[Trend Spotlight] Crazy About Carrots

by Janet Helm, MS, RD

Could carrots be the new kale?  This humble root vegetable is suddenly showing up every where, especially in restaurants. Nation's Restaurant News recently wrote about the carrot trend:  Carrots find roots on restaurant menus.

"Carrots have been trending on menus for some time, propelled by a combination of renewed consumer interest in vegetables and the rising influence of New Nordic cuisine. While Danish chef René Redzepi, a New Nordic leader and co-owner of Copenhagen’s seminal Noma restaurant, has been a prominent cheerleader for all underappreciated root vegetables prevalent in Scandinavian kitchens, he’s been a veritable virtuoso with carrots. Among other treatments, he has fermented them into cocktails, smoked and dried them, roasted them in goat butter, and slow-cooked them over black-hay ash. While these edgier culinary experiments won’t translate to the broader market, his embrace of the vegetable has been a factor in its revival. And since carrots happen to be available, affordable and acceptable to a wide audience, it has been easy for restaurants at all levels to get in on the action."

One menu item that's getting a lot of buzz is the jumbo Carrot-Glazed Carrot at Chef Marc Forgione's steakhouse American Cut. This poached carrot is glazed with carrot and orange juice and served with fresh mint and Maldon salt.  At The Bristol in Chicago, one of my favorite restaurants, I love to order the Smoked Carrot Salad that's served wtih sumac spiced yogurt, barley, crispy kale and black olives. This dish is truly amazing. 

Carrots are surprisingly versatile.  Chefs are pureeing, roasting and caramelizing carrots to create innovative side dishes, soups, condiments, drinks, appetizers and desserts, including ice cream, cakes and doughnuts.   

Healthy Aperture bloggers have been busy cooking up lots of carrot creations using all sorts of preparation methods -- from pickled to spiralized.  Carrot cake is taking many forms beyond cake --  in donuts, scones, muffins, pancakes, puddings, macaroons, smoothies, popsicles, oatmeal and more. Perhaps carrot cake is the new red velvet?  Take a look at all the creative carrot recipes from our Healthy Aperture network.  The photos above include: 

Easy Refrigerator Pickled Carrots by Domestic Dreamboat

Gluten-Free Carrot Pancakes by A Happy Food Dance

Carrot, Cashew and Coriander Fritters by Circus Gardener

Carrot Cashew Pate by Bold Vegan

Curried Carrot-Coconut Soup by Can Caramelo

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats by The Organic Dietitian

Carrot Cake Muffins with Sweet Potato Frosting by The Dark Chocolate Alchemist

Carrot Cake Donuts by Martha's Gluten-Free Kitchen

Carrot Cake Pancakes by Uproot from Oregon

Carrots are a favorite vegetable to spiralize -- which is a trend I recently wrote about here on Trend Spotlight. I just recently bought a spiralizer and can't wait to try some of these carrot noodle recipes.

Carrot Noodles with Ginger-Lime Peanut Sauce by The Roasted Root

Zucchini Carrot Noodles by Create N Plate

Shaved Carrot Salad with Pistachio and Pomegranate Vinaigrette by Feasting at Home

How about drinking your carrots?  Take a look at these liquid carrot creations: 

Carrot Cake Smoothie by the Recipe Runner

Carrot Juice with Lemon and Ginger by The Healthy Cook

Carrot and Orange Juice by The Honour System

Carrots are equally delightful savory or sweet.  I grew up loving carrot cake and it's more popular than ever. Yet now this classic is taking new forms:

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake with Skinny Cream Cheese Frosting by Food Doodles

Carrot Cakesicles by The Healthy Maven

Carrot Cake Larabar Bites by My Whole Food Life

What's your favorite way to prepare carrots?