When I roast vegetables, I usually prefer to keep them classic, but sometimes I can’t resist adding a playful twist by infusing Japanese flavors, like in these Maple and Miso Glaze Roasted Carrots! These humble carrots are roasted until tender on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and wonderfully caramelized with a sweet-savory glaze. My family has enjoyed these carrots so much that they’ve been a staple on my holiday menu for years.
Why You’ll Love These Roasted Carrots
While maple syrup imparts subtle sweetness with a hint of caramel note, miso delivers a deep savory oomph, making them an irresistible combo on roasted carrots. Easy and literally no fuss! The glaze is so versatile. You can use it in other roasted veggies of your choice—try eggplants, zucchinis, butternut squashes, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, ora colorful mix of vegetables. It makes an outstanding side that fits just as well with a weeknight dinner as it does with a holiday feast.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Carrots — I use rainbow carrots with their tops on for their rustic appearance and concentrated sweetness. The colorful rainbow hues make them an elegant yet eye-catching side dish. Extra virgin olive oil — Or any oil suitable for roasting veggies. Salt & freshly ground black pepper Maple syrup Use good quality maple syrup! You can substitute with honey or brown sugar. Miso — More on this later. Soy sauce — A tiny splash goes a long way.
How to Make Maple and Miso Glazed Roasted Carrots
What Miso to Use and Why
If you’re unfamiliar with miso, it’s a fermented soybean paste essential in Japanese cooking, renowned as the key ingredient in miso soup. However, miso offers much more versatility. Japanese cuisine incorporates miso in a wide array of dishes, including soups, marinades, sauces, and glazes. You can read more about it in this post. There are numerous brands of miso paste available, but my personal favorite is Hikari Miso. For this roasted carrot recipe, I used Enjuku Koji Miso Reduced Sodium. Enjuku Koji Miso has been a long-selling product from Hikari Miso for over 20 years, since its introduction in 1993. This preservative-free miso features a mild flavor and rich fragrance, complemented by natural sweetness and robust umami from koji. The Reduced Sodium version contains 25% less sodium than regular Enjuku Koji Miso. Here are my tips for making the best-roasted carrots that are perfectly caramelized and deliver a WOW in the flavor department:
The Perfect Holiday Side Dish
Make your holiday lineup extra colorful and nutritious with this roasted carrot recipe! These carrots pair well with a variety of simple mains. In addition to the traditional turkey, ham, and roast chicken, here are some other delicious pairings I’d like to suggest:
Instant Pot Sticky Asian Ribs Smoked Miso Butter Turkey Breast on Traeger Salmon Potato Gratin Kabocha Gratin Miso Cod Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Leftovers? Enjoy them atop a salad the next day! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
