These twice-charred honey za’atar carrots are the epitome of a perfect side dish. They are filling, sweet, spicy and add an unexpected layer of flavor to any dinner menu. I am a firm believer that if we are twice baking our potatoes, we need to start twice-charring our za’atar carrots. ASAP.
And the best part of this recipe is that it’s super compatible with whatever you are serving. These carrots aren’t a blank slate, but they act like one. If you are needing a vegetable side dish to serve, this za’atar carrot recipe will fit in perfectly to any fall menu.
Table of contents
A bit about honey and za’atar
Za’atar
Za’atar is one of my absolute favorite spice mixes. It varies from region to region, but consists of a family of Middle Eastern herbs. Most za’atars will typically include oregano, basil, thyme, sumac, sesame seeds and salt. It has a rich, herbaceous flavor and adds an interesting depth and complexity to any dish – even though it’s just one spice mix! I love putting za’atar on focaccia or as part of this tofu recipe.
But of course, it’s always important to respect food, culture and where certain foods come from, so I definitely recommend reading up on Za’atar here if you aren’t familiar with the ingredient!
Honey
The honey in this recipe is a perfect vehicle for sweetness, caramelization and contrast. I love adding it right before the second roast and watching it combine with the carrots, spices and oil to make a beautiful (and slightly messy!) flavor profile.
Honey pairs perfectly with the za’atar here because the za’atar brings the herbaceousness and spice, while honey brings the caramelization and sweetness.
Why double roast this za’atar carrot recipe?
We could just call these roasted carrots and be done with it, but what’s so special about this za’atar carrot recipe is that you get a double-charr.
This means the carrot recipe is charred on the outside during the first roast, and then charred alongside the honey and spices, during the second roast.
This method exposes the maximum amount of a carrot’s surface area to the heat. Carrots have natural sugars, and the roasting process serves as a catalyst for those sugars to brown and become…well, just that much more delicious.
Ingredients you need for these honey za’atar carrots
What I love about this za’atar carrot recipe is that is is so delicious, but requires only simple pantry staples. Here’s everything you need for it:
- 6-8 large carrots, whole
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 & ½ tsp Za’atar seasoning
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds, for topping
How to make these roasted carrots
This recipe requires double-roasting, but don’t stress, it’s really an easy process! You just roast the carrots whole, slice them, and then broil in pieces. Here’s a breakdown of the specifics:
- Preheat the oven to 475F.
- Peel and trim the stems on the carrots, but leave them whole. Rub them liberally with olive oil and place them evenly spaced out on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Roast at 475F until they are charred on the outside, about 12-18 minutes, depending on your oven strength. Flip them at the 10 minute mark.
- Remove the carrots from the oven and let them cool slightly. When they are cool enough to handle, chop them in diagonal slices.
- Set your oven to broil on HIGH.
- Put the slices back on the original baking sheet and spread them out evenly. You want to use the original parchment paper to make use of the leftover oil.
- Top the carrots with the juice from one lemon, za’atar seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the honey over the carrots and broil them in the oven until the carrots are charred and the honey is beginning to caramelize, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, top with slivered almonds, stir and serve!
FAQ for this honey za’atar carrot recipe
I recommend storing these carrots in an airtight container in the fridge! I do not recommend freezing this particular recipe.
This recipe will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days!
Za’atar is a mixture of basil, oregano, thyme, sumac, sesame seeds and salt. It is a tricky flavor to completely mimic with other spices, so I recommend picking some up for this recipe if you can! If you are in a pinch, you can omit the za’atar and instead include a large amount of black pepper and thyme.
I personally have not tested this, and I don’t recommend it at this time due to the cooling time impacting the char on the second roast! A large part of this recipe relies on caramelization, so I recommend following the steps in order to ensure all temperatures are consistent.
Looking for other side dishes?
The blog is full of them 😉 Here are a few recipes that are trending lately:
And that’s it for this honey za’atar carrot recipe! I can’t wait to see if you guys like it!
If you do make this, please tag me on Instagram or Pinterest, I would love to see! PS if you make it and love it, it would mean the world to me if you left a review below, it helps the website more than you know <3
And of course leave a comment if you have any questions! You all know this is the best place to reach me.
Watch the recipe video here:
Honey Za’atar Carrots
Ingredients
- 6-8 large carrots whole
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 & ½ tsp Za’atar seasoning
- 1 tbsp honey
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp slivered almonds for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 475F.
- Peel and trim the stems on the carrots, but leave them whole. Rub them liberally with olive oil and place them evenly spaced out on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Roast at 475F until they are charred on the outside, about 12-18 minutes, depending on your oven strength. Flip them at the 10 minute mark.
- Remove the carrots from the oven and let them cool slightly. When they are cool enough to handle, chop them in diagonal slices.
- Set your oven to broil on HIGH.
- Put the slices back on the original baking sheet and spread them out evenly. You want to use the original parchment paper to make use of the leftover oil.
- Top the carrots with the juice from one lemon, za'atar seasoning and salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the honey over the carrots and broil them in the oven until the carrots are charred and the honey is beginning to caramelize, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, top with slivered almonds, stir and serve!
