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Roasted Carrots with Whipped Feta, Balsamic-Glazed Cranberries & Crunchy Walnuts

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A stunning holiday side dish or vegetarian main featuring sweet roasted carrots, tangy whipped feta, tart balsamic cranberries, and crunchy walnuts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Roasted Carrots:
  • 1 lb rainbow carrots, scrubbed and halved lengthwise
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • For the Whipped Feta:
  • 4 oz feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • For the Balsamic-Glazed Cranberries:
  • 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • Pinch of salt
  • For Assembly:
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
  • Fresh thyme or parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Toss the halved carrots with olive oil and salt. Arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, until tender and caramelized at the edges.
  3. While carrots roast, make the whipped feta. In a food processor, combine feta, cream cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper. Blend until completely smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  4. Make the balsamic cranberries. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the cranberries have softened and the mixture is syrupy. Remove from heat.
  5. Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until fragrant. Let cool, then chop roughly.
  6. To assemble, spread the whipped feta on a serving platter. Arrange the roasted carrots on top. Spoon the balsamic cranberries over the carrots. Sprinkle with toasted walnuts and garnish with fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

Notes

You can use regular orange carrots if rainbow carrots are unavailable. The whipped feta can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cheerychop.com/roasted-carrots-whipped-feta-cranberries-walnuts/