Healthy Spicy Carrot Fries

We were invited to some friends home for dinner last Saturday night. I asked what we could bring and received the response, "Appetizers." I had a long week, so I decided to create an easy cheese plate...Three kinds of good cheese, pate, grapes, and crackers. We talked, drank lots of wine, and most of the cheese. Then we ate the delicious dinner my friend prepared and gobbled up the dessert.

Cue Sunday morning. Too much wine, too much dessert, too, too much cheese! Breakfast was hot tea and toast. I didn't feel like lunch. By dinnertime, I craved something tasty and healthy. These carrot fries came to the rescue.

Crispy, crunchy, spicy, salty AND healthy. How nice does that sound? These carrot fries are simple to make, delicious to eat, and, best of all, healthy. Picture roasting carrots, but keeping them cooking until they are crunchy. That's it. Serve with your favorite dip and you have the perfect side for hamburgers, sandwiches, grilled chicken, or just as a healthy snack.  Enjoy!

Healthy Spicy Carrot Fries
2 lbs carrots, unpeeled
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon Chinese spice powder
coarse sea salt
ground black pepper.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Cut carrots into french fry sized pieces. Place in a large bowl and drizzle olive oil over the top. Add the paprika, cayenne powder, and Chinese spice powder. Using your hands, evenly coat the carrots with the oil and spices (not the salt and pepper). Add the carrots to the prepared pan in an even layer. Liberally sprinkle sea salt and black pepper over fries.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and, using tongs, flip over carrots. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until crispy. Watch carefully; the fries go from roasted (not what you want) to burnt very fast. (again, not what you want). 

Serve immediately with Ranch or Spicy Thousand Island dressing.

It is Carrot Week at Food Network's Sensational Sides roundup. Do you have a carrot recipe to share? Please list (or link) in the comments below. And be sure to check out the other delicious sounding recipes from my blogger friends and Food Network. 

The Lemon Bowl: Vermicelli Noodle Bowls with Shrimp
TasteBook: Carrot Ravioli with Vadouvan Butter and Carrot Top Pesto
Feed Me Phoebe: Salmon Poke Bowls with Pickled Carrots, Avocado and Spicy Ponzu
Taste with the Eyes: Chickpea Spaghetti with Roasted Carrots, Cilantro Dill Pesto #glutenfreevegan
Red or Green?  Healthy Spicy Carrot Fries
Healthy Eats: 6 Quick Ways to Serve Carrots This Spring
The Wimpy Vegetarian: Citrus Carrots with Ginger
FN Dish: 6 Sensational Ways to Take Carrots Beyond Snacking

best,

diane

napa farmhouse 1885

red or green? 

California Girl in Taos

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