Carrots with Maple and Herbs (Air Fryer)

airfryer-mapleglazedcarrots These carrots are the perfect accompaniment to roasted meats or fish; they’d be superb for an Easter or Passover dinner. While this dish is terrific as-is, you can also add additional seasonings to the carrots before roasting, if you like: ginger and cumin both complement carrots’ natural sweetness very nicely. I also recommend adding a colourful garnish or crunchy topping when serving - chopped fresh herbs, microgreens, roasted seeds, chopped nuts or toasted panko are all tasty options.

1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into sticks of uniform thickness (454 g)
1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil (15 mL)
sea salt
black pepper, freshly ground
seasoning of your choice, such as thyme, rosemary, garlic, cumin, ginger, etc
1-2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp. butter

Garnish:
chopped herbs or microgreens

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or foil.

Place prepared carrots in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and other complimentary seasonings that you desire. Toss to coat evenly.

In a single layer, add carrots to the air fryer basket. Cook 6-8 minutes (don’t wash the bowl they were in as you’ll use it again). They should feel firm but tender when pierced with the tip of a sharp knife.

When carrots are par-tender, transfer back into the bowl they were in before. Sprinkle with maple syrup, dot with butter and combine. Return to air fryer for another 3-4 minutes until they are fully cooked and nicely glazed.

Transfer to a serving dish and garnish as desired. Serve hot.

Serves 3-4 servings.

Cook's Notes:

While an air fryer definitely speeds up the process of cooking these carrots, you can easily roast and glaze them in a conventional oven at 400°F (200°C/180°C fan, Gas Mark 6) on a parchment-lined baking sheet; cooking times will be slightly longer.
Storage: Store leftover carrots in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Variations:

Make them Sweeter: Add 1 Tbsp. of brown sugar to the maple syrup mixture.
Make them Tangier: Add 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar to the maple syrup mixture.