Name: Spiced Roasted Carrots with Lemony Whipped Feta
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 Pound Carrots; 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 2 Tablespoons Honey; 1/2 Teaspoon Aleppo Pepper; 1 Teaspoon Cumin; 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika; 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon; Sea Salt (to taste); Ground Black Pepper (to taste); 8 Ounces Feta Cheese (crumbled); 1 Cup Greek Yogurt; 1 Lemon (juiced - this is about 3 tablespoons); 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 2 Cloves Garlic; 1 Tablespoon Fresh Parsley (chopped - optional); 1/2 Teaspoon Aleppo Pepper (optional); 1 Drizzle Olive Oil (optional); 1 Tablespoon Pomegranate Arils (optional)

What You Need to Make This Bright & Flavorful Vegetarian Side Dish

Carrots: Carrots are the star of this dish! I recommend using baby carrots, however you CAN also use regular carrots! I just recommend chopping them in half to make them easier to cook and eat. See my notes in the recipe card for full instructions on this!

Olive Oil: Olive oil is full of healthy fats and adds a delicious flavor to these carrots!

Honey: Honey adds the perfect amount of sweetness to these carrots, without the refined sugars, and without making them too sweet.

Spice Blend: To perfectly season these carrots, we’ll be using a blend of sea salt, ground black pepper, Aleppo pepper, cumin, paprika, and cinnamon. Yum!

Feta Cheese: I always recommend using traditional greek feta that is packaged in brine, in a block, rather than pre-crumbled feta cheese, as it has the best flavor.l

Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is not only thick and creamy, but it’s packed with protein, making the whipped feta both healthy and delicious.

Lemon: You’ll need the juice of approximately one lemon (3 tablespoons) to add the perfect balance of acidity to the whipped feta!

Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves add the best flavor to the whipped feta! I highly recommend them, here.

Garnishes: These are optional, but I love adding these garnishes on top of the carrots and whipped feta to bring even more flavor to them! I recommend garnishing these carrots with some chopped parsley, olive oil, more Aleppo pepper, or pomegranate arils.

A baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, with the spiced carrots lined up across the baking sheet

Next, line the spiced carrots up on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven at 400 F for 20-25 minutes, until they’re fork tender.

How to Make This Perfect Thanksgiving Day Side Dish

To make these carrots, start by preheating your oven to 400 F. Next, wash the carrots (and cut them, if desired), being sure to remove the stems. Add them to a large bowl, alongside the olive oil, honey, and all of the seasonings: the Aleppo pepper, cumin, paprika, cinnamon, sea salt, and black pepper. Use your hands to toss the carrots and fully coat them in the seasoning blend. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and transfer the carrots to the baking sheet, making sure they are spread out evenly. Roast the carrots for 20-25 minutes, until they are fork tender. At the halfway point, remove the tray from the oven and toss the carrots to ensure that they cook evenly.

All of the ingredients needed to make the lemony whipped feta, in a food processor — While the carrots are baking, prepare the whipped feta that will be paired with the spiced roasted carrots.

A food processor, with the whipped feta actively processing inside of it — Add the feta cheese, greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic to a food processor and process until it’s smooth and creamy.

While the carrots are in the oven, prepare the whipped feta by adding the feta cheese, greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic to a food processor and processing them until the feta reaches a smooth and creamy texture. If you prefer a thinner consistency to the feta, you can add in a few tablespoons of water and re-process until the feta reaches your desired consistency.

Once the whipped feta is done, spread it across a plate. Then, once the carrots are done, remove them from the oven and add them on top of the whipped feta. Garnish the carrots with some chopped fresh parsley, a drizzle of olive oil, more Aleppo pepper, or pomegranate arils, if desired. Then, serve and enjoy!

A bowl of the lemony whipped feta, sitting on a countertop with a spoon inside of it

Once the whipped feta is done, add it to a plate and use a spoon to spread it across the plate in an even layer. Then, add the carrots on top, garnish, serve, and enjoy!

How to Prepare This Dish Ahead of Time

Let’s be honest: Thanksgiving Day is a busy day in the kitchen, which means that any recipe you can prepare ahead of time will make your life much easier. Luckily, this is one of those recipes that is super easy to prepare ahead of the big day!

To prepare these carrots ahead of time, prepare the carrots and whipped feta according to the instructions above. Then, store them separately in airtight containers, in the fridge, until you’re ready to serve them. Then, to reheat the carrots, line them up on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake them in the oven at 250 F for 10-15 minutes. Then, follow the plating instructions above, serve, and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

A plate of the spiced roasted carrots with whipped feta, sitting on a countertop surrounded by ingredients

gluten-free/Grain Free/Nut Free/Refined Sugar Free