For more easy carrot side dishes, also try our spicy honey roasted carrots and quick garlic roasted carrots. Bourbon and maple are really the stars of the show in this recipe. Don’t worry, although they’re sometimes called drunken carrots, you won’t taste the bite of the bourbon. You’ll just get the subtle smoky aftertaste. We start by steaming the carrots in a splash of water. Then, keeping the carrots in the same pan, we add all the glaze ingredients. Simmer the carrots until the glaze starts to thicken, and that’s it! If you want to take the recipe up a delicious notch, there’s an optional step to caramelize the glaze. Just be warned, this step happens quickly so make sure to hover by the stove so they don’t burn. These maple bourbon carrots are a must-make for the holidays, or any special occasion dinner alongside mains like steak, chicken, or pork chops.
Carrots – carrots are an incredibly versatile, yet often under-appreciated vegetable. They keep their shape and texture and take to the bourbon glaze beautifully. Bourbon – using bourbon in the glaze gives the carrots just a hint of boozy flavor. Maple syrup – instead of brown sugar, we use maple syrup to add sweetness. It brings out the carrots’ natural sweetness, too! Butter – gives the glaze richness and makes it velvety smooth. Sea salt – to enhance all the amazing flavors! Cayenne powder – for a tiny bit of heat. This is optional, but it complements the sweetness nicely. Pistachios – look for shelled salty green pistachios to add just the right amount of crunch.
Slice the carrots on a diagonal to maximize their surface area. More surface area equals more glaze-y goodness! When you steam them for a few minutes, they will still seem too firm but they’ll continue cooking in the glaze. If you decide to caramelize the glaze, make sure to watch it really closely because it can go from caramelized to burned in a matter of seconds. Don’t skip the pistachios! They add a really wonderful salty crunch that really compliments the glazed carrots.
Here are a few other delicious bourbon recipes:
Apple Bourbon Baked Beans Bourbon Pumpkin Chili Bourbon BBQ Sauce
Mains that taste great with maple bourbon carrots
BBQ Crockpot Beef Ribs Roasted Parmesan Crusted Chicken Cranberry Pork Chops
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