Curried Carrots in Tandoori Sauce
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We're dressing up the humble carrot with these curried carrots in tandoori sauce! Tender grilled carrots are tossed in a creamy spiced yogurt sauce with slivered almonds, raisins, and cilantro. It's an easy and super flavorful side dish and it's ready in just 40 minutes!
In addition to being delicious, carrots are easy and versatile to prepare. Try our buttered carrots, maple bourbon glazed carrots, and our easy-to-make creamy carrot pasta sauce!
These curried carrots in tandoori sauce deliver a big, bold flavor, and are anything but boring! They're an easy and versatile side dish for weeknights and they're perfect for parties and potlucks, too.
We grill the carrots until tender then toss them in a creamy tandoori yogurt sauce. Then we add some slivered almonds for crunch, plump raisins for sweetness, and cilantro for a pop of fresh flavor.
The creative mix of flavors is always a hit, even with eaters who usually avoid carrots. They're easy to make and a delicious addition to any Indian-inspired menu!
What is tandoori?
Tandoori is a term that refers to both a method of cooking (in a tandoor or clay pot) and a curry-like spice blend. In this recipe, we make a tandoori yogurt sauce using ginger, garlic, turmeric, sweet paprika cumin, coriander, chili powder, and curry powder.
How to make curried carrots
Curried carrots in tandoori sauce are irresistible! They're an easy vegetarian side dish for weeknights, but they're also a hit at dinner parties and potlucks. Here's how we make them in a couple of easy steps:
- While your grill preheats, mix all the tandoori sauce ingredients together in a bowl. The sauce needs a few minutes to rest so the flavors meld together, which is why we make it first.
- Cut the carrots evenly, toss them with oil, and grill them until they're tender.
- Place carrots in a bowl along with the tandoori sauce, almonds, raisins, and cilantro. Mix it all up and serve it warm.
Curried carrots ingredients
Transform your grilled carrots with this savory and sweet tandoori sauce. Double the recipe and use the extras as salad dressing, dip, or sandwich spread. Here's everything you need to make it:
- Yogurt ā plain Greek yogurt makes up the base of the sauce and can be substituted for regular yogurt or a plain non-dairy alternative.
- Lemon juice ā lemon juice adds brightness and acidity.
- Honey ā a touch of honey adds natural sweetness to balance out the other flavors.
- Ginger and garlic ā freshly grated ginger and garlic add a bit of heat and flavor.
- Seasonings ā we use a delicious combination of coriander, sweet paprika, cumin, turmeric, curry powder, chili powder, and sea salt.
Here's what you need to make the grilled carrots:
- Carrots ā carrots are such an underrated vegetable. You can find them year-round at the grocery store, but the ones that pop up at the farmer's markets in the spring are especially delicious!
- Oil ā for cooking.
- Slivered almonds ā slivered almonds add a wonderful crunchy texture but you can use chopped roasted almonds or even shelled pistachios instead.
- Raisins ā plump sweet raisins add a wonderful sweetness.
- Cilantro ā for a fresh pop of flavor and color.
How to cook curried carrots in a pan
We like to make this recipe on our BBQ outside during the summer or on a grill pan during the winter. You could also use an indoor grill.
To make the carrots in a pan, cook them with a little oil over medium heat until they are crisp-tender. Easy, peasy!
What to serve with curried carrots
Curried carrots in tandoori sauce are delicious and versatile! It's a side dish that pairs naturally with other Indian dishes, but works well with many mains and makes a wonderful addition to a holiday table, too.
Indian dishes that pair well with curried carrots
Recipe FAQs
Can I make the tandoori sauce ahead of time?
Absolutely! To save time, you can make the tandoori sauce up to 3 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container in your fridge and pull it out when you're ready to use it.
How long do leftovers keep in the fridge?
Store any curried carrot leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. It actually tastes great cold right out of the fridge!
Is tandoori spicy?
Tandoori has a lot of warm notes, but is typically not spicy. We use curry powder and chili powder in this recipe which both vary quite a bit in their heat level. To play it safe, taste both your curry powder and chili powder and adjust the amount to your desired spiciness.
Curried Carrots with Tandoori Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
Tandoori Sauce
- Ā¼ cup yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey (or sugar)
- 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger
- Ā¼ teaspoon EACH: coriander, sweet paprika, and salt
- ā teaspoon EACH: cumin, turmeric, curry powder, and chili powder
- 1 clove garlic (very finely minced)
Grilled Carrots
- 1 lb carrots
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- Ā¼ cup slivered almonds
- Ā¼ cup raisins
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat your grill to medium heat and oil the grill. (See notes for making this recipe in a pan.) Mix all the tandoori sauce ingredients together in a large bowl then set it aside on your counter while you prep the rest of the recipe.Ā¼ cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon finely grated ginger, Ā¼ teaspoon EACH: coriander, sweet paprika, and salt, ā teaspoon EACH: cumin, turmeric, curry powder, and chili powder, 1 clove garlic
- Cut the carrots so they are about 2 Ā½ inches long and Ā¾ inch thick and toss them with oil. Grill the carrots for 10 minutes, or until they are crisp-tender and have several grill marks on them.1 lb carrots, 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- Place grilled carrots into the bowl with the tandoori sauce then add the almonds, raisins, and cilantro. Mix well then serve right away.Ā¼ cup slivered almonds, Ā¼ cup raisins, 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our carrot recipes!
