How to Use Carrot Greens + Recipe Ideas

While almost everyone is familiar with cooking and eating carrots, many people don’t realize the leaves on carrots are edible and delicious. These leaves are known as carrot greens. They’re packed with nutrients and are also really tasty!

If you’re curious about carrot greens, you’re in the right place. The following guide will review some of the most frequently asked questions and tell you everything you need to know so you can start enjoying this delicious food.

What do carrot greens taste like?

If you’ve never had carrot greens before, you may wonder whether you’ll like the taste. Carrot greens tend to have a slightly sweet, earthy flavor, similar to the taste of a carrot. The aftertaste is similar to parsley. In fact, carrot greens are actually part of the parsley family.

They taste good both raw and cooked and are often used to garnish soups, salads, and meals like stir-fries and pasta dishes. Sometimes, carrot greens can taste a bit bitter. Blanching them first can help cut down on this. You can also serve them with a squeeze of lemon or vinegar to act as a counterbalance.

Are carrot greens good for you?

There are many reasons to consider adding carrot greens to your diet. Not only will they add depth and complexity to your dishes, but they are also very rich in nutrients. Carrot greens have about six times more vitamin C than the orange part of the carrot and are also high in calcium, potassium, and phytonutrients.

Where to find carrot greens

If you want to cook with carrot greens, you’ll need to find carrots that have them attached. This is common in upscale and specialty grocery stores. You may also be able to find carrots with the greens attached at your local farmer’s market.

If you’re having your groceries delivered, be sure to let your shopper know that you need carrots with the greens attached and that you plan to cook them. This way, they can choose a bundle with a large amount of healthy-looking greens instead of focusing on the size of the carrot root.

It’s also common for carrot greens to be exposed to pesticides since they grow above the ground. If this is a concern for you, think about buying organic.

How to prepare carrot greens

Since carrots are grown in loose soil, the greens often contain quite a bit of sand. For this reason, you’ll want to separate them from the carrot and soak them in water for a while. Then, remove them from the water and rinse them one more time. This will help ensure you don’t get a mouthful of dirt and can make the greens last longer.

Tips for storing carrot greens

Carrot greens typically don’t hold up well, so plan to cook them as soon as possible after you buy them. If you’re not going to cook them right away, separate them from the carrot, then wrap them in a damp paper towel and store them in a plastic bag. You could also put them in a glass of water and store them in the refrigerator. If you do this, make sure you change the water at least once a day. Otherwise, your carrot greens may get moldy.

No matter how you plan to store your greens, you’ll want to use them within a day or two after you buy them. If this isn’t feasible, you can air dry, dehydrate, or freeze them.

1. Air drying carrot greens

It’s easy to air dry your carrot greens, and you don’t need any special equipment. Just bundle a small bunch together and hang them upside down in a warm, well-ventilated area. Once they’re dry, gently remove the dried leaves from the stems and store the leaves in an airtight jar until you’re ready to use them.

2. Dehydrating carrot greens

You can use a food dehydrator to dehydrate your carrot greens. Place them on trays in a single layer and use the low/herb setting until they’re dry. Then, remove the stems and store the leaves in an airtight jar.

3. Freezing carrot greens

Freezing carrot greens is a great option because they’ll stay fresh, and you won’t need to rehydrate them before using them. After thoroughly washing the greens and drying them with paper towels, remove the leaves and chop them up. Then, put them on a baking sheet in a single layer and place them in the freezer. Once the leaves are frozen, you can store them in the freezer in an airtight freezer bag. 

Another option is to add chopped leaves to an ice cube tray and top them with a drizzle of olive oil or some water. Once the cubes are frozen, you can store them in a freezer bag. Using olive oil is great if you’re going to make pesto with the leaves, while you may want to use water if you’re going to use them in soups.

How to use carrot greens for cooking

There are many things you can make with carrot greens. This includes pesto, chimichurri sauce, vegetable broth, and more. Carrot greens are also great when sauteed and served as a side dish.

Once you learn how to cook carrot greens, you can experiment with different variations of the recipes. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Carrot (50 lb)

Parsley ()

Rainbow Carrot (7 oz)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (each)

Garlic Package (4.58 oz)

1. Carrot green pesto

To make a delicious pesto out of carrot greens, combine them with fresh garlic, fresh mint leaves, green onions, raw walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a bit of salt and pepper to taste. You can also make it with almonds, pumpkin seeds, or pine nuts and add a bit of parmesan cheese.

2. Easy chimichurri sauce

Chimichurri sauce is a light, tangy dressing that’s good on a variety of dishes. You can make it by blending carrot greens with oregano, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, a garlic clove, and some sea salt. Add some white wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil until it has the perfect flavor and texture for your tastes.

3. Sauteed carrot greens

For a simple and tasty dish, sauté carrot greens in a skillet with olive oil and minced garlic cloves. Add a few red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt to create a delicious side dish.

Easy Carrot Greens Recipes

Recipe by InstacartCourse: RecipesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

90

kcal

Total time

20

minutes

Did you know the tops of carrots are not only edible, but they’re also tasty? These recipes will tell you everything you need to know.

Ingredients

• Carrot Greens

• Olive Oil

• Garlic

• Mint Leaves

• Green Onions

• Walnuts

• Lemon Juice

• Salt Pepper

• Oregano

• Cumin

• Paprika

• Red Pepper

• White Wine Vinegar

Directions

• Carrot green pesto
• To make a delicious pesto out of carrot greens, combine with a food processor with fresh garlic, fresh mint leaves, green onions, raw walnuts, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a bit of salt and pepper to taste.
• You can also make it with almonds, pumpkin seeds, or pine nuts and add a bit of parmesan cheese.
• Easy chimichurri sauce
• Blend carrot greens with oregano, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, a garlic clove, and some sea salt.
• Add some white wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil until it has the perfect flavor and texture for your tastes.
• Sauteed carrot greens
• Sauté carrot greens in a skillet with olive oil and minced garlic cloves.
• Add a few red pepper flakes and a pinch of salt to create a delicious side dish.

Start experimenting with carrot greens today!

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Author

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