Easy Side Dish – Mashed Carrots

I know that you’re looking at this post and thinking “is she really serious?” Yes, this is a recipe, per se, for mashed carrots. It isn’t a recipe for mashed carrots for your baby, but delectable mashed carrots for the whole family. I have a little diva that all of a sudden can’t stand carrots. I also have an 8 year old veggie-lover son who likes when I can change it up in terms of how our side dishes are served. This quick recipe appeases both of them. Now, if you’d like to make this for the baby in your life, it can easily be served without the spices and herbs. This can be made from roasted carrots or the way we do them: steamed in the microwave. Once you try these, you’ll add them to your weekly meal plan. Also, an addition of grated parmesan cheese makes these even more heavenly. Try them tonight!

Mashed Carrots

1/2 pound carrots, cleaned and chopped into 1/4th inch pieces
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
Place carrots, water, apple cider vinegar and dried thyme in a microwave-safe bowl. Lightly cover with a microwave-safe top or plastic wrap and microwave on high for 4 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
Once they are cooked, place the carrots in your food processor or blender. Pulse speed and drizzle in olive oil. If the carrot mixture is too thick for your family, add in a bit of the cooking water from the microwave-safe bowl.
Place mixture in a serving bowl, season to taste, and drizzle the top with olive oil.

Additional options:

Roast the carrots until tender instead of steaming in the microwave.

Microwave the carrots without the apple cider vinegar, mash in the food processor without adding olive oil, and cool. Carrots can be used in smoothies, ice pop mixtures, or to make carrot muffins for breakfast.

What would you do with this mashed carrots recipe?

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