Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots

Baked carrots are a super-easy and healthy side dish, but we think they get a bad rap sometimes for being a little basic. Fortunately, baked carrots can be adapted and spiced up while still being budget-friendly and quick. In this recipe, your carrots are seasoned with hot pepper sauce and honey, giving them a spicy-sweet flavor to enhance the earthy quality of this vegetable. While this side isn’t the most kid-friendly, it’s awesome for meals where you have diners who enjoy a little more heat on their plate.

We sometimes get concerns about the Paleo status of honey and whether or not it should be included in a Paleo meal. There’s definitely a bit of debate on the subject – honey is a sweetener, but raw honey also has a multitude of health benefits including improved immune functioning, a decrease in seasonal allergy responses, and lower glycemic response than other types of sweeteners. Generally, honey is believed to have been available to Paleolithic eaters, and given the other options, we think it’s fine in moderation. Of course, you can omit this from the dish if you prefer! You can also increase or decrease the amount of red pepper sauce – we love Sriracha due to the complexity of the spices it includes without too much heat, but use whatever you like the best!

This spicy side dish works well when paired with a lower-heat main course. Try serving these carrots with a pork dish like the Pork Loin Braised in Coconut Milk for a real budget-friendly plate. If you are feeling a bit fancier, try making the Grilled T-Bone Steak to serve with this side.

Spicy Honey Roasted Carrots Recipe

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Ingredients

• 1 lb. carrots, sliced
• 2 tbsp. Sriracha or hot pepper sauce
• 2 tbsp. honey
• 1 tbsp. melted coconut oil
• Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper
• Fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Mix all the ingredients and place into a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Bake until tender (about 20 minutes); toss the carrots mid-way through cooking.
4. Add more Sriracha and/or honey before serving if you wish.
5. Serve topped with fresh cilantro.