Mashed carrot facts for kids
Chicken wings served with mashed carrot
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| Course | Side dish |
|---|---|
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Carrots |
Mashed carrots are a yummy and healthy dish made by cooking carrots until they are soft, then mashing them up. People often mix in milk, butter, salt, and pepper to make them extra tasty. Sometimes, carrots are even roasted in the oven first, which gives them a deeper flavor. You can also add other mashed vegetables like onions, parsnips, or squash. Mixing them with mashed potatoes is also a popular choice!
What Goes Into Mashed Carrots?
The main things you need to make mashed carrots are:
- cooked carrots
- butter
- salt
- pepper
Many other ingredients can be added to make them even more flavorful. These include:
- chili powder
- curry powder
- onion powder
- dried thyme
- dried sage
- chicken stock
- lemon juice
- parsley
- cilantro
- garlic
- sugar
- cream
- honey
- cinnamon
- ginger
- orange zest
- orange liqueur (used in small amounts for flavor)
- nutmeg
How Are Mashed Carrots Made?
Making mashed carrots is quite simple! First, the carrots are cleaned and cut into pieces that are all about the same size. This helps them cook evenly. Then, they can be boiled in water, steamed, or roasted in an oven until they are very soft.
Once the carrots are cooked, you can mash them. You can use a food processor for a very smooth texture, or mash them by hand with a potato masher if you like them a bit chunkier. Even canned carrots can be used to make this dish. Mashed carrots are always served warm.
How Do We Use Mashed Carrots?
Mashed carrots are often served as a side dish with meals, just like mashed potatoes. They are also a key ingredient in many baked goods, such as carrot muffins and carrot cookies. You might also find them in a fluffy dish called carrot souffle.
For babies, mashed carrots are a very common first food. They are easy to eat and full of nutrients. Many companies even make special jars of mashed carrots for babies.
