Not sure what to do with carrot tops? I have a few tips for how to prepare them along with a list of 12 recipe featuring carrot tops!
How to wash carrot tops:
How to wash carrot tops: It’s essential to thoroughly wash carrot tops as they can have quite a bit of sand and dirt in their leaves.
First trim the stems and leaves from the carrots, leaving about 2-inches of stem intact. Then wash the carrot greens like you would wash salad greens by rinsing and spinning them dry in a salad spinner (this salad spinner is my all-time fav
).
How to store carrot tops:
The best way to store carrot tops (after washing and thoroughly drying) is to wrap them loosely in a damp paper towel and place them in a resealable zipper-lock bag. I’ve been loving my reusable zipper-lock bags
, not only are they high-quality, but they’re 100% nontoxic and are a great way to cut back on plastic waste in the kitchen.
What do carrot tops taste like?
What do carrot tops taste like?Carrot tops (aka carrot greens) have an earthy “root vegetable” flavor, similar to beet greens or Swiss chard. Their flavor is somewhat of a hybrid between parsley and carrots—they are delicious!
What to do with carrot tops?
I like to treat carrot greens both as an herb and as a salad green in my cooking. Before cooking with them, run your hand down the stem and release the leaves and small tender stems, discard the tough stems.
Here are a few ideas of how to use carrot tops in your cooking, then check out the carrot top recipes below!
- Add carrot tops to both green salads and grain salads
- Make a carrot top pesto
- Make a carrot top chimichurri sauce
- Add them to your favorite hummus recipe
- Use them as an herb in your favorite herby salad like a spring panzanella or an herbed green salad
- Use carrot tops as a garnish for cocktails (this carrot margarita is gorgeous with a carrot top garnish!)
- Use them in smoothies!
Carrot Top Recipes
Carrot Top Pesto
Herbaceous and full of flavor, this nut-free carrot top pesto takes on a bit of a Mexican spin with the use of Pepitas, cilantro and lime. Toss it with pasta or diced potatoes, use it in a vinaigrette as a sandwich spread and more!
turmeric roasted carrot soup + carrot top harissa
This luxurious carrot soup is delicious as is, but add a carrot top harissa and it's quickly taken to a whole new level!
Carrot Margaritas
This refreshing, healthy and delicious carrot margarita is sure to impress! Vibrant in color and flavor, this margarita recipe is so quick and easy to whip up!
Carrot Top Pesto Hummus
A brilliant way to use carrot top pesto! Blend a ½ cup of pesto with 1 can chickpeas , a few tablespoons of tahini, a bit more lime juice a few glugs of olive oil.
Carrot Top Chimichurri
This fresh and flavorful sauce is great served over roasted or grill veggies as well as grilled steak, chicken, pork or fish!
Roasted Carrots and Couscous with Gremolata
Pasta salad truly has never looked better! This small pearl-like pasta is the perfect base for roasted carrots and their earthy greens.
Grilled Steak With Carrot Top Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri and steak are a match made in heaven. Revamp classic chimichurri sauce with flavorful carrot greens for a quick and delicious dinner.
Beet Couscous with Balsamic Glazed Carrots & Carrot Top Dressing
This recipe is the mother of all root-vegetable recipes. Featuring beet couscous, glazed carrots, and a gorgeous carrot top dressing, this dish is veggie heaven!
Roasted Carrots With Carrot Top Gremolata
Carrot tops are a wonderful addition to a classic gremolata recipe. Vibrant and flavorful, its does wonders sprinkled over a variety of vegetable dishes.
Sautéed Kale with Garlic and Carrot Greens
Sauté carrot greens and kale together to create the ultimate wilted green side dish. Wilted and cooked with sliced garlic, these earthy greens are tender and delicious.
Garden Veggie Burgers
Don't throw your carrot greens! Flavorful and nutritious, they are the perfect addition to homemade veggie burgers..
Carrot Top Tabbouleh with Kamut
Not only does this tabbouleh feature carrot tops, but it's also made with an addictively chewy grain—kamut. This recipe is a fun take on the classic Middle Eastern dish.
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Nice ideas!
I recently experimented and came up with a sauce that I mix with carrot greens. Amazingly, my husband liked it. I probably should I have just looked up some of these mature recipes first though. Will definitely try the burgers at some point (I think I saw them linked in another list somewhere as well).