Harissa Roasted Carrots
These harissa roasted carrots are an easy, flavour-packed side dish. The sweet and spicy maple harissa marinade creates deliciously caramelised roast carrots. Serve them warm with a dollop of yoghurt, and scatter over chopped pistachio.
These harissa roasted carrots are a delicious Morrocan side dish with spicy harissa paste and sweet maple syrup – my favourite flavour combination.
The harissa marinade is simple and super easy to make. And the sweet and spicy mix creates deliciously caramelised roasted carrots. Serve the harissa carrots with a dollop of yoghurt, a zesty creamy dressing, or a sprinkle of goat cheese, and top with crunchy pistachios.
With minimal ingredients and effort, these harissa glazed carrots add a burst of flavour to ordinary carrots. It’s perfect for a midweek side or work lunch meal prep.
In this post
- Ingredients and substitutes
- How to make harissa roasted carrots (step-by-step)
- Serving suggestions for harissa and maple roasted carrots
Or jump straight to the harissa roasted carrots recipe card.
Why you’ll love harissa maple carrots
Harissa roasted carrots are the perfect side dish for any meal. The sweet and spicy harissa marinade and the caramelised roasted carrots create an unbeatable flavour combination.
Here are a few more reasons why you’ll love roasted carrots with harissa and maple:
- It’s easy to make: Measure and mix the marinade, toss the carrots in the marinade and roast in the oven until golden and tender.
- It’s naturally gluten-free and vegan: The simple ingredients make it naturally vegan and gluten-free. Just stick to plant-based yoghurt on the side.
- It’s versatile: Enjoy the roasted carrots as a side dish or as part of a grain bowl. Or turn them into a satiating meal by adding cooked grains, avocado and a yoghurt-based or tahini dressing. Why not double the batch?
- It’s delicious: Sweet, smoky and spicy – the perfect side to boost any midweek meal. The marinade also makes a super scrumptious salad dressing. You won’t regret making a double batch of harissa marinade!
Ingredients and substitutes
Roasted harissa carrots are a sweet and spicy side dish that you can whip up with a handful of simple pantry staples. It’s a versatile dish with a flexible recipe. So you can substitute to your heart’s content.
Which carrots work best for harissa glazed carrots?
I use young rainbow carrots from the market. But you can also use baby carrots.
For full-sized carrots, it is best to blanch the carrots before roasting to ensure they are tender before roasting. Cook them in salted water until they start to soften (about 10 minutes), then dress them in the harissa maple marinade while hot. And roast uncovered for 15 minutes or until they are golden with caramelised bits of marinade.
Whichever carrots you use, be sure to scrub them well to remove any gritty bits. Then trim the green top and peel any funny-looking patches. Peeling too much will remove the purple hue from the rainbow carrots – if using them.
Harissa marinade ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil: It adds richness and depth to the harissa marinade and carries the oil-soluble flavours. You can also use avocado oil or your favourite salad dressing oil.
- Harissa paste: Different brands have different spice levels, so adjust the harissa to match your spice tolerance. You can use rose harissa paste for a milder flavour with a floral hint. Or try smoked harissa for a smoky twist. Add an extra tablespoon harissa paste, or some dried chilli pepper flakes if you want more heat. And if you can’t find harissa paste, try any of these harissa paste substitutes.
- Maple syrup: I love the sweet, smoky flavour of maple syrup. It does a great job of slightly sweetening the harissa marinade while balancing the acidity. But you can use honey or agave nectar instead.
- Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed juice (from about half a lemon). You can add more if you want more acidity. Or add a splash of red wine vinegar instead.
- Garlic: I recommend mincing fresh garlic with a knife, but you can also use a teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
- Salt: Kosher salt, sea salt or any other type of salt you prefer works well. Use less salt if you’re worried about over-seasoning, then scatter the roast carrots with flaked salt after tasting.
- Black pepper: Always use freshly ground black pepper for the best flavour. You can swap the black pepper for a pinch of Aleppo pepper flakes, or omit altogether.
Harissa is an essential ingredient in my everyday cooking. This flavourful North-African chilli paste is well worth keeping in your pantry.
But if you don’t have any, I have a list of easy harissa paste substitutes to use in a pinch. You can also make your own rose harissa paste from roasted red peppers, make easy harissa paste from dried chillies, or a super quick harissa paste from harissa powder.
To serve:
Top the maple harissa carrots with a dollop of yoghurt, sour cream or creamy dill dressing. Then garnish with freshly chopped pistachio nuts for a crunchy topping.
Or turn the harissa and maple roasted carrots into a wholesome main meal with these serving suggestions.
How to make harissa roasted carrots (step-by-step)
This harissa maple roasted carrots recipe is a tasty and easy way to add some North African flavour to your dinner table. The sweet and spicy harissa marinade is the perfect complement to the natural sweetness of roast carrots.
Plus, the recipe is easy to make and requires minimal prep work.
- Step 1: Gather your ingredients
- Step 2: Marinate the carrots
- Step 3: Roast the carrots
- Step 4: Serve and enjoy
Step 1: Make a maple and harissa marinade
Preheat oven to 425 °F (220 °C) before you make your marinade.
Then, in a large bowl, whisk together
- three tablespoons extra virgin olive oil,
- two tablespoons harissa paste,
- two tablespoons maple syrup,
- one tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (from half a lemon),
- two minced garlic cloves,
- half a teaspoon of kosher salt,
- and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
Step 2: Marinate the carrots
Add one pound of young rainbow carrots (or baby carrots), scrubbed, trimmed and peeled to the bowl with the harissa marinade.
Toss carrots with the harissa marinade to coat evenly.
Step 3: Roast the carrots
Transfer the carrots to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or a silicone baking mat).
Pour over the remaining harissa marinade. Spread the carrots evenly in a single layer.
Cover tightly with foil. You can skip the foil when you use blanched carrots or if your carrots fit snuggly in the roasting tray. But, if you use one pound of young carrots in a half-sheet pan with ample space between the carrots, it is best to add the foil to get the young carrots tender before caramelising the marinade.
Roast for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil – if using. Stir the carrots and spoon some of the marinade over the warm carrots. Return the uncovered carrots to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes – or until the carrots are golden and tender.
Step 4: Serve
Transfer the roasted carrots to a serving platter. Scrape out the delicious caramelised bits of marinade and spoon over the carrots.
Scatter with chopped pistachios and serve with a dollop of yoghurt, sour cream or dill dressing.
Enjoy your harissa maple roasted carrots warm or at room temperature.
Serving suggestions for harissa maple roasted carrots
Harissa maple roasted carrots are the perfect side dish for any main. They’re sweet, spicy and super moreish with an almost smoky depth of flavour thanks to the caramelisation.
And these roasted carrots pair perfectly with a creamy dill dressing or a dollop of yoghurt. But they are also super versatile. Here are just a few ways you can serve your roasted carrots with harissa marinade:
- Grain bowl: Top a hearty bowl of grains (like cooked barley or quinoa) with harissa and maple roasted carrots, cooked chickpeas, pickled onions, avocado and maple tahini dressing for a flavourful vegan meal.
- Couscous salad: Mix roasted carrots with couscous, feta cheese, and toasted almonds for a delicious Morrocan salad. Add a dollop of yoghurt or sour cream for a creamy finish.
- Roasted vegetables: Serve these harissa maple roasted carrots as part of a medley of roasted vegetables. Try them with delicata squash, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes. Spread labneh or whipped feta on a large serving platter and top with the roasted vegetables and extra harissa marinade.
- Goat cheese salad: Try a salad of harissa roasted carrots, arugula, chopped walnuts, and goat cheese. Mix any leftover harissa marinade with a splash of red wine vinegar for a quick harissa vinaigrette and drizzle over the salad. Finish with a generous grind of black pepper.
Homemade harissa
- See how to make rose harissa paste (or normal harissa paste) from roasted red bell peppers.
- Or make an easy harissa paste using rehydrated dried chiles.
- You can also make harissa paste from harissa powder (+ how to make harissa powder).
- Or try one of the best harissa substitutes for an instant harissa paste alternative.
- Make a fragrant dry harissa powder – a homemade spice blend from toasted whole chiles and spices – to reconstitute into harissa paste in a moment.
My most popular recipes with harissa paste
If you like this lemon tahini sauce, you might also like these tahini dressings and sauces
These harissa maple roasted carrots are a tasty and easy side dish, served warm or at room temperature. Simply top with a dollop of yoghurt and freshly chopped pistachio nuts. Or try one of the serving suggestions to turn them into a satiating main meal.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons harissa paste*
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, from half a lemon
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 1 pound young rainbow carrots (or baby carrots)* scrubbed, trimmed and peeled
To serve (optional):
- 2 tablespoons shelled pistachio nuts, roughly chopped
- dollop creamy dill dressing , or Greek yoghurt – use plant-based yoghurt to keep this recipe vegan
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 °F (see notes).
- In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, harissa paste, maple syrup, lemon juice, garlic, salt and a generous grind of black pepper.
- Add the carrots and toss with the harissa marinade to coat evenly.
- Transfer the carrots to a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or a silicone baking mat) and pour over the remaining harissa marinade. Spread the carrots evenly in a single layer.
- Cover tightly with foil (see notes) and roast for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil. Stir the carrots and spoon some of the marinade over the warm carrots. Return the uncovered carrots to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes – or until the carrots are golden and tender. Allow the roasted carrots to cool to room temperature on the baking sheet, or serve warm.
- Transfer to a serving plate, and be sure to scrape out the delicious caramelised bits of marinade, scatter over the chopped pistachio and serve with a creamy dressing or a dollop of yoghurt.
Notes
- Peel any funny-looking patches on the carrot, but there is no need to be obsessive. Peeling too much will remove the purple hue from the rainbow carrots – if you’re using them. But be sure to scrub the carrots until squeaky clean.
- I use a large conventional oven for recipe testing. Adjust the temperature for fan ovens (convection ovens). I suggest 390 °F (200 °C).
- If your carrots fit snuggly into your roasting tray, skip the foil. But if you use a half-sheet pan (or a similar size) that allows ample space between the carrots, the marinade will burn before the carrots are tender. The foil allows them to steam until almost tender, then caramelize uncovered.
- Different brands of harissa paste have different spice levels. For spicier harissa carrots, add another tablespoon harissa paste or a pinch of red pepper flakes. For a mild flavour with a floral hint, use rose harissa paste.
- Refrigerate leftover harissa roasted carrots in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Try more roasted vegetable sides:
Oh wow! These carrots look absolutely amazing. You had me at the sweet and spicy maple harissa marinade.
I’m happy to meet another person who is instantly hooked with a sweet and spicy harissa marinade, Tara!
Loved these tender roasted carrots with harissa. The flavor combination was so delicious.
It is good, isn’t it? I just love everything sweet and spicy!
Loved these roasted carrots! Very easy to make and loaded with flavor.
I’m so happy you loved the harissa carrots, Melissa!
This Harissa Roasted Carrots recipe is wonderful! It’s easy to make and brings a perfect blend of spice and sweetness to the table. A great side dish for any meal. Thank you!
I’m so happy you enjoyed the harissa roasted carrots. It’s definitely a favourite of mine too!