Berber Carrots Recipes

BERBER CARROTS

Steps:

• Heat a dry frying pan until hot, add the coriander and caraway seeds and cook for 1 minute, shaking the pan from time to time, until fragrant.
• Transfer the spices to a plate and allow to cool then crush to a powder using a mortar and pestle.
• Heat the oil in the frying pan, add the carrots and sauté gently for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly browned all over.
• Add the ground spices and cook, stirring for 1-2 minutes.
• Add the vinegar and salt and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring from time to time , until the carrots are tender. Serve hot or at room temperature.

BERBERE ROASTED CARROTS & FENNEL WITH ORANGES

Steps:

• Heat the oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Toss to coat, then add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and cook until the vegetables soften and start to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the orange juice and berbere. Toss to combine and turn the heat to low. Add the orange segments and mint.
• Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and top additional berbere and mint leaves.
• Put the coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, peppercorns, cardamom pods, cloves and allspice berries into a small skillet over medium heat. Toast, swirling the skillet, until fragrant, about 4 minutes. Pour the seeds into a spice grinder and cool. Add the onion flakes and chiles de arbol. Grind to a fine powder. Transfer the spice powder to a bowl and whisk in the paprika, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Store in a sealed jar, out of the light, for up to 6 months.

BERBERE-SPICED ROASTED CARROTS, CHICKPEAS AND ONIONS

Steps:

• For the carrots and onions: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack. To cut the carrots, hold a carrot at a 45-degree angle on your cutting board and slice a 1-inch chunk off, rotate the carrot a quarter turn and slice off another chunk. Continue to the end of the carrot and cut all of the carrots this way. (This is a "roll" or "oblique cut," a good technique for cutting long vegetables to give lots of surface area for browning.) Toss the carrots in a large bowl with the onion, chickpeas, olive oil, berbere and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spread on the preheated baking sheet and roast until the vegetables are tender and nicely caramelized, about 25 minutes.
• For the awaze sauce: While the carrots and onions roast, place the berbere in a small bowl. Stir in the red wine, honey and 1 teaspoon salt. The sauce should be thick but still able to drizzle. (This makes more awaze than you'll need for the recipe, but it keeps for up to a week in the fridge in an airtight container).
• Mound the carrots and onions on a serving platter and drizzle with a few tablespoons of awaze sauce. Serve warm.
• Combine all the spices in a small skillet. Toast over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool completely. This spice blend will keep, tightly sealed, in your pantry for several months. For longer storage, keep in the freezer. Makes about 1/2 cup.