My Take Carrot Zrodia Slata Recipes

ROASTED CARROTS WITH ZA'ATAR

Steps:

• Preheat 2 baking sheets in a 450 degree oven. Quarter 4 pounds carrots lengthwise and toss with 1/4 cup olive oil and 3/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Spread on the hot baking sheets and roast until browned, 18 to 20 minutes. Toss with 4 teaspoons za'atar (a spice blend available at Middle Eastern markets), 3 tablespoons chopped parsley and the juice of 1 lemon.

PASTA WITH CARROT SAUCE AND RICOTTA SALATA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the carrots, leek and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the carrots begin to soften, about 8 minutes. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Wipe out the saucepan and add the carrot puree to the pan. Stir in the heavy cream and heat over medium heat. Add the pasta and toss well to coat, adding the reserved cooking water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time if the sauce seems too thick. Season with salt.
• Divide the pasta among bowls. Top with the ricotta salata and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if desired.

CARROT MAQLUBA

Steps:

• Wash the rice until the water runs clear. Add rice to a bowl with water to cover and leave to soak for 15 minutes, then drain. To the drained rice, add 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper, plus all the spices. Mix to combine, then set aside.
• In a medium (9- to 10-inch), lidded nonstick pot (preferably not deeper than 6 inches), heat the olive oil over medium until shimmering but not smoking. Add the steak cubes, onions and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and cook, periodically tossing around, until any meat juices evaporate and meat browns nicely all around, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add the carrots and cook, stirring regularly, until carrots are glossy and just starting to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and make sure the meat and carrot mixture is evenly spread in the bottom of the pot. Top with the spiced rice mixture (do not mix).
• Slowly pour the broth into the pot (it should rise about 1/2 inch above the rice). Set an inverted (heatproof) plate over the rice to keep the rice and vegetables from mixing when broth boils. Ideally, the plate should be slightly smaller than the width of the pot. Cover the pot with the lid and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Taste the broth at this point and salt it to your liking.
• Cook for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to low, remove the plate but return the lid, and simmer until the rice is fully cooked with no remaining bite, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover the bottom of the lid with a tea towel or kitchen paper towels and cover again. Set aside to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• To serve, remove the lid and place a large, inverted serving platter over the pot of rice. Using both hands, flip the pot, and slowly lift to reveal a beautiful cake-shaped dish. Garnish with toasted almonds and serve.

GRANDMA'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 10-in. fluted tube pan., Beat first 4 ingredients until well blended. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; gradually beat into sugar mixture. Stir in carrots and walnuts., Transfer to prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack; cool completely., For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Spread over cake.

STEAMED CARROTS WITH LEMON AND SEA SALT

Steps:

• In a large straight-sided skillet, bring 1/2 inch water to a boil. Season with kosher salt. Working in batches, add carrots in a single layer. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, shaking pan occasionally, until crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain; transfer to a platter. Drizzle with oil, squeeze with lemon, season generously with flaky salt, and serve.

CARROT PARATHA

Steps:

• Mix together grated carrots and flours in a bowl. Mix in cumin, cilantro, garam masala, and salt. Let sit in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the refrigerator and form a golf ball-sized piece of dough into a ball. Roll ball out into a thick flatbread (paratha). Repeat with remaining dough.
• Heat a cast iron pan or griddle (or tawa) over medium heat. Add paratha in batches and cook until brown spots appear on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
• Cook with or without ghee on a tawa or a heavy bottomed pan till brown spots appear on both sides.

MY TAKE CARROT (ZRODIA) SLATA

Steps:

• Combine the parsley coriander, and garlic until finely minced. Add the lemon juice, oil, tomato paste, and seasonings. Combine just until all the ingredients are well mixed. This is to be your dressing.
• Place the mixture in a large - or ceramic bowl, top with the carrots, and toss until the carrots are coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours or overnight.
• Adjust the seasonings; salt, pepper and lemon and serve chilled or at room temperature.
• The cooking time is the chilling time at a minimum.