Learn how to make steamed carrots yourself where they turn out perfectly tender and flavorful every time. This simple side dish recipe is one that can be relied on whenever you are in a pinch.
When it comes to cooking from scratch, there are a few ingredients I always make sure to have on hand. Celery, onions, and carrots are some of those ingredients. These three staples are a great base to many recipes. Whether it be homemade soup, chicken pie, or in a beef stew.
Although, I use these three in a trio so much that I can often forget their tastiness on their own. That is especially true when it comes to carrots. A big bag of carrots always sits in the left-hand bottom drawer of my fridge. I can easily rely on it to add to many dishes. However, I don't use carrots as a side dish nearly enough!
When it comes to using carrots as a side dish, there is a tasty way to do it and that is by steaming them. Steaming a vegetable locks in the nutrients, boosts its flavor and texture and also makes the vegetable easier to digest. These characteristics are a great reason why you should be steaming your veggie side dishes.
To learn how to steam carrots for a healthy, easy and tasty side dish, keep reading!
How to Steam Carrots Step-by-Step
To start, prepare your carrots. This looks like washing them thoroughly and peeling them.
When your carrots are cleaned, cut them into pieces as evenly as possible. Set your prepared carrots aside.
In a medium sized pot, add in about 1 cup of water or enough to cover ½ inch of the bottom of the pot. To the water, add in the prepared carrots.
Place the pot with the carrots and water in it on the stove at medium heat.
Allow them to steam on the stove for 5-7 minutes or until fork tender.
Remove from the stove, drain any remaining water, and add in the butter, salt, pepper, parsley, and squeeze of lemon.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips for Steaming Carrots
- Be sure to slice your carrots in even sizes so they cook at the same rate.
- Using fresh carrots enhances the flavor of these steamed carrots all the more.
- Remove the carrots from the hot pot as soon as possible so they stop cooking.
- If you have a steaming basket, the same steps and amounts can be used.
- Check the carrots every so often once the 5-minute mark hits. This will prevent soggy carrots.
Why You'll love These Steamed Carrots
Quick - When you are in need of a quick side to throw together, you can count on these steamed carrots.
Versatile - I love that these carrots pair so well with many different kinds of dishes. Whether it be a heavier dish to add some lightness to it or another fresh dish to add even more freshness to. These carrots are very versatile.
Healthy - Steaming carrots locks in all those nutrients and vitamins making it a healthy side dish to any meal.
Ingredients
Carrots - If you have the option to buy fresh, I recommend doing that. They are noticeably more flavorful.
Butter - Adding butter at the end helps to create a slight creaminess among the carrots.
Parsley - A tiny garnish for the carrots that adds another fresh flavor to them.
Lemon - A squeeze of lemon at the end adds some vibrance as well as cutting the natural sweetness of the carrots just a bit. It makes them even more enjoyable to eat.
Salt & Pepper - Salt and pepper helps to add flavor and enhance the natural flavors of the carrots.
Tools You May Need
Large pot
Sharp knife - I love this one from the Farberware brand.
Carrot peeler - This is another great one from Farberware.
Cutting board
Measuring spoons
How to Serve Steamed Carrots
Steamed carrots are a tasty and versatile side dish. Here are some different dishes to pair steamed carrots with.
Homemade Salom Patties - These homemade salmon patties are light, refreshing, and very spring like. Carrots have similar characteristics, making them a great pair.
Crockpot Salisbury Steak - Steamed carrots help to cut through the heaviness of these crockpot Salisbury steaks. They balance this main dish well.
Crispy Baked Chicken Thighs - You can never go wrong with chicken and carrots. Together they just feel and taste like a comforting dish.
Bacon Meatloaf - Talk about a comforting pairing. This bacon meatloaf is the star of the show when having it for dinner, so the simple side dish of steamed carrots helps to keep the eyes on the meatloaf.
FAQs
How long do you steam carrots for?
Steaming carrots is a very quick process making them a great side dish for when you are in need of something easy and fast. It takes carrots about 5 to 7 minutes to steam and become fork tender.
How to make steamed carrots tastier?
In our recipe, we add a bit of butter to our steamed carrots to create a slight creaminess to the carrots. We also add a squeeze of lemon juice and some fresh parsley to add freshness and vibrance this steamed vegetable. Lastly, classic salt and pepper help to enhance the natural flavors of the carrots. All of these additions help to add a bit more flavor to an already flavorful vegetable.
Do you lose nutrients by steaming carrots?
Steaming a vegetable is actually a great way to enjoy it because it preserves the nutrients the most a cooking method can. Instead of degrading the vitamins in the vegetable like most cooking methods do, steaming seals in those vitamins.
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More Veggie Side Dishes
Steamed Carrots
These homemade steamed carrots are a quick, simple, and healthy side dish. They are topped with a bit of butter, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Ingredients
- 6 large carrots
- 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- I tablespoon of butter
- Squeeze of lemon
- 1 cup of water, see notes
Instructions
- To start, prepare the carrots. This looks like washing them well, cutting the tops and bttom off as close to the ends as possible, and peeling them.
- Once the carrots are prepared, finish off by slicing them into equal sized thickness to make sure they cook evenly.
- To a medium pot, add in the prepared carrots as well as 1 cup of water or enough that about ½ inch of the pot is covered.
- Place the pot on medium heat. Allow the carrots to cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Check the carrots starting at the 5 minute mark. You want them to be fork tender.
- Once fork tender, remove from the burner and dump any remaining water.
- Add the tablespoon of butter, fresh parsley, squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper and give it a stir.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
The amount of water will vary depending on how large your pot it. Make sure you use enough water to cover about ½ inch of the bottom of the pot. You don't want your carrots to be fully immersed in water.
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