Hot Honey Ricotta Roasted Carrots

These hot honey ricotta roasted carrots are the most amazing side dish to take any meal up another level. My husband has told me for years he hates cooked carrots but I made him try these and even he devoured them. The flavors, the crunch from the pistachios everything together is the perfect combination.

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Ingredients

• 1lb full size carrots, scrubbed and peeled

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil

• 6 Tablespoons butter

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/4 teaspoon paprika

• 2 Tablespoons honey, divided

• 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

• 1 lemon juiced and zested

• 1/4 cup pistachios, chopped

• Salt and pepper to taste

Steps

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees (I love the roast option on my oven).

2. Toss the peeled carrots in olive oil.

3. Lightly brush the sheet pan with olive oil and place the olive oil coated carrots evenly on the sheet pan. Salt and pepper the carrots and place into the oven.

4. Cook for 20 - 35 minutes (I noticed in the roast option on my oven they cook much quicker so keep an eye on them, they should be very tender when you pull them out).

5. While the carrots roast, melt the butter in a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Get the butter close to browning then add red pepper flakes, cumin and paprika. Remove from heat and allow to cool for one minute.

6. Stir in one Tablespoon of honey.

7. Full stir the honey into the butter mixture.

8. Once incorporated, strain the mixture thru a fine mesh strainer and discard the solids.

9. Put the butter mixture, ricotta, lemon juice and zest and additional Tablespoon of honey into a high speed blender or food processor and blend extremely well until smooth.

10. To serve spread the ricotta and butter mixture on a serving dish and top with the roasted carrots. Sprinkle the chopped pistachios all over and enjoy!

Tips

• If you are in a hurry and want to skip a step you can make this with hot honey and don't need the red pepper flakes, paprika or cumin. You can also then skip straining the butter mixture.

Nutrition

This is based on My Fitness Pal Calculations for 6 servings

260 calories / serving

15.7g Carbs / 20.5g Fat / 6.1g Protein