These roasted carrots have a sweet and spicy flavor from the combination of harissa and honey. This is an easy and delicious side dish for any meal!

Harissa Roasted Carrots
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This post was inspired by my friend Arielle, who wrote a similar recipe for me years ago. Here’s how she described these carrots:

I have a few requirements for the vegetable dishes that go on heavy rotation in our house. They have to be nutritious, obviously, but I don’t like feeling like I’m depriving myself. If I have the prospect of a bland or unsatisfying meal ahead of me, chances are high that I’m just going to order pizza instead. Which kind of negates the whole nutrition goal. So yes, I like to keep it healthy, but I’ve got to have some heartiness and plenty of flavor to keep me interested.

honey harissa carrots ingredients

I love her idea of using harissa and honey to add flavor to roasted carrots. The harissa paste adds a spicy flavor and the honey keeps it mild enough that you can enjoy seconds. It also highlights the natural sweetness of the roasted carrots. I made a few tweaks to her recipe and I think you’ll love these as much as I do!

What is Harissa?

The first time I tried harissa was at CAVA and I was blown away by the complex, spicy flavor. If you’ve never tried it, it’s a chili pepper paste that is common in North African food. It’s usually made with a variety of peppers along with garlic, coriander, and saffron. There are various levels of heat, so I recommend tasting the harissa before adding it to this recipe. The harissa I bought at Whole Foods was fairly mild, but I also bought harissa at Trader Joe’s and it had a stronger kick.

The Best Carrots for Roasting

I recommend buying regular carrots instead of baby carrots. Baby carrots don’t have as much flavor, but they can work in a pinch. Slice the baby carrots in half and keep an eye on them. They’ll likely be done roasting after about 15 minutes. But if possible, I recommend buying traditional carrots. You can also use tricolor carrots in this recipe.

How to Make Honey Harissa Roasted Carrots