swap feta for goat cheese or a block of cream cheese.
- Greek Yogurt - You can substitute with labneh (Middle Eastern Yogurt) or full-fat sour cream.
- Garlic Cloves - You can sub for garlic powder.
- Lemon Zest - If you don't have lemon on hand, you can omit it.
🥕For the Carrots
- Carrots - I roasted rainbow carrots, but any kind will work. If you are using larger carrots, I would suggest cutting them down to smaller pieces or slice them lengthwise. You can also roast other root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, turnips, parsnips or rutabaga.
- Thyme - You can use fresh or dried thyme. You can also try other herbs like rosemary, oregano or sage.
- Cumin - If you don't have any cumin, you can omit it completely or try other spices like paprika, smoked paprika, chili powder, turmeric, cinnamon (go easy though), garlic powder or onion powder.
- Maple Syrup - You can easily substitute for brown sugar, honey, hot honey or date syrup.
Key Equipment
- Food Processor
- Baking Sheet
Storage
- Refrigerator - Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. I recommend storing the roasted carrots and whipped feta separately if you can.
💡 Expert Tips
Line your baking sheet. For easy clean up, line your baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Use smaller carrots. Using skinnier carrots or cutting the carrots into smaller pieces will help them cook quicker.
Don't skip the garnish. Fresh pomegranate arils and fresh dill is a classic garnish that works well with the flavors.
FAQ
Unpeeled carrots are safe to eat, however you can peel them if you prefer. If you're leaving the peel on, just make sure to scrub the carrot well to remove any dirt or debris.
You can make whipped feta 4 days ahead and store in the fridge. Let come to room temperature and give a good stir before serving. Although you could cook your carrots 3 to 4 days ahead, I would recommend cooking carrots the day of.
You can garnish with other herbs such as, parsley, cilantro and mint. You can also garnish with crunchy nuts like pistachios, hazelnuts and cashews. If you'd like to add more spices, try za'atar, dukkah, sumac or smoked paprika.
Rainbow carrots, also known as heirloom or multi-colored carrots, come in a variety of beautiful colors, including purple, orange, red, white and yellow.
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📖 Recipe
Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta
INGREDIENTS
Roasted Carrots
- 1.5 Pounds Carrots, about 15 to 18 Skinny Rainbow Carrots cleaned, trimmed and dried
- 3 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme, or 1 ¼ Teaspoons Dried Thyme
- 2 Teaspoons Cumin Powder
- ½ to 1 Teaspoon Salt, or to taste
- ½ Teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper, or to taste
- ¼ Cup (78g) Pure Maple Syrup
Whipped Feta
- 5 Ounces (141g) Feta in brine crumbled
- ½ Cup (113g) Full-Fat Greek Yogurt
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 to 2 Cloves of Garlic
- Zest of Half a Lemon
Instructions
- Preheat - Set a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450ºF (232ºC).
- Clean Carrots - Trim, wash, clean and pat dry your carrots. If you're leaving the peel on, make sure to brush it well to remove any dirt or debris.1.5 Pounds Carrots, about 15 to 18 Skinny Rainbow Carrots
- Season the Carrots - Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and evenly toss the carrots in extra-virgin olive oil, thyme, cumin, salt and pepper. 3 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil1 Tablespoon Fresh Thyme, or 1 ¼ Teaspoons Dried Thyme2 Teaspoons Cumin Powder½ to 1 Teaspoon Salt, or to taste½ Teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper, or to taste
- Roast the Carrots - Roast for 16 to 20 minutes, tossing and rotating half way through. Then toss the carrots with maple syrup and continue roasting for 5 minutes or until tender. ¼ Cup (78g) Pure Maple Syrup
- Make Whipped Feta - In the bowl of a food processor fitted with an 'S' blade, add feta cheese (roughly crumbled), Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic cloves and lemon zest. Blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer whipped feta to a bowl and place in the fridge until needed.5 Ounces (141g) Feta in brine½ Cup (113g) Full-Fat Greek Yogurt1 to 2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil1 to 2 Cloves of GarlicZest of Half a Lemon
- Assemble & Serve - Spread whipped feta onto a large serving platter, followed by the roasted carrots, pomegranate seeds and fresh dill. If you'd like, you can drizzle extra-virgin olive oil and a little bit of maple syrup over the top. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Terra says
Great side dish that was perfect for our Christmas dinner. Will be making again for Easter. Thank you!
Lisa says
So happy you enjoyed it! Thank you for trying the recipe and for your wonderful review! 😊
Stephanie says
Easy, simple and yummy!!! This has become a staple in our kitchen! I’ve swap the carrots out for other roasted vegetables and even grilled chicken. They all pair nicely with the whipped feta. Definitely a keeper!
Lisa says
I'm so happy you loved this recipe! Whipped feta compliments nearly everything! Thank you for your feedback!😊