Skip to main content

Thumbelina Carrots with Orange and Mint

Many recipes that pair carrots with orange call for cooking the carrots with orange juice. Here, I use strips of peel instead, so that you get just a hint of orange, keeping the flavors bright. In the restaurants, we use Thumbelina carrots, a cute, round variety with incredible sweetness. Don’t go crazy chopping the mint—you don’t want to turn it into paste. Just do a few quick strokes with the knife, toss with the carrots, and serve right away. You might want to caution your guests not to eat the orange peel.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound Thumbelina carrots, peeled and trimmed
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 orange
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Depending on the size of the carrots, cut them in half or quarter them to maintain evenly sized pieces. Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the carrots. Toss until the carrots are well browned and caramelized. You want them to get good color without burning. Season with salt and pepper.

    Step 2

    With a vegetable peeler, cut 4 large swaths of peel from the orange. Add to the carrots and toss for a minute more. Roughly chop the mint leaves and add to the pan. Toss and serve immediately.

Ethan Stowell's New Italian Kitchen
Read More
Full of crunchy veg and a miso-maple dressing.
This picadillo-inspired topping would taste good on a shoe.
Canned purée delivers rich body and deep flavor, without the nonna-level cook time.
Cut steak into cubes and suddenly it transforms into a quick-cooking protein.
This skillet dinner is a delightful way to use up a jug of cider.
Enchiladas meet pumpkin in this cozy weeknight dinner.
Brussels sprouts are better with a crunchy Parmesan skirt.
Sticky-sweet mall-style bourbon chicken gets a fall makeover.