Braised Carrots with Thyme - A Make-Ahead Vegetable for Company

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Add Comment Edit

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I make it a point to test and feature outstanding vegetable recipes whenever I find them. These carrots were a last minute addition to my Christmas menu that I found late on Christmas Eve, when I learned that our head-count for the big meal had changed. I discovered the recipe, which is a creation of the renowned Daniel Boulud, on the Food and Wine site, and to be truthful, I honed in on it because it could be made ahead of time and simply rewarmed for serving. It was ideal for my holiday kitchen and it was so well received that I served it again on New Year's Day. I want to pass it on to you, because it is both easy and inexpensive to make, and while you will appreciate its simplicity, your family will enjoy its flavor. I do hope you will try the recipe or keep it in mind for your next company meal. The carrots add wonderful color to the table and almost everyone enjoys them, so they are sure to be a hit. Here is how they are made.

Braised Carrots with Thyme...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Danile Boulud and Food and Wine magazine

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1-1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick on the diagonal
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 thyme sprigs
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1-3/4 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2) Melt butter over moderately low heat in a large ovenproof skillet. Add carrots, garlic and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing frequently, until carrots are tender but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
3) Cover carrots with a round of parchment paper, then cover skillet with a lid. Braise carrots in oven for about 30 minutes, or until they are very tender. Discard the thyme sprigs and serve. Yield: 6 servings.

Cook's Note: Make ahead instructions: The cooked carrots can be refrigerated for up to 1 day. Gently reheat them in their liquid before serving.