Honey Roasted Harissa Carrots
Spring has sprung, and with it comes a bounty of fresh, delicious produce. One vegetable that is particularly abundant at this time of year is carrots. These root vegetables are not only versatile but also packed with nutrients like beta-carotene, fiber, and vitamin K.
This dish is a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, and it's sure to impress your friends and family. Plus, it's a great way to use up the whole carrot - not just the root! So next time you're at the Rice Village or Heights Mercantile farmers markets and see a bunch of fresh carrots, grab them and give this recipe a try. Your taste buds will thank you!
Overall, farmers markets are an important part of the Houston community, providing access to fresh, healthy, and sustainably produced food while supporting the local economy and promoting a vibrant food culture.
In Houston specifically, farmers markets offer an opportunity to showcase the city's diverse culinary scene, with vendors selling everything from traditional Texan barbecue to international cuisine. For instance, you can experience Tunisian flavors from our vendor, Zwïta, who specializes in authentic Tunisian foods. They create their products using traditional methods, making items like their harissa paste the perfect enhancement for this recipe.
Additionally, you can source locally produced honey from Bee2Bee Honey. Bee2Bee has beekeepers across different areas of Houston, creating distinct local flavors. Using honey from your area not only supports beekeepers and promotes sustainable agriculture practices, but has amazing benefits for your health, especially during allergy season which is going to hit us hard this year. When a person eats local honey, they are thought to be ingesting local pollen. Over time, a person may become less sensitive to this pollen. As a result, they may experience fewer seasonal allergy symptoms.
Here’s a run down of the lovely vendors you can source from to create this recipe!
Wood Duck is an 87 acre farm, located in Cleveland, Texas. They have a thriving CSA program and have been providing healthy produce to the community for years. Wood Duck is actually in the process of fighting a proposed landfill in San Jacinto County, visit this website to learn more about how you can help!
Plant it Forward works with independent, professional farmers with refugee backgrounds to grow and distribute fresh produce throughout the community. At our market locations we work with farmer Materanya “Pierre” Ruchinagiza, who is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each market he brings delicious vegetables and good conversation. He’s an amazing asset to the markets and his farming knowledge is invaluable!
Animal Farm is a working, sustainable permaculture center located 65 miles west of Houston. They are dedicated to producing high quality certified organic vegetables and flowers. They sell at our markets, but also have a wonderful CSA program!
Verde Greens located in Houston, Texas, uses a combination of hydroponic and no-till soil cultivation methods to produce healthy, nutritious, pesticide- and herbicide-free leafy greens, herbs, and mixed vegetables for the community.
Sweetwater Farms HTX is a family-owned, urban farm located in Houston, Texas. They are 7 minutes from the loop in the middle of a food desert. It sits on 6 acres of land and is primarily used to teach inner city youth about agriculture through its partnership with TWEF. We grow some of the freshest seasonal veggies! Farm visits are reservation are only!
Synergos is a thriving healthy farm community, synergistically growing food, allowing all things to grow naturally. Located in Santa Fe, Texas, Synergos focuses on regenerative practices that support healthy soil, plants, and animals.
Zwïta crafts ancestral Tunisian food products that make your life tastier. They are on a quest to include Tunisia as part of the conversation when it comes to foods of the Mediterranean and North African region.
Bee2Bee provides beekeeping services and hyper local Houston honey. They sell batches of honey separated by the neighborhoods the hives are located in, as well as infusions, and beehive products.
1836 Olive Oil grows, harvests, mills, and bottles Texas-grown olives into exceptional olive oils. Owner Kerry Thornhill started the orchard in 2012 with a desire to pay homage to her maternal grandparents. She believes in the Texas olive industry, and in supporting local agriculture and women farmers everywhere.
Old Country Olive Oil is owned by native Houstonian, Rita Joubran. Having been raised around her families olive trees and their products in Lebanon, Rita realized that she wanted to share the high quality oil with her Houston community. She also sells delicious spices such as sumac and a wonderful olive oil soap.
Share the love! Don’t forget to share photos and tag the vendors who provided the ingredients! One of the best ways to support these local, small businesses is by spreading the word and sharing your market finds with friends and family. And of course, if you stop by the Rice Village or Heights Mercantile markets striking up conversations with the vendors will always have you walking away with wonderful recipe ideas.
Ingredients - * indicates item purchased at the farmers market
*1-2 bunches of carrots (with tops attached)
*2-3 Tbsp. harissa paste
*2 Tbsp. honey
*4 Tbsp. olive oil
*Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 can of chickpeas (can soak dried chickpeas as alternative)
1 cup greek yogurt
1/2 cup feta
1 tsp. cinnamon
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
Method
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Clean carrots thoroughly in water, taking care to remove dirt from the root and greens. You can peel the outer layer if desired, but this is not necessary.
Chop the greens off about 1/4 inch above the root and set aside
Place the whole carrots in a baking sheet and coat in 2 Tbsp. olive oil, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Set in the oven for 30 minutes, making sure the carrots are tender.
While the carrots are roasting, combine the greens, 2Tbsp olive oil, and the juice of half a lemon in a mortar and pestle and mash until you have a salsa-type consistency. You can add more oil as desired. Top off with a pinch of salt.
After 30 minutes, remove the carrots from the oven and add dried-off chickpeas to the pan. Toss and roast for another 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes and your harissa paste and honey to the pan, tossing until the vegetables are fully coated. Roast for a final 10 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly caramelized and sticky.
Combine your greek yogurt and feta in a bowl, mixing until the feta is fully incorporated. Spread this mixture on your serving plate.
Place the roasted carrots and chickpeas on top of the yogurt mixture. Drizzle the carrot top salsa and olive oil over the top of the dish, and serve up to your adoring crowd!
We hope to see you at the 1st & 3rd Sunday at Rice Village Farmers Market or 2nd & 4th Sunday at Heights Mercantile Farmers Market. Both markets run from 9-1 pm, with Heights located at 714 Yale St. and Rice located at 2504 Amherst St. These markets operate rain or shine! We will have over 60 vendors, live music, and immaculate vibes.
Thank you for following along and supporting local!
xxCB