Easy Steamed Carrots

Steamed carrots are a fresh and easy side dish that’s bursting with flavor! Here’s a tutorial on how to steam these healthy orange veggies.

Here’s a tasty and healthy way to eat your veggies: steamed carrots! We know what you’re thinking. Steamed vegetables are mushy and tasteless. But cook them right, and they’re packed with bright, fresh flavor! These steamed carrots are boiled until tender, then garnished with fresh herbs and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. In all honesty, these perfectly sautéed carrots are our favorite way to prepare this orange vegetable. But steaming uses less oil than searing, so it’s a great healthy eating option. And that alone is incredibly delicious. let’s go shall we?

How to Steam Carrots (A Tutorial)

Steamed carrots are quick and easy to make! The whole process takes about 10 minutes. All you need is a steamer and a bunch of these gorgeous orange root vegetables. Here are our tips for steaming carrots!

Equipment needed: You will need a steamer or steamer basket for this recipe. Here is a steam basket that you can buy online.

Step 1: Peel the carrots and cut diagonally.

The look of carrots cut at an angle is much more accomplished! It’s a nice way to make carrots more elegant. Make the slices about the same thickness, about 1/4 inch. This way they cook evenly.

Step 2: Bring the water to a boil.

The most important rule when steaming vegetables is: First bring the water to a boil! That means don’t throw carrots in the steamer and bring the water to a boil. You boil the water in a saucepan or saucepan before adding the vegetables. If you have a steamer basket without a handle, place it in the pan now. The water surface should be just below the basket.

Step 3: Add carrots and sauté 4-5 minutes until tender and crispy.

Once boiling, add the carrots (into the steamer basket if it has a handle) and cover the pot with a lid. Then steam for about 4-5 minutes until the carrots are just tender and crunchy. Here comes the important part: taste test! Be sure to test the pieces with a fork and remove them from the heat when they are just cooked to your liking. Most importantly, don’t overcook them! Nobody likes mushy carrots.

Step 4: Drain and season.

Carefully remove the carrots into a bowl. Then mix in the spices! Fresh herbs add the best flavor to cooked vegetables. This is especially important with steamed vegetables as you want to add a lot of fresh flavor. Add the olive oil or butter: you only need 1 tablespoon: you need to add some fat to the dish.

Herbs that go well with carrots

Fresh herbs are key to the great taste of these steamed carrots! They are easy to find at the grocery store and easy to grow during the summer months. (See our article on growing fresh herbs.) You can use a variety of fresh herbs in this recipe – we recommend the following:

• Thyme: Thyme pairs well with carrots (that’s a thing!), so it’s our top pick.
• Parsely: The parsley sting is also great.
• Chives: The chives add a light onion note.
• Basil: Peppery basil pairs well with sweet carrots!
• Oregano: Similar to thyme, oregano is another great choice.
• Dill: Dill is often associated with carrots as they belong to the same plant family!

Other ways to flavor stewed carrots

Aside from the suggestions in this recipe, there are many other ways to flavor steamed carrots! Here are some more ideas for spinning your wheels:

• Grated parmesan or pecorino cheese
• Cumin and lime juice or zest (like these roasted carrots)
• A web of balsamic reduction
• Lemon peel
• A pinch of grated garlic
• Roasted almond slivers
• Goat cheese or crumbled feta

More steamed vegetables to try

If you love steaming veggies, there are so many more to try! Here are some favorites we recommend:

This stewed carrot recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

More like carrots

There are many delicious carrot recipes out there to take advantage of all the nutrients in this healthy vegetable! Here are a few to get you started: