Tyler Florence's Tip To Amp Up The Flavor Of Candied Carrots
Tyler Florence is well known for making his kitchen success easy for home cooks to replicate. He's keeping that reputation rolling with tips on the perfect way to plate up the seasonal veggies that will make our Easter dinners unforgettable. Thanks to a video posted on Food Network, we now have his key to transforming candied carrots. This decadent side dish is meant to taste sweet, "candied" is in its name, after all, but Florence's method prevents the sugar rush from going off the rails by making sure his glaze includes a savory undertone.
Carrots basted with a glaze might seem simple enough, but there's more to this holiday favorite than meets the eye. Only a junction of flavors that are harmoniously blended together will strike the right balance between sweet and savory in the way that this dish requires. Chef Florence does so with the help of a rich and toasty ingredient that only takes minutes to perfect.
Brown butter brings a nutty flavor and richer taste to your candied carrots
Brown butter is, very simply, standard butter that has been cooked until the milk solids in the butter begin to brown. The end result is an amber-colored liquid with a nutty aroma and complex flavor that's similar to toffee or caramel. This tasty ingredient can be added to everything from brown butter chocolate chip cookies to brown butter banana bread, but its enhancement of recipes doesn't only include sweet treats. Savory recipes can also greatly benefit from the depth of flavor that brown butter provides.
Adding brown butter to your meat entrees and even your vegetable sides, as Florence suggests, can be instrumental in elevating your dish's flavors. After roasting the carrots in the oven, Florence adds them to a skillet and browns butter right on top of them. The addition of brown sugar, orange zest, and freshly squeezed orange juice makes a flavorful syrup that pairs perfectly with the natural sweetness of the carrots. The decadent glaze beautifully adorns the carrots, making them ready to steal the show on your holiday table.
The best thing about brown butter is that it's extremely simple to make at home. You'll have to keep a watchful eye on your stove to make sure it doesn't burn, but with practice and close attention to make sure it's browned, you'll end up with perfect liquid gold that's ready to add to your recipes anytime.