Berber Carrots Recipes

BERBERE-SPICED ROASTED CARROTS, CHICKPEAS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• For the carrots and onions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack. To cut the carrots, hold a carrot at a 45-degree angle on your cutting board and slice a 1-inch chunk off, rotate the carrot a quarter turn and slice off another chunk. Continue to the end of the carrot and cut all of the carrots this way. (This is a "roll" or "oblique cut," a good technique for cutting long vegetables to give lots of surface area for browning.) Toss the carrots in a large bowl with the onion, chickpeas, olive oil, berbere and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread on the preheated baking sheet and roast until the vegetables are tender and nicely caramelized, about 25 minutes.
• For the awaze sauce: While the carrots and onions roast, place the berbere in a small bowl. Stir in the red wine, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. The sauce should be thick but still able to drizzle. (This makes more awaze than you'll need for the recipe, but it keeps for up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container).
• Mound the carrots and onions on a serving platter and drizzle with a few tablespoons of awaze sauce. Serve warm.
• Combine all the spices in a small skillet. Toast over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool completely. This spice blend will keep, tightly sealed, in your pantry for several months. For longer storage, keep in the freezer. Makes about 1/2 cup.

BERBER CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat a dry frying pan until hot, add the coriander and caraway seeds and cook for 1 minute, shaking the pan from time to time, until fragrant.
• Transfer the spices to a plate and allow to cool then crush to a powder using a mortar and pestle.
• Heat the oil in the frying pan, add the carrots and sauté gently for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly browned all over.
• Add the ground spices and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes.
• Add the vinegar and salt and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring from time to time , until the carrots are tender. Serve hot or at room temperature.

CARROTS IN BEER

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium-size saucepan; add carrots, lager, and parsley flakes.
• Bring to a soft boil; reduce heat and cook until fork-tender, stirring frequently.
• Stir in salt, pepper, and sugar.
• Heat through and serve hot.

ALGERIAN CARROTS

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with 1 1/2 cups of water, or just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the sliced carrots, reduce the heat to medium, and cover the pan again. Steam until tender but not mushy, 4 to 6 minutes depending on the thickness of the slices. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the salt, pepper, cinnamon, cumin, garlic, and thyme. Cook the spices and garlic, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Add the 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid and the bay leaf, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Stir in the carrots, tossing well to coat with the spice mixture, and cook until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with lemon juice and remove the bay leaf before serving.

BERBERE ROASTED CARROTS & FENNEL WITH ORANGES

Steps:

• Heat the oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat, then add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cook until the vegetables soften and start to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the orange juice and berbere. Toss to combine and turn the heat to low. Add the orange segments and mint.
• Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and top additional berbere and mint leaves.
• Put the coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves and allspice berries into a small skillet over medium heat. Toast, swirling the skillet, until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Pour the seeds into a spice grinder and cool. Add the onion flakes and chiles de arbol. Grind to a fine powder. Transfer the spice powder to a bowl and whisk in the paprika, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Store in a sealed jar, out of the light, for up to 6 months.