Carrots

 

Photo credit: Thadah Wah

Carrots tend to be one of the most popular items at TTCF farmers' market stands, especially in winter when the frosty temperatures sweeten these crunchy roots. Enjoy them fresh on salads, as a healthy snack dipped in hummus, or roasted for a warming winter side dish. No matter how you prepare them, carrots will yield of full dose of healthy benefits like vitamin A, beta-carotene, fiber, and calcium! 

  

STORAGE: Cut off all the greens from the carrots before storing them. Store the greens separately in a plastic bag if you plan to use them for making a broth, sauce, etc. Store the roots in a single layer in an open plastic bag in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to a month. Use the smallest roots first. If the carrots become soft, you can restore their crispness by storing them in a container of water in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Some people recommend that to maintain maximum crispness, carrots can be stored in a container of water in the refrigerator from the beginning, changing the water every few days (or if it starts to look cloudy). Carrots, like other cool-weather crops, are sweetest in the winter after being exposed to frost.

RECIPE: Cumin Glazed Carrots (serves 4)

Ingredients:

Method:

 

RECIPE: Noodles with a Sauce of Carrot Tops, Radish Greens and Yogurt

Ingredients:

**Variation: In place of feta and pine nuts, halve a pint of cherry tomatoes, toss them with minced jalepeno, cilantro and a little lime juice and set them aside to come to room temperature while you make the dish. Spoon them over the pasta just before serving.

Method:


1. Sort through the greens and discard any funky-looking leaves. Wash and chop them coarsely. Pour the yogurt into a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to drain. Heat a large pot of salted water for the pasta.

2. Heat the oil in a wide nonstick skillet. Add the jalapeƱo and onion and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for a few minutes or until the onion turns translucent. Next rinse the greens and herbs and add them to the skillet with the water clinging to their leaves. Sprinkle with 1 teaspon salt and cook until wilted, turning them with a pair of tongs after 3 or 4 minutes. Puree with the drained yogurt, then transfer the mixture to a large skillet. Turn the heat on low to warm the yogurt. Don't get it too hot or it will curdle.

3. Cook the pasta in the salted water until al dente, then drain. While it is cooking, toast the pine nuts in a small skillet until golden. Add the pasta to the sauce, toss well, and salt to taste. Scatter the cheese and pine nuts over the top.

 

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