These quick and easy air fryer baby carrots are sweet, flavorful, and packed with Moroccan spices, making them the star of your dinner! Roasting carrots in the air fryer makes them extra tender and golden bronze. Their crisp caramelized edges make them addictive and enhances their natural sweetness without any added sugar. Enjoy a deliciously healthy side dish packed with flavor! This savory vegetable recipe combines zesty ginger, spicy paprika, earthy cumin, and sweet cinnamon, all balanced with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Image of Air Fryer Moroccan Spiced Carrots
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and Easy: Ready in just minutes!
- Healthy: A perfect way to incorporate more vegetables into your diet.
- Flavorful: Moroccan spices add depth and complexity to the dish.
- Versatile: Serve alongside anything grilled, including tofu or halloumi.
Getting your family to eat their vegetables can be a struggle but this easy air fryer baby carrot recipe seems to defy all odds. First, carrots are not green. That right there is half of the battle.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Baby Cut Carrots (mini carrots)- are convenient and easy. They usually come in small 1-pound (453 grams)- or 2-pound (907 gram) packages peeled, prewashed and ready to eat. These ready to eat carrots are not true baby carrots that are harvested before they get a standard size.
- Walnuts - heart healthy and adds a little holiday flare to this simple side dish.
- Lemon Juice or Zest - adds a pop of freshness and accentuates the flavor of the spices.
- Feta Cheese - Optional, but a tangy addition. To make this easy side dish vegan, just hold the feta or use a crumbly vegan feta cheese.
Air Fryer Baby Carrots (Moroccan Spiced with Walnuts and Feta)
Air Fryer Moroccan Carrots Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. medium carrots, peeled, trimmed, and cut ½"-thick on the bias
- 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
- 2 Tbsp. fresh orange juice
- 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
- 2 Tbsp. chopped toasted almonds
- Torn fresh mint leaves, for serving
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, toss carrots, oil, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, salt, and paprika.
- Scrape into an air-fryer basket; reserve bowl.
- Cook at 370° until carrots are just tender, about 13 minutes.
- In reserved bowl, combine orange juice and lemon juice.
- Add hot carrots and toss to coat.
How to Make Air Fryer Moroccan Spiced Carrots
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F(193°C).
- Add baby carrots to a large bowl. Dry them well with a paper towel to remove any moisture.
- Toss carrots with olive oil, cumin, ginger, paprika, cinnamon, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. (Do not wash the bowl as you will be needing this again!)
- Transfer Moroccan spiced baby carrots to the air fryer basket making sure they are in a single layer. If you have a small air fryer, you will have to split the carrots into 2 batches so they cook evenly.
- Set the timer on air fryer to 10 minutes. Start air frying the carrots.
- In the meantime, add ⅓ cup chopped walnuts to the same bowl you seasoned the carrots in and toss well in the Moroccan oil spices.
- At the 10 minute mark, give your carrots a good shake in the air fryer basket. Then, add the seasoned chopped walnuts to the air fryer basket along with the carrots.
- Continue to air fry the seasoned carrots and walnuts for 2 to 5 minutes longer or until fork tender. (Total cook time is approximately 12-15 minutes.)
- Transfer roasted carrots to a plate and drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Garnish with optional feta cheese, crushed red chili peppers if you like a little heat and parsley. Enjoy!
Cooking Time and Temperature
Baby carrots are fork tender and golden between 12 to 15 minutes at 380°F (193°C). If your carrots are larger in diameter, it can take a couple minutes longer. On the other hand, if your mini carrots are tiny, it can take as little as 10 minutes.
We recommend cooking at 375 Fahrenheit (190 C) for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and browned on the edges.
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Adjust Cooking Time:
If your baby carrots are large in diameter, they will take longer to air fry.
Size Differences:
Baby carrots can be different diameters around depending on the brand. Ours were a medium diameter size but some can be skinny, and some can be extra-large around.
Heat your oven to 450°F. Scrub or peel the carrots. Cut the carrots in half lengthwise to form a long, flat edge. Then cut each carrot half into 1 ½-inch segments. Add the carrots to a mixing bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil. Stir or shake the bowl to distribute the oil, making sure all of the carrots are evenly coated. Add the ras el hanout and salt and stir or shake until evenly coated. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the carrots from the bowl to a baking sheet. Spread the carrots out so they're in a single layer with the cut side down. Roast the carrots for 20 minutes. Turn them over, then roast for another 10 minutes, or until tender. Transfer the roast carrots to a serving bowl and stir in the parsley.
Reheating Instructions
Can you roast carrots in the air fryer ahead and reheat? Absolutely! You can roast your baby carrots up to 3 days before and store in the refrigerator in covered container. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container. Hold the additional feta cheese, parsley and lemon juice and add right before serving.
There are 4 methods for reheating the roasted carrots:
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- Air Fryer: Oil air fryer basked lightly and roast baby carrots in a single layer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes, or until toasty warm.
- Oven: Lightly grease or line a baking sheet and bake baby carrots at 400°F (204°C) for 10 minutes, or until toasty warm.
- Stove Top: Add one tablespoon of oil to a frying pan. Then, add your pre-cooked carrots and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes or until warm throughout. Toss midway in the cooking process.
- Microwave: This is our least favorite way as the carrots lose their crispy edges. Place carrots on a microwave safe plate and cover with a towel to prevent splattering. Microwave on high at 30 second intervals for 1 - 1.30 minutes or until toasty warm.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Carrots
- Even Cuts: Ensure carrots are cut evenly for uniform cooking.
- Single Layer: Place carrots in a single layer in the air fryer for best results.
- Don't Overcrowd: If necessary, cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
These roasted carrots are very versatile and go great alongside almost any meal. If you’re enjoying the carrots as part of a holiday meal, you may want to try them with these citrus braised lamb shanks or my skillet lamb chops with cipollini onions. Both of those recipes just scream spring and Easter to me!
Some of the spices common in Moroccan cuisine are cinnamon, cumin, ginger, paprika, saffron, and turmeric. A blend called Ras El Hanout is also commonly used in Moroccan cooking. It includes spices such as anise, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, turmeric, and peppers. Find more info on how Moroccan spices are used here.
They are delicious on their own or topped with tahini, Za’atar, or our Zesty Dill Yogurt Sauce. These would also make a delicious addition to our Ultimate Mediterranean Bowl.
If you have any leftover cooked carrots, be sure to add them to our cozy butternut and carrot ginger soup.
Image of Air Fryer Carrots Cooking in Air Fryer
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Nutritional Information
Here's a quick look at the nutritional benefits you can get from this recipe:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | Varies based on ingredients and serving size |
| Fiber | High |
| Vitamins | Rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin K |
Enjoy this unique twist on a classic with the BEST tender roasted carrots perfectly seasoned with an earthy mixture of Moroccan spices. Naturally sweet and affordable, these carrots are also special diet friendly!
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tags: #Moroccan
